Another great weekend of Eventing, with NANKIN DES RUETTES (Nonks) finishing 3rd and LAWA (Torres) finishing 11th in the Magic CCI** at the NAF5* Hartpury International!
‘Super Nonks’ got a last minute (very very last minute… day before leaving) call up for the CCI** as unfortunately CHARLES RR (Charlie), who was meant to be running in the CIC3* had an allergic skin reaction a few days before we were due to leave.
He pulled out a beautiful, mistake-free test to score 45.8 and lie in 4th place going into cross country. Nonks has no thoroughbred in his breeding and can find galloping for long periods harder than a lot of horses… he also isn’t as young as he used to be (16yo)! However he was just amazing and completely flew round, adding just 4.8 time faults to his dressage score. He is so experienced we barely have to break stride for the jumps, and he gives it everything until we’re across the finish line. The time faults dropped us to 7th overnight ahead of the show jumping.
Sunday morning he breezed through trot up and went on to jump his usual immaculate clear round show jumping to move up to 3rd place. He really is now retired from long-format Internationals, and what a way to finish! I owe this horse everything and more. He is so kind, a complete hero and my best mate!
‘Torres’ also did a lovely test to score 47.9 and held 8th place going into the cross country. He is getting stronger all the time, and his way of going is becoming so much more grown up. A few small mistakes stopped it from getting top marks, but there is a lot more to come in the future! He is a fantastic cross country horse, and showed all his class to zip round just a few seconds over the time. He lacks experience at 2* but you would never know!
Sunday morning he flew through trot up, and went on to jump a good show jumping round. Unfortunately he felt a little flat and tired, which caused 12 faults, however his attitude was amazing. He tried really hard, but inexperience just showed a little. With more runs at this level I have no doubts he will jump clear rounds. He really has exceeded all expectations of the lanky, weak 5yo I bought as a riding club/BE90 project horse! His ride-ability is second to none… He is now the third horse I have produced to Advanced level, we are all very proud of him!
Charlie is back to normal, and has been re-routed to Wellington Advanced in two weeks time, then fingers crossed we may get a place at Blenheim Palace International for the Event Riders Masters Series!
A HUGE, HUGE thank you as always to everyone who makes it possible. Supergrooms Mum, Barb, Laura and Pete this weekend, and everyone who came along to support. A special mention to my mentor and trainer Rhian Jones, without her Torres would not be the horse he is today. And a big thank you again to sponsor Tim Wilkinson for more beautiful photos. Lots of very special memories have been captured this weekend.
Photos © Tim Wilkinson, 2017 Eventing Images / Alicia Hawker Eventing – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Congratulations on your results at Hartpury. You were really going well when you came through my fence at 19. Well done and see you soon.