First time at Burghley for Its a Jackpot ridden by Angus Smales
of them stormed around clear with only time faults, despite having the misfortune to be stopped and held during their round whilst a horse three in front of them was attended to. After show jumping on the final day, Simon finished the competition in 51st place – no mean achievement when you are competing against many of the world’s top horses and riders.
Also local and young, is Angus Smales who is also Leicestershire-based. To his credit, Angus is still young enough to compete in the Under-25 competitions, despite having competed at four-star level four times already. With two horses entered, his long-time ride, Ballyvooney, unfortunately went lame two days before the competition started. This left him with ‘It’s a Jackpot’, a ride he took on when the 14-year-old bay proved too strong for its owner, Annie Bullman. With only time faults on the cross-country, this combination finished in 42nd place.
Hatchery he was somewhat sticky and this was followed by a refusal at the second element. Then towards the end of the course, disaster struck at the Anniversary
Splash – this involved jumping over a hanging log, positioned about a foot away from the bank, into the lake. Unfortunately Paddys Gold applied the brakes,
but in the process managed to slip off the take-off bank and wedge himself into the gap between bank and lake. Becky was left with no option but to get off – so ending their first Burghley attempt.
A smile from ear-to- ear for Simon
Simon Grieves too was making his debut at Burghley, but had already successfully competed, with the same horse, at four-star level having ridden at Pau, in France last autumn. Based at his own yard at Tilton-on-the-Hill in Leicestershire, Simon was riding Cornacrew, a 13-year-old bay gelding owned by Maria and Andrew Buckley who are local Leicestershire property developers. Simon has made something of a name for himself in the local area having been work-rider for Sarah Cohen at the Preci Spark base at Newtown Linford for some time, before leaving to become a freelance rider in 2006. At this point he linked-up with BE trainer, Caroline Moore, who still coaches him, as does Terry Boon. For some time, Simon could frequently be spotted riding horses for owners at Vale View Equestrian Centre.
A machine across country Cornacrew and Simon Grieves shows how it should be done
Simon admits that dressage is not Cornacrew’s favourite pastime, but he certainly makes up for this on the cross-country. This they proved when the pair
Not their year
Again no stranger to Burghley was Oakham-based Richard Jones. Riding Highland Ford who had already been around Burghley last year, Richard will not forget this year’s attempt. Known to the riders as a ‘rider frightener’, the Cottesmore Leap has a ditch before it so large and deep you can drive a Land Rover through it. Sadly for Richard, the bottom of the yawning ditch was where both horse and rider ended-up.
Also out of luck this year was Mark Kyle from Wymeswold. Very unusually for him, his long-time mount, Step in Time, seemed off- colour and after a refusal on the cross-country the pair retired. This was followed by Mark withdrawing his second ride too. Also from Wymeswold, Lauren Shannon withdrew before the competition, and very sadly, we will not be seeing Clea Phillipps and her fantastic horse, Lead the Way, again following his tragic death at Bramham early in the year.
So, for the majority of our local riders, what promised much failed to materialise. But youth is on their side and you can bet they’ll be back! For many of them, it was a brilliant experience and, hopefully, the start of many.
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk
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