Show jump report

Creditable placings for our Show Jumpers at the Novice and Intermediate Winter Qualifiers (March 25th at Berkshire College) Weather beasts put paid to the original March 3rd competition date at which WRC was due to field no less than five show jumping teams which would have been the highest number from any Area 6 club. However, the two teams left standing on the rescheduled date of March 25th did our club proud. High Wycombe and Thames Valley Riding Clubs were the joint organisers of the competition, which saw teams and individuals compete at four heights: 80cm, 90cm, 100 and 110cm. WRC was represented at 80cm by Amanda Cottingham (Lola), Julia Mauchline (Ayres Rock), Angela Mead (Café au Lait), and Heather Reid-Hamer (Annaharvey Invictus). They were the first of over 10 teams to go and were ably abetted by Wellington Riding coach, Charis Howard, who helped with both course walking and warm up! Going into the second round of jumps, the team was one of only three to take forward a zero score, but the indoor track proved influential. A number of teams were eliminated and so, for all four of our riders to complete, was a major achievement. They finished on a total of 10 points which earned them a very creditable third place. Jumping the 90cm tracks were Clare Baldwin (Carrenhill Dancer), Vicki Cope (Summer), Tamzin Rouse (Kilhanger Jay Jay) and Jane Stancombe (Glasshouse Man). Again, with Charis’ encouragement and coaching, the team managed three clears in the first phase to take forward a zero score to the second round. Unfortunately, the second round saw some errors creep in and, although all four riders completed, they could not hold on to a top spot but finished fourth which is no mean achievement! A special mention should also go to our only junior rider, Aimee Slimin riding Cilvera. Aimee was going great guns until very close to the end of the second round, when refusals at one fence, sadly saw her eliminated. I look forward to putting forward more teams to the competitions later in the year! Watch this space. Pip Frankish SJ Team Manager