The stand out comment bounding about the event site and social media though?
“The poshest loos in eventing”.
Thanks to the very generous support from Binders, the event was able to provide ‘Mobile Thrones’ for spectators, owners and riders, with pictures of the ‘thrones’ popping up all over social media and making it into many winning riders comments, including that of Dudley Tompson who won BE90 section K on Ceilidh III, bred by Tina Ure.
“They really were the poshest loos I’ve seen at an event – so nice when I bring my 78 year old father along to hold the horse!”
With the first Horseheath Horse Trial’s being a resounding success, and hailed as a “mini Barbury” and “better than Rio” in the catering stakes, the event was also extremely pleased to be able to announce that the riders had raised £628 for the late Hannah Francis’ Willberry Wonder Pony Charity. A charity that is close to the heart of the whole of the eventing community, with riders sporting numerous #kickingcancersbutt wrist bands, eating some delicious Willberry chocolate and also the odd horse or two carrying a Willberry emblem on their quarters.
Horseheath Racecourse is located 4 miles to the east of Haverhill, nr Cambridge and forms part of the Thurlow Estate, owed by the Vestey family. On behalf of the family, Tim Vestey, confirmed:
“We have been a keen equestrian family for many years, hosting numerous point to points, hunt meets, pony club events and hunter trials at Horseheath each year. We were delighted to be able to affiliate with British Eventing and look to build a spectacular brand new course. We are thrilled with the support we have already had from the equestrian community and look forward to the event with increasing excitement as the course takes shape.”
The Thurlow Estate is looking to make a donation to the following charities following the Horseheath Horse Trials; The Maggie Centre – helping families of cancer sufferers www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-wallace-cambridge and The East Anglian Air Ambulance www.eaaa.org.uk – for their amazing work saving lives across the region.
Section Winners
PwC BE100 Saturday 13th August Section Winners:
(29) Hilary Butler, Edward Bear IV, dressage 29% (From Somersby nr Melton Mobray)
(58) James Pratt, Willy Limerick, dressage 26%. Also 8th in BE90 on Millyn Malcko (from Ipswich)
(108) Jo Foley, Chakir SZ, dressage 26.9% (from Coggeshall)
(158) Mary Edmundson, Esme 11, dressage 29.8%, Also 8th on Royal Rufus.
BE80T – section winners
(212) Nicola McClure, Zippity Doo Dah, 23.8% dressage
(273) Martin Wright, Kondennetty Clover, 22% dressage
(329) Laura Byford, Brooklawn Figaro, 27.5 dressage (from Newport, Saffron Walden)
Horse Requisites BE90 on Sunday 14th August – section winners
(384) William Bamba, Coco Bean, dressage 24.3%
(415) Lisa Clarke Spence, Desert Fox 111, dressage 27.3% (Earls Colne)
(464) Emily Bradshaw, Confetti, dressage 27.8%
(524) Dudley Thompson, Celidh III, dressage 26% (bred by Tina Ure)
(578) Caroline Smith, Brother Barnaby, dressage 23.5%
BE100 Open
(603) Victoria Bax, Albertas Rose, dressage 28.3%
Quotes from Horseheath Horse Trials Winning Riders
Joanne Foley, winner of the PwC BE100 Section C, on board Mr Eric Coan’s Chakir S Z, on a score of 26.9, after adding just 0.4 time penalties to their 26.5 dressage score.
“It was a very well built and attractive course, that was big and bold as opposed to technical. It needed some bold riding at a few questions but there weren’t any trappy fences which was so nice to see.”
“Yes the ground was a bit firm underneath, but the grass cover was fantastic and provided a cushioned track, with it being clear that a lot of effort had gone in to making the ground as good as possible. I really didn’t mind running my horse on the ground and at least it was even.”
“I’ve kept him (Chakir S Z) at BE90 for the last season and this season up until now, to allow him to mature. This was only his 2nd BE100 after a clear round at Little Downham, and he really felt ready for the step up. The trust and partnership was there and he made it feel really easy. He gave me a really accurate, smart test and tried his heart out show jumping. I knew I had to ride him cross country and had to give him a bit of a kick going into the first water that was quite strong, but he was just great.”
“The plan for Chakir S Z now is to keep him at BE100 for the rest of the reason and maybe sneak in a Novice at the end of the year, if not we’ll aim him at Novice next year. If I was eligible for Grassroots I’d be heading there, as he is the ultimate grassroots horse, but sadly my Intermediate and 2* run’s keep me out of the running.”
“I’ll definitely be back (at Horseheath) next year. Horseheath really does provide an amazing opportunity for this area in terms of the potential to host higher level classes and International events in the future. It really is like a Barbury of the East.”
Dudley Thompson, Horse Requisites BE90 Section K winner, with Ceilidh III, bred by course designer Tina Ure, who finished on their dressage score of 26.
“She hasn’t been out of about 2 months, so it was really nice to come out to a local event for the weekend.”
As a key volunteer a number of events in the eastern region Dudley was well known by a number of the officials and picked up some rather amusing comments.
“I was accused by the Cross Country Control team for only riding to get out of helping for once, which made me laugh. It’s nice to volunteer, but also nice to ride.”
“The ground was good even for a big horse like Mary”
“They really were the poshest event loos I’ve seen”.
Lisa Clarke Spence has a busy and successful weekend at Horseheath with 2 rides in the BE100 and 1 in the BE90, all with sub 30 dressage scores and all jumping clear across country within the time. It was a 6th place for Nicholai II in BE100 section B on a score of 30.5, but a win for Paula Twinn’s Desert Fox III as they finished on their dressage score of 27.3.
“Paula owns and trains the horse and I’ve just picked up the ride while his usual rider, Paula’s son is out on a gap year in Australia.”
“It isn’t the first win for Paula at Horseheath though as she’s owned and trained point to point winners here before. As have I in owning, training and riding point to point winners here.”
“The course was really nice and a lovely layout. It was just really nice to ride around. The only thing I thought it that the time was perhaps a little generous. I made the time on all 3 horses relatively easily and they are not the quickest of horses. I like courses where you need to push on a little more rather than taking a pull, but they were still great tracks.”
“It was great viewing, which is really really good for the owners, who are so important as they are, after all, the ones that pay the bills.”
“It was a lovely sociable event, that was made better by the layout and everyone was so welcoming and friendly. Friendly really makes a difference and I know that all of the BE80 riders that I train that were competing here this weekend, really enjoyed themselves.”
“It was a great show jumping track as well. Nice and inviting but doing its job of getting the odd pole here and there.”
