So we’ve done it. We’ve got a meaningful result at a decent level. Dell finished 9^th in the CIC* at Hambleden. But
blimey it was a bit of an epic weekend.....

For starters I was missing school on Friday (again) but an early start meant we had plenty of time for Gray and Dell’s dressage.yes""> I’ve often been told that a problem with the junior system
is that you don’t get the experience of competing against ‘the real world’. Of course the other end of the spectrum
is being chucked in the deep end competing against this year’s badminton winner
etc – the list goes on, suffice to say we had a very competitive section! The first
thing that hit me was the standard of dressage.yes""> So as Dell and I came down the centre line minus any kind of
top hat or tails being scrutinised by not one but 2 judges and in an arena
adorned with flowers it was Dell’s time to shine.yes""> He got a 54.8 which put him in the top 20, despite him eying
up the flowers for an apres test snack! On top of that when I went to get my
test sheet, which is normally helpful with a few marginally legible comments on
I was a bit surprised to be presented with a mini dossier all about Dell (he
must have felt very special) as the two judges had really “gone to town” with
their comments. On a different
front, Gray didn’t get on so well but did go clear XC and it did make me
realise that we learn more from the times when things don’t go so great than we
do from when we win.

However, logistical issues meant I couldn’t trot up Dell so mum had to save the day which was fine until Dell was at the far end of the trot up and saw his stable mate
leave the start box.... “hmm, I fancy that!” Suffice to say he got the frown
and “yes, he’s fine” as Dell enthusiastically struts away from the trot up at
high speed dragging Mum with him! So
onto course walking. Hambleden’s
definitely one of my favourite tracks and the CIC* was a decent mix of
intermediate and novice fences as well as a large section of separate
track. The organisers had also
very kindly supplied drinks vouchers to all the riders which as you can imagine
was very popular although a lack of lights in the tent cut things short – well
that’s one way to get people to go!

So an early start the next morning saw us jump a clear round show jumping and then onto the XC which we flew round with just 8.8 time penalties including a rather
exuberant jump into the water. A
good weekend – although I might have to start on that locker full of school work
on the way back!