EVENTING MAGAZINE WRITE UP FOR FIRLE PLACE HORSE TRIALS 2004
Published: October 2004

Downgrade pays off for Simon

FIRLE PLACE
GEMMA Hall's decision to step down a level with Clare Prentice's Tullineaskey Simon proved a fortuitous one when the pair scooped the intermediate novice section at Firle Place in convincing style.

Gemma said: "We've had a few technical problems on the cross-country at intermediate level, so this was a good confidence boost for him."

The absence of Bank Holiday sunshine did little to dampen the atmosphere at the hugely popular Firle extravaganza. Three inviting courses, excellent going and pleasing entries ensured a feast of action.

The novice cross-country time proved fairly elusive, but finance director Jayne Cummins and her own Handley Barns Spring sailed around to beat the clock. They were rewarded for their efforts with a win in owner/rider novice section L. "I'm very much a weekend rider and a win like this makes all the hard work seem worthwhile," said Jayne.

Clare Lewis was the surprised winner of section M. "I thought I went like a snail across country," she laughed. "I was trying out some new brakes and they obviously worked a treat!" Her smart dressage test with the much admired six­ year-old Cruisalier and a double jumping clear gave the pair their second consecutive victory after a triumph at Brockenhurst the previous weekend.

Few combinations mastered Brian Leer's up-to-height show jumping track and with balloons floating across the arena in the blustery wind, this phase proved influential.

Sarah Gledhill and Magna Carte won open novice section 0 despite rolling two poles. "Show jumping is our weak point," Sarah acknowledged.

Georgia Bale won the remaining novice section with her own and Emma Hodgson's Whoops. "He has certainly lived up to his name in the past," said Georgia. "But he turned the corner this spring and now I would love to take him to Le Lion." Whoops was bought from Irish dealer Donal Barnwell. "Both Pippa [Funnell] and William Fox-Pitt tried him, but he ended up back at Donal's yard because he was so naughty. In fact, he featured in the problem­ solving pages of Pippa's book!"

Firle benefits a number of local charities, including Hope in the Valley Riding for the Disabled and St Wilfrid's Hospice. With the public car park full to bursting on Sunday, organisers Jo Carr and Nicky Hicks have obviously hit upon a winning formula, bringing together the annual horse trials, country fair and dog show.

S N I P P E T S
Dressage

SPECTATORS looking for an alternative to equine entertainment at Firle needed to took no further than the exemption dog show. Classes catered for every canine talent, but perhaps the most intriguing was advanced dog dressage. Competent execution of movements such as "about turn at C" and "proceed forward at steward's command at X' led one onlooker to exclaim: "Well, there certainly seems to be more submission here than in the pre-novice test I've just watched!"

Ellie Hughes