Equestrian Life Magazine September Issue 220 | Page 64

Becky Clarke’s
Show Jumping Column
Photos kindly supplied
Hi everyone, I hope you are
all having a great a summer.
On the 2nd August, Fleur
and I were packed and on
our way to the Trailblazers
Championships that were held
at Stoneleigh Park. I was really
excited because I really enjoyed
Trailblazers last year and
couldn’t wait to have another
go this year on Fleur.
When we arrived we just looked
around the rings and took Fleur
for a walk around the park before
we put her back in her stable. The
jumps were just as spooky and
bright as I remembered them but
they had added a few new fences
in each ring. Fleur’s stable was big
enough for her and was in good
condition; she seemed happy and
comfortable staying in it.
After looking around the rings we
went to bed and the first night in
the lorry was a bit restless as I was
both very excited and nervous for
the next day. It was an early start
the next morning and Fleur was
very eager to leave the stable for
some grass. After tacking Fleur
up and walking to the warm-up
ring, I began to warm Fleur up
and watched the end of the class
before me. Last year, the warm-up
ring was very full which made
it quite difficult to warm-up but
this year the amount of people in
the warm-up ring was controlled
which made warming-up a lot
easier and safer. The course wasn’t
too difficult apart from the three
doubles and a few difficult lines. I
managed to fight my nerves and
Fleur and I went clear with a good

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jump-off time and came 8th and
qualified for the championship
final the next day.
In the 75cm I had to retire as it
was raining quite hard and Fleur
had struggled to see the fences as
we were riding straight into the
rain. However, we still qualified for
the consolation finals. After Fleur
and I had finished competing
we took her back to her stable
and we watched the rest of the
jumping.
Trailblazers always have such
a competitive yet friendly
atmosphere which is why I think it
is one of the best championships
I have attended. The awards are
well worth competing for and the
experience is amazing. I was so
tired that night that it was not at
all difficult for me to get to sleep
and my nerves had calmed down
as I had already jumped Fleur and
we had already seen the fences.
In the morning it was another
early start for the 65cm
championship finals which would
be held in a different ring from
the one in which we competed
the day before. Unfortunately,
Fleur and I had a stop in our
round although Fleur jumped the
rest of the course really well and
I was still really pleased with her.
As I was waiting for our last class
to start, the heavy rain started
to come and didn’t go away so I
knew that I would be competing
in it. Fleur did not like the rain
and, before the bell, started to
spin, rear and back up! However,
I managed to encourage her into
a canter to begin the course.

Although it was raining quite
heavily, the surface of the arenas
got wet but they were not
slippery and didn’t seem to affect
any of the rounds. Fleur managed
to cope with the rain and jumped
a really nice clear round and I
was even more pleased with her
efforts in the jump-off as she was
both clear and quick, placing us
in 8th out of 40 competitors. I was
very proud of Fleur as Trailblazers
is a big championship and it
was only her second experience
at any championship. Overall,

I enjoyed Trailblazers even
more than last year and I would
definitely recommend it to any
aged rider. I get really excited at
the Trailblazers championships
in particular as, although you
get nervous, a lot of adrenaline
and excitement takes over in
your round and just watching
the rounds at any height gets the
spectators involved.
Bye for now

Becky, Fleur & Delilahx

If you would like to see the video of Fleur
and me in action, have a look at our Youtube
channel.
Youtube: Familyclarke100 or Becky Clarke
Facebook: BC Show Jumping
Fleur’s Facebook Page: Ginger Ninja
Website: www.bcshowjumping.weebly.com

Charlotte
Cadwallader
Photo kindly supplied
Charlotte Cadwallader aged 14
and her 6-year-old, 14hh New
Forest Pony Fiddlers Bagpuss
competed at the Trailblazers
Showjumping Championships
85cm at Stoneleigh Park.
Friday was warm-up day as was
the weather! In blistering heat,
they reached the top 10 being
placed 6th out of 30. On the
Saturday, yet another scorching
day, in a class of 30 Charlotte
and Baggie were placed 6th
which qualified them for the
championship on the Sunday.

Sunday arrived and so did the
awful weather with pouring
rain. Charlotte and Baggie had
a cracking round with just a
fence down so after three days
of competing, they came home
with two 6th places. Not bad for
their first attempt at Trailblazers.
A huge thank you to her trainer
Joanne Burns (showjumping)
for all her patience and
encouragement and to Charlotte’s
new sponsor Equisign for all their
support.

www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk

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