Firstly we would like to thank the club for allowing us the opportunity to go and represent our club
at the National Championship.
The 100 team consisted of Ruth Starey on Rabbit, Sara Ingleson on Alfie and Lorna Tullett on
Brisbane.
For Rabbit and Alfie this was their first camping and both behaved brilliantly.
Rabbit was so well behaved that Ruth could not believe it. When Ruth arrived she was greeted by
Darren, Lorna’s husband who is non-horsey. She asked where the other two members of her team
were as she needed help unloading the beast! Darren then told her Lorna was riding and Sara had
not yet arrived. Ruth then worried that the other two were not around to give her a hand but Darren
stepped in and said he would help thinking that Rabbit couldn’t be that bad. The horse came off the
lorry and was as good as gold. Mind you Darren did worry a bit when he went with Ruth down to the
stable managers tent were Ruth had to go in and collect her stable number and other bits and
pieces. Ruth then turned around to Darren and said “what ever you do DON’T let go of Rabbit
otherwise we will never catch him!”
Darren then thought that it was best that he went in and checked Ruth in and she stay outside with
the horse.
With all the horses settled in there stables it was time to get tea on the go and maybe a few drinks!!!
Friday morning arrived. With the 100 team doing a 3 day event we had to do a trot up for the vets to
inspect our horses to make sure they are sound to compete. All horses passed the vet so that was
the first hurdle we were over.
Sara was the first to go in the dressage. Alfie did a nice test with which Sara was happy with but
when we looked at the marks later that day Sara was disappointed with her mark of 36.8. The judge
must have been watching a different test!
The next rider was Lorna on the little pony Brisbane. She was pleased with his test and it felt that it
flowed nicely. She was even more pleased when she found out that they had got a 32.4.
The last rider was Ruth on the giant Rabbit. The horse again did a lovely flowing test scoring a 32.1.
Friday afternoon we all walked the course together and were happy with the course and had our
game plan ready for the next day.
Friday night was quite entertaining with Darren and Colin (Sara’s dad) trying to start the BBQ, which
had taken Sue (Sara’s mum) most of the day to build. In the end they managed to get it going after
various ways of trying< including pouring petrol over it!!!
Saturday morning seemed to drag on for all of us waiting to start the roads and tracks.
Sara headed out first and made it back safely into the 10 minute box. It was a very hot day so the
helpers in the 10 minute box were kept busy, washing the horses, walking them and making sure the
riders were also ok. Alfie was given the all clear from the vet and went off to the XC. He did a lovely
clear round and only picked up a few time penalties over a very hilly and hard terrain.
Lorna was pleased with how her pony flew around the steeplechase and XC, but due to Brisbane’s
enthusiasm on the XC Lorna had lack of breaks and steering and had an unfortunate run out at the
2nd element of fence 12.
Ruth was last to go. She went clear around the XC but really had to work hard to hold the horse
together as the steeplechase had really fired him up. Ruth looked Knackered when she got back. Due
to having to hold the horse together and not letting him go (for their own safety) Ruth ended up
with a few time penalties.
The most important thing at the end of the 2nd day was that we were all home safe and sound.
Saturday afternoon consisted of team bonding in the beer tent watching the 90 SJ and waiting for
Elise to jump who was right near the end of the day.
Sunday morning came and all the horses passed the 2nd vet inspection. They all seemed to be fit and
well and not showing any signs of being tired, especially Brisbane who had a couple of squeals in the
trot up which made the vets laugh.
Lorna was first to go in the sj as you jump in reverse order. Brisbane was still full of beans from the
day before, and was just a bit to keen and rolled a few poles.
Ruth and Rabbit were next, they did a very well controlled clear round.
Sara was the last to jump for our team; her horse was feeling fresh and not quite listening to her and
unfortunately had a few poles down.
The lovely thing with all 3 horses none of them looked or felt at all tired after all they had done over
the last 3 days. It just showed how hard all the riders had worked to make sure their horses were up
to the test they were being asked to do.
All in all it was a fantastic weekend with great company. And we must say a huge thank you to all
those that supported us.