Summer shines on Thoresby
Midlands Carriagedriving shook off the grim Spring weather to enjoy it’s season’s opener at Thoresby Park in sunshine during the warmest weekend of the year so far (11 and 12 May).
Dressage took place in front of the impressive Thoresby Park House while Section A of the marathon enjoyed a new route past the lake and through some woods. Quality of competitors over quantity was the order of the day although the cones course proved somewhat fiendish for some.
Robert Buck, driving two outfits, finished with a one-two taking the class with Charlee, owned by Midlands’ stalwart Elisabeth Greensmith. His dressage scores of 46.38 and 48.85 were closely followed by Sandra Ormerod on 49.99. However, it was Megan Wheeldon, lying fourth after the first phase, who came closest to chasing Robert home, finishing third overall.
Chris Ainscough, current Open Horse National Champion, continued his winning ways in that class, starting with the best dressage score of the day (32.96) before sweeping all before him to finish over 30 penalties ahead of Wendy Wyatt in second with Sue Mart – who had put up a good fight in the first two phases – finishing third. In Novice Pony, Izzy Brunner had a clear advantage following her dressage of 40.80. Lying second at that stage, Lyn Chorlton flew round cones for best score of the day (6 penalties) and produced very quick obstacle times but couldn’t catch Izzy and had to settle for second place.
Chris Ainscough
Harriet McEntee won both dressage and obstacle phases to head the Novice Horse class while Melody Jones and Joanne Gadsby fought it out for second and third, Melody just having the edge. Horse Pairs saw Peter Bennett lead from the start with a dressage score of 43.02, also heading the cones and obstacle phases for a clean sweep with Angela Flanagan in second; they were the only two to finish in the class.
Harriet McEntree
In the Pony Pairs Julie Wedgbury also had a clean sweep over the only other competitor, Matt Illston-Barnsby to take the class comfortably. Angela Smith was in a class of her own in Pony Team, scoring well in the cones phase on her way to completing the competition.
MC’s next Two-Day Event is Onley Grounds in Warwickshire from 27 to 28 July which will host a Two-Day National alongside Club classes. The dressage and cones arenas are on lovely flat ground while the premises boast permanent toilets and showers as well as a café and farm shop. Sadly the ground at Anslow, Derbyshire, is still too wet for use on 19 May so the first One-Day Event to take place at the venue will now be 16 June followed by a second on 24 August.
A third Two-Day Event takes place at Oasby in Lincolnshire from 17 to 18 August which will have classes for all and incorporate the Midlands Club Championships. The host of cups and trophies to be awarded at the AGM include three for Grooms – vital members of the competition. Put the dates in your diary!
Photos: Isobel Corby
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