Issue 16 April 2017

Love it NEWSLETTERFOURTH ISSUE 2017Get involved for this ‘Spring Spectacular’

Michael Owen and The Highland Prince Image courtesy of Matt Nuttall Photography

In this issue . . .

What a Spring Spectacular!“ Hello, and welcome to this post-event issue in celebration of what was a truly spectacular three-days of eventing! We welcomed a record number of two-legged and four-legged visitors through the gates and the sun-gods blessed us with the most incredible weather. Here’s just a little snippet of all the action and, remember, in just under 5 months we’ll be doing it all again! We hope to see you at our autumn British Eventing Horse Trials running 22-24 September 2017.”

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Jump to it!Jump to it! Our brand new arena eventing competition held on grass was a huge success and kindly sponsored by Equine and Pet Feeds. Check out our winners.

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Sponsorship FOCUSOur Rowen Barbary-sponsored water complex is much admired and provides a stunning location for visitors to watch all the action. We catch up with our long-term supporters Rowen Barbary Horse Feeds.

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Smile for the cameraDid you know that we ran an incredible 24 sections over three-days of competition? We’d like to congratulate all our winners in this hall of fame!

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Owen for goldOur very own Michael Owen was crowned king in the Istanbul BBQ, Chester Advanced Intermediate class. Take a look at how the AI, OI and I classes panned out.

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A Day in the Lifethis issue, Kelsall Hill’s Phil Latham reflects on what was a great weekend of sport.

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Congratulations to our resident 4* event rider Michael Owen who proved to be the one to beat in the

Istanbul BBQ, Chester Advanced Intermediate (AI) class.

Owen goes for gold

With a total prize pot of £3,000 up for grabs a record number of entries were received from riders wanting to challenge the reign of two-times champion Paul Sims, who returned to defend his title with his 2015 winner, Last Secret.

An impressive performance from Michael and The Highland Prince saw them claim the £1,000 winner’s cheque by finishing just 0.4 penalties ahead of the reigning champion. Third place went to early leaders Louise Harwood and the Badminton-bound Whitson after penalties

incurred in the show jumping phase proved to be costly.

Michael has a long-standing partnership with The Highland Prince and, at 17-years-old, this remarkable event horse is showing no signs of slowing down.

Michael commented: “’Darcy’ did his first event at Kelsall Hill 11-years ago and he still feels as good as ever. He’s so conditioned in his body that we just keep him ticking over these days, he goes around the farm ride at home and

AI winner Michael Owen is presented with his prize by Captain Mark Phillips, Robin Latham (Land Owner) and, representing principle sponsors, Istanbul BBQ Chester,

Lesley Bradshaw. Image_an-eventful-life.com.au

AI winners Michael Owen & The Highland Prince. Image_ FRW Photography

Paul Sims and Contiki Too. Image: Ann Gibbons

schools in the arena once a week to help with suppleness.”

Darcy will next be aimed at the CIC3* at Tattersalls International Horse Trials in the hope of team selection for the Nations Cup.

Louise Harwood has had a less than perfect start to the season. Her schedule was disrupted following a fall at Belton Horse Trials and then bad luck plagued her journey to Kelsall Hill when her lorry broke down.

Louise explained: “The organisers were just brilliant about things, I couldn’t have asked for more and everyone was so helpful. The ground at Kelsall Hill is perfect so it was great to give Whitson a good gallop in preparation for Badminton, it was frustrating to pick up a few time penalties, but I’m happy with his run.”

Michael Owen and The HIghland Prince. Image: Matt Nuttall Photography“In my opinion,

Kelsall Hill is one

of the best events

around. There’s not

many venues where

you can view the

show jumping and

80% of the cross

country track from

where you’re stood

which makes it

perfect for owners

and spectators.”

Paul Sims

Alexandra Farrar-Fry and Cruisings Slainte Mhath claimed the Cazenove Capital Management Open Intermediate section, despite suffering with a case of ‘mental block’ in the dressage phase.

Alexandra explained: “‘Archie’ is not the easiest horse in the world and he took umbrage at a straw bale outside of the dressage arena. We held it together for the first few movements but then my mind went totally blank. It just proves that you don’t have to be perfect to win at this game!”

The duo moved up to BE Intermediate level last year and they have secured qualification for the Open Championships at the British Festival of Eventing 2017.

Ireland’s Mark Kyle enjoyed a good day at the office when he claimed the OI runner’s up prize aboard Maria Doel’s Gortfadda Diamond, while his Badminton entry Jesmond Justice finished in third-place.

Three cheers for Archie

What’s behind the name? Alexandra Farrar-Fry’s winning ride Cruisings Slainte Mhath, is named after an Irish greeting meaning ‘good health’ or ‘cheers’.

Pistol Petehits the target

A world-class field Our outstanding cross country courses designed by Captain Mark Phillips, attracted some of the best riders in the business across three busy days of competition including Nicola Wilson, Piggy French and China’s Alex Hua Tian.

The many visitors to our event enjoyed trade stands, food concessions and free face painting for children, while other highlights included an arena eventing competition and a side saddle show.

In the money: Kelsall Hill was a happy hunting ground for Paul Sims with no less than 7 of his rides scoring top-ten placings across the

BE90, BE100, Novice and Intermediate sections!

Image courtesy of Tim WilkinsonEventing Imags

Image courtesy of FRW

Photography

Image courtesy of FRW

Photography

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Sarah Stretton and the diminutive Danger Mouse VI were unstoppable in the Cazenove Capital Management Intermediate, leaving AI rivals Paul Sims and Michael Owen with another battle on their hands for the remaining medal positions.

Sims gained the advantage on this occasion with Sharon Bayston’s Contiki Too when Michael and Jim’s Pal rolled a pole in the show jumping arena, dropping them into third place.

Rugby-based Sarah Stretton, part-owns her winning ride Danger Mouse VI with Heather Foster. Known at home as ‘Pistol Pete’, Sarah took over the ride on this 15.2h, chestnut stallion four seasons ago. Sarah commented: “Pete is just mega and I’m really chuffed with him! Kelsall Hill is one of my favourite places as the courses are varied with plenty of questions which is perfect for training horses. This is a ‘must-have’ fixture in my diary.”

“The ground at Kelsall Hill is just perfect and the

educational cross country courses encourage

positive, forwards riding. It’s wonderful that the AI

class has a good prize pot on offer, I think that it’s

great for the sport.”

International Event Rider, Louise Harwood

Paul Sims and Last Secret, Image: FRW Photography

AI prize giving, Michael Owen, Paul Sims and Louise Harwood,Image: Maria WynneLouise Harwood and Whitson. Image: FRW Photgraphy

Mark Kyle and Jesmond Justice, Image: Matt Nuttall Photography

Image courtesy of Tim Wilkinson, Eventing Images

Image courtesy of

Tim Wilkinson, Eventing Images

Jump to it . . .What a fabulous day! On Sunday 23rd April we ran for the first time our Arena Eventing competition on grass sponsored by Equine and Pet Feeds Knutsford. The track designed by BS course builder Gilly Milner with 20 new purpose built fences for the occasion gave all the combinations a tricky ride to earn their placings. Classes ran from BE80 up to BE100 level with prizes courtesy of Equine and Pet Feeds and British Eventing. Equine & Pet Feeds are a family business based in Knutsford, who offer a full range of horse feeds including natural products from ‘Thunderbrook Equestrian’ and ‘Agrobs’. They provide a free delivery service within a 50-mile radius and can offer feeding advice from a trained nutritionist.

Maxine Linasriding PippinsGoldie Pricilla

Ian Grahamriding Shadow and

Samantha Tomlinsonriding Dizzy Rascal

Sarah Caplanriding Miranda

Carolyn Bannerriding Steeling

Stars

Susie Wiseriding

Canaletoo III

Nicky Grey Williamsriding Finley’s Flight

Vicki Pyeriding Roo

Claire Phillipsriding Lark

Abigail Jonesriding King Champ

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BE80cm Class

BE90cm Class

BE100cm Class

Maxine Linas

Carolyn Banner

Susie Wise

We would personally like to thank . . .The following for making the event run smoothly and the best it possibly could:

• The sponsors, Equine and Pet Feeds for the brilliant support and amazing prizes!

• The Judge, Wayne

• The Judges writer, Rachel

• The collecting ring steward, Lucy Miller

• The pole pickers, Layla and Liberty

• The medics, Top Cat Medics

. . . and finally but by all means not last all the competitors!

Image May Whiston Photography Image May Whiston Photography Image May Whiston Photography

Image May Whiston Photography Image May Whiston Photography Image May Whiston Photography

Image May Whiston Photography Image Maria Wynne Image May Whiston Photography

Image May Whiston Photography Image Maria Wynne Image May Whiston Photography

Smile for the

Did you know that we ran an incredible 24 sections over three days of competition? We’d like to congratulate all our winners in this hall of fame!

BE80 (T) section winners Suzanne Birchall, Lily Evans, Connie Russell sponsored by D & J Saddlery. BE90 section E & F winners, Neil Fox, Sophie Brown sponsored by Siddle Equine Services.

BE100 and Open section winners, Emily

Philp, Michael Owen and Laura Williams and

sponsors Amanda Davies from Equine 74,

Nigel de Winton from Cheshire Carpet Edging,

Chantal Siddle and her son Barney from

Siddle Equine Services and Equine and

Canine Solutions.

BE100 section G winner Paul Sims sponsored by Equiport

Nov O section winners Hayden Hankey

sponsored by Delamere Manor Weddings.

Novice N section winner Lauren Shannon sponsored by Equine 74.

BE90 H, I, J, X section winners Rachel Andrews,

Sophie Wilson, Hannah Barnett and Kate

Hayward sponsored by Dales Agri, Plas Tirion

Farm Livery and Siddle Equine.

Joint Organisers Phil Latham and Jane Whitaker with Land Owner Robin Latham,

BE Steward Lady Best and BE Chairman Paul Hodgson

BE90 open section winner Paul Burgess sponsored by Siddle Equine Services.

Advanced Intermediate top 3, Paul Sims, Michael Owen and Louise Harwood sponsored by Istanbul BBQ Chester.

Open Intermediate section winner Alexandra

Farrar-Fry sponsored by Cazenove Capital Management.

Intermediate section winner Sarah Stretton

sponsored by Cazenove Capital Management.

N, ON (Sunday) section winners Alice Tracey, Bianca Mortimer and James Somerville sponsored by Afford Bond Accountants, Bolesworth International Horse Show and Siddle Equine.

Camera

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I have to say that I always look forward to getting ready for our events. Yes there’s a lot to organise and the hours can be long but there’s something about seeing it all ready for Thursday at 2pm when the first course walkers set off that has its own reward.

The satisfaction the team gets from the positive feedback rejuvenates fatigued muscles which is necessary as we’re left after the event with just as much work putting everything away. It makes for a long 10 week period from start to finish but when we’ve had nearly 1000 horses through the door and everyone’s gone home in one piece and the sun shone in a cloudless sky for three days you can’t do much better than that.

We used some new tactics this time. We zero grazed the grass off the entire area to achieve a nicer finish for spectators with less dead grass on the surface which looks unseemly and can cause horses to slip. I was a little concerned about the going so we verti drained the entire course which I hope was appreciated. At £400 a day it adds a significant cost to the event

but it ensures that clients get the best we can offer. All the fences were repainted, sanded where appropriate and oiled all greenery replaced. We even ran our first ever Arena Eventing competition on grass too.

We were delighted with the way Sunday’s unaffiliated arena eventing went and we may now look at a summer series with a lower entry level of 70cm. It’s a great way to introduce horses and novice riders to competitive sport and allow horses to get the big day atmosphere without the dressage. The side saddle competition seemed to go well on the Saturday with plenty of entries and a full days competition.

I have to say I’m proud of what we’ve created and the team we’ve got to work with, it takes a lot of effort to put on an event. It was a pleasure to show Paul Hodgson, BE chairman, around and discuss the sponsorship issues facing venues without which we couldn’t function and the future

direction for British Eventing, we very much look forward to

being part of the sport as it develops.

It was great to see our very own

Kelsall based Michael Owen win the Istanbul BBQ AI section and collect the Winton memorial trophy and

£1000 cheque. It’s also good to

see the other top names compete

in this section something that we hope

appeals to spectators and sponsors alike.

Two weeks on and our cross country schooling has now come to an end. I think we’ll start awarding clients with points for their excuses for dropping strings and doing things that they know they ought not to but thought no one would notice, who knows we may even start publishing it after the next event! Now it’s a race to clear all the fences, string and posts away, store the banners and flags, numbers and letters so that we’re ready for next time. The ground will be set right again and we’ll hopefully take crop of haylage sometime later in the summer before we start all over again.

DAY LIFE

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Phil Latham

In this issue, Phil Lathamreflects on what was a great weekend of sport

We’re proud of our long-standing relationship with Rowen Barbary Horse Feeds as loyal supporters of our British Eventing Horse Trials. The Rowen Barbary-sponsored water complex is much admired and, being at the heart of our cross country course, it provides a stunning location for visitors to watch all the action unfold.Based near Whitchurch, Rowen Barbary Horse Feeds is consistently growing year on year by providing good quality products and helpful, friendly advice. Working alongside parent company Target Feeds Limited, Rowen Barbary offer their customers a wide range of animal feeds and supplements. The team at Rowen Barbary are renowned for their excellence in customer service and guarantee a

personal service to provide tailored advice to their clients. Whether you keep horses for pleasure or you’re a professional rider, Rowen Barbary are committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of your horses. From youngstock to veterans, their range of carefully designed, premium quality feeds and supplements can meet your requirements.Becky Hollows from Rowen Barbary commented: “We are delighted to support local events and Rowen Barbary has sponsored the Water Complex at Kelsall Hill for many years.  We know it is an event that many riders look forward to and special congratulations must go to all the riders achieving a double clear in the grassroot classes who picked up a Rowen Barbary rosette and to all the section winners.”

To find out more please visit www.rowenbarbary.co.uk

F CUSSponsorship

Rowen Barbary Horse Feeds

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