Hello and welcome along once again, Arthur Sleep back with more talk from the stables. It’s been a while since we last spoke so let me fill you in on what’s been going on in the world of eventing. Here we go……
Where do we start? Let’s go back to the last two international events of the season. First there was the Le Lion Young Horse Championships where there was an array talented young horses with some of the worlds’ top riders fighting for the prizes. The 6 year olds was won by the on form Michael Jung who has just been unstoppable this year and what a way to cap off his season. After that it was good news for young British horses with Rosalind Canter finishing not far behind Jung in 2nd aboard Aprobanta. Rosalind is another young lady who has really found her form this year and really finished it off well with this result!
Tanya Kyle also impressed, jumping a double clear to finish 8th on Atlantic Domino. The Brits shone through in the 7 year old class too with British combinations occupying the top four after cross country. The class was finally won by Kitty King who had the pleasure of being able to lower the first fence on Zidante. Not far behind was Piggy French on Kiltealy Brief, Ruth Edge on Bojack JX and Nicola Wilson on Anne Clover, who finished 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. That’s not a bad advert for the young talent coming out of Britain and some real stars of the future.
The same weekend Aldon capped off the season in Britain with two sections of CCI*. Jonathan Paget won the first section aboard Clifton Cognac with Aaron Millar finishing only 0.3 behind him on Isle Valley. The other section was topped by Chloe Herbert with Airtime on a score of 42.5 with 2nd place being taken by Lucinda Fredericks on Acheron. The 3rd spot was taken by Sophie How and Pebbly Aga Khan.
So ends another exciting but long year of eventing! This is the time that eventers all over the country set off in search of some winter sun and our very own James Sommerville was one of the quickest to do so as he jetted off to Jamaica with fellow riders Ben Hobday and Craig Barr (after just being discharged from hospital and being given strict orders to avoid the alcohol!). Now I don’t know about you but two weeks in Jamaica with those three does not sound like a relaxing holiday and I’m told they were joined by Elle Still and Alfie Bleekman. Sounds like a good time! The only real bit of dirt I got of them about their trip was when one of the party was left wandering the hotel corridors naked when a spot of skinny dipping went wrong, and their clothes were missing when they left the water. Classic!
There have been a few movers and shakers over the last few weeks too. Dani Evans has moved to the Billy Stud to train with Pippa Funnel for the winter season whilst Emily Parker has also had a similar idea, but she has headed north to base herself with Ian Stark until Christmas time. Louis Westcott has also made the long trip up to Cheshire to work for Dutch rider Andrew Heffernan.
In other news Facebook tells me the Tom McEwen and Holly Woodhead have made their relationship official, but I have also heard that Tom has gone a step further and has her name tattooed somewhere on his body. I don’t know how true this is but I really hope it is!!!!
I do bring some bad news unfortunately. New British Pony Champion Toby Bell recently took a bad rotational fall from a young horse out hunting, suffering from a broken pelvis. He found out just the night before that he’d been chosen for the FEI Pony squad, and I believe he is still recovering in hospital. I would just like to wish him a speedy and successful recovery and I know that Oliver Townend paid the young rider a visit as soon as he heard about what had happened. Get well soon Toby.
I hope that whet your gossip whistle, and if you have any “partnerships”, partying or controversy you’d like me to investigate, or if you want to have a guess as to who “Arthur Sleep” really is then please email me at manofmystery@eventingworldwide.com.
Oh, and you can follow me on Facebook here! Until next time, keep your ear to the ground.
Arth xx
