Sarah Wells-Gaston reports …
The 22-year-old rider who is based near Newton Abbot told Eventing Worldwide:
“I have had Paddy for coming up to four years and this was our first win at BE. I was amazed to get a 19.3 dressage. We have been working recently on the dressage element and a big thank you has to go to Alice. It was fantastic that everything came together on the day and we managed to finish on our dressage score. We are aiming to do some 90cm events and some dressage and see how we get on.”
Julie Watts and Tallulah IX were the victors in BE90 Section B. Tallulah is home bred by the late Shining Spirit out of a mare Julie also bred, Wembly .
Julie told Eventing Worldwide:
“It was such an amazing venue at Launceston; such a well-run day and evey one was friendly and welcoming. I did plan to go home straight after riding on the day but was shocked to realise I was in the lead so I really had to stay just hoping we finished up with the win. It’s my first win at BE. Our next adventure is going to NAF BRC horse trials Championships representing St Austell Bay Riding Club – I’m terribly excited.”
Sara Newton and Mulfra have not been outside of the top ten this season and capped their season so fat with a win in BE90 Open Section C.
Sara, who works for the NHS, told Eventing Worldwide:
“I have produced the horse myself. She has been my horse of a lifetime but a difficult typical mare. She will jump clear all day every day but really struggles with the dressage aspect both mentally and physically. She came out this year a different horse, stronger and much more balanced. This is reflected in four events with four top ten placings. We came are off to Swalcliffe next week for the Riding Club Eventing Championships and I am still chasing my dream and life-long ambition though to get to Badminton.”
After the competition, the organisers called it the best BE event to date commenting:
“We cannot believe the number of thank you messages we have had since yesterday – we are overwhelmed. A huge thank you to all competitors who came and supported us, all our amazing volunteers, fence judges, scorers, stewards, caterers, dressage judges, writers, runners we could not have done it without you. We had an amazing team. Thank you to the Willis brothers who built and dressed the fences, Lucy McCarthy for designing four great tracks and who is already looking at the September event which will be somewhat different!”
Images courtesy of Sophie Robins
