Monthly diary — September 2013

However, this left me free to enjoy the event and its unique setting, on a narrow peninsula between Malmö city and the ocean, making the course design a challenge. It proved not to ask enough questions, with a monotonous course principally of brush, roll tops and tables, resulting in 22 inside the time and 40 clear.

Next was Burghley and course designer, Mark Phillips excelled. It was THE most exciting competition we have seen for years, where the cross-country had the impact it should. In the showjumping, the rider in sixth place had three down but still remained sixth.

The third consecutive weekend was Blenheim, this time with Cry Freedon (CF) coming too. Having walked the course I felt it was of medium severity, again with too much brush and unlikely to cause massive trouble. How wrong I was – top riders were running out all over the place and only one combination made the time. CF went brilliantly, loving every minute of the cross-country.

Showjumping in the afternoon instead of the morning with the also-rans, was beyond all our expectations. I tried yet another new tactic – sitting quietly with minimum interference – which resulted in him jumping much better but still having three down. Overall we finished 27th out of 84 after another thrilling competition where cross-country dominated.