Aldon 1 Horse Trials 2009
ALDON (1)
Paul Tapner made it three in a row by winning the Advanced Intermediate at Aldon (1) for the third consecutive year but this time it was Martin and Suzie Belsham’s Stormhill Michael who’s name will be engraved on the lovely silver Aplin Horse statue. The pair had been lying second behind Kristina Cook and Miners Frolic after the first two phases on a score of 25.8 but when Tina opted to give her Olympic bronze medal ride a steady cross country run the door was open for Paul to take the trophy home again. Paul said “Inonothing, (who had scored the previous two wins) could have done it again today but he decided to have a show jump down yet still managed in finish in third. Stormhill Michael didn’t put a foot wrong, in fact all of my four horses in the class went well.” The 10 year old by Stormhill Miller had started his career as a show horse with Mary Gordon-Watson but Paul managed to persuade her to sell him to the Belsham’s when they were looking for an event horse for him to ride. “He’s just gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years” Paul explained “So will be having his first crack at Badminton this year.” When asked if he had managed to get home to his native Australia this winter Paul’s reply was “Unfortunately not, but I've been building new tack lockers in my lorry so it was me on the end of a welder doing “manly” things for a change rather than this “girly” riding round in circles!”
History also repeated it’s self for Vittoria Panizzon and her own Rock Model who found themselves runners up behind Paul again, as they were in 2008. “I have a very strong feeling of deja vu,” laughed Vittoria “Rock Model was just so pleased to be out that he was a bit full of himself in the show jumping and touched a pole. Express Eventing at the end of last year really has upped our game so I’m hoping for good things this season.”
One of eventing’s most exciting young prospects, Emily Llewellyn, also made in two in a row by repeating her success at last spring’s event in the Jump Savings sponsored Under21 OI. This time her ride was her mother, Cindy’s, Society Spice who notched up a dressage mark of 19.1, the only sub 20 score of the day, and even a rail down in the show jumping still left the pair in a strong position. When their nearest rivals Isabel Djivanovic and Elegant Grey had an unfortunate run out at the first narrow roll top going into the Dew Pond, Emily’s foot perfect cross-country round, to finish inside the optimum time, left them with a clear 10 point lead. “I’ve worked really hard on the dressage over the winter” Emily explained “We did our first Advanced Mediums a few weeks ago and won both, we needed to up our game a bit as I’m really hoping to do Badminton with him, as soon as the entry form was up on line I sent it off! Apart from Mum helping me I’ve also had lessons with Andrew Gould who has been a big help.” Second placed went to Georgie Spence, showing no ill effects from the broken wrists she suffered in January, riding Skylight with Tim Rogers and Corrieview Owen in third.
Lucy Wiegersma scored her first win on Carolyn Bates’ stallion Jigilo II in OI section R by finishing on their dressage mark of 30.9. “I’ve been riding him for about 18 months now” said Lucy “but I’m really pleased with the way he’s come out this spring I feel we’re starting to gel as a partnership at last. He’s much more settled on the flat now, he use to get quite anxious when we went into the ring. The jumping has improved too, he seems to be letting go a bit more as he’s been a bit tight in his quarters before.” Having recently returned from Portugal Lucy was off on her travels again, going straight from Aldon to compete with Shaabrak at Fontainebleau.
Elder Scouller riding Deli Klipps, made a valiant effort to catch Lucy’s score but 3.6 time penalties slotted them in second place with Jade Lazenby and Matisse in third.
Nick Gauntlett enjoyed a successful day in the Intermediate classes by winning section P riding the Arscott family’s Chapel Amble and finishing second in section Q on his own Tiger Beach. Nick took over the ride on Chapel Amble from Sally Arscott recently and was delighted with the mare’s all-round performance. “She moves so well on the flat and can really jump and gallop” Nick said “Sally ran her at two star level and I feel she’s ready to go Advanced now.” Pippa Funnell had lead the section for some time on Pure Addiction but in the end had to settle for the runner up spot.
Fun Time Frankie is really living up to his name for Fiona Hobby as the pair’s win in section P was their second in less than two weeks. “With a win at Tweseldown already under our belt I really didn’t intend to run him cross country today” Fiona said “but then at the very last minute I decided he could do with another run to improve his fitness and am really glad I did now.”
This year Aldon Horse Trials celebrated its 30th anniversary and for all of that time the Batten family has organized it. Even in the most atrocious weather it has never failed to run and was justly reward with a weekend of the best spring sunshine the South West has enjoyed for some time.
Paul Tapner made it three in a row by winning the Advanced Intermediate at Aldon (1) for the third consecutive year but this time it was Martin and Suzie Belsham’s Stormhill Michael who’s name will be engraved on the lovely silver Aplin Horse statue. The pair had been lying second behind Kristina Cook and Miners Frolic after the first two phases on a score of 25.8 but when Tina opted to give her Olympic bronze medal ride a steady cross country run the door was open for Paul to take the trophy home again. Paul said “Inonothing, (who had scored the previous two wins) could have done it again today but he decided to have a show jump down yet still managed in finish in third. Stormhill Michael didn’t put a foot wrong, in fact all of my four horses in the class went well.” The 10 year old by Stormhill Miller had started his career as a show horse with Mary Gordon-Watson but Paul managed to persuade her to sell him to the Belsham’s when they were looking for an event horse for him to ride. “He’s just gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years” Paul explained “So will be having his first crack at Badminton this year.” When asked if he had managed to get home to his native Australia this winter Paul’s reply was “Unfortunately not, but I've been building new tack lockers in my lorry so it was me on the end of a welder doing “manly” things for a change rather than this “girly” riding round in circles!”
History also repeated it’s self for Vittoria Panizzon and her own Rock Model who found themselves runners up behind Paul again, as they were in 2008. “I have a very strong feeling of deja vu,” laughed Vittoria “Rock Model was just so pleased to be out that he was a bit full of himself in the show jumping and touched a pole. Express Eventing at the end of last year really has upped our game so I’m hoping for good things this season.”
One of eventing’s most exciting young prospects, Emily Llewellyn, also made in two in a row by repeating her success at last spring’s event in the Jump Savings sponsored Under21 OI. This time her ride was her mother, Cindy’s, Society Spice who notched up a dressage mark of 19.1, the only sub 20 score of the day, and even a rail down in the show jumping still left the pair in a strong position. When their nearest rivals Isabel Djivanovic and Elegant Grey had an unfortunate run out at the first narrow roll top going into the Dew Pond, Emily’s foot perfect cross-country round, to finish inside the optimum time, left them with a clear 10 point lead. “I’ve worked really hard on the dressage over the winter” Emily explained “We did our first Advanced Mediums a few weeks ago and won both, we needed to up our game a bit as I’m really hoping to do Badminton with him, as soon as the entry form was up on line I sent it off! Apart from Mum helping me I’ve also had lessons with Andrew Gould who has been a big help.” Second placed went to Georgie Spence, showing no ill effects from the broken wrists she suffered in January, riding Skylight with Tim Rogers and Corrieview Owen in third.
Lucy Wiegersma scored her first win on Carolyn Bates’ stallion Jigilo II in OI section R by finishing on their dressage mark of 30.9. “I’ve been riding him for about 18 months now” said Lucy “but I’m really pleased with the way he’s come out this spring I feel we’re starting to gel as a partnership at last. He’s much more settled on the flat now, he use to get quite anxious when we went into the ring. The jumping has improved too, he seems to be letting go a bit more as he’s been a bit tight in his quarters before.” Having recently returned from Portugal Lucy was off on her travels again, going straight from Aldon to compete with Shaabrak at Fontainebleau.
Elder Scouller riding Deli Klipps, made a valiant effort to catch Lucy’s score but 3.6 time penalties slotted them in second place with Jade Lazenby and Matisse in third.
Nick Gauntlett enjoyed a successful day in the Intermediate classes by winning section P riding the Arscott family’s Chapel Amble and finishing second in section Q on his own Tiger Beach. Nick took over the ride on Chapel Amble from Sally Arscott recently and was delighted with the mare’s all-round performance. “She moves so well on the flat and can really jump and gallop” Nick said “Sally ran her at two star level and I feel she’s ready to go Advanced now.” Pippa Funnell had lead the section for some time on Pure Addiction but in the end had to settle for the runner up spot.
Fun Time Frankie is really living up to his name for Fiona Hobby as the pair’s win in section P was their second in less than two weeks. “With a win at Tweseldown already under our belt I really didn’t intend to run him cross country today” Fiona said “but then at the very last minute I decided he could do with another run to improve his fitness and am really glad I did now.”
This year Aldon Horse Trials celebrated its 30th anniversary and for all of that time the Batten family has organized it. Even in the most atrocious weather it has never failed to run and was justly reward with a weekend of the best spring sunshine the South West has enjoyed for some time.
