The eventing season is now in full swing and this diary update is long overdue:

BAROCCA: Portugal
Great weather! At the first weekend’s competition we were best of the British in the CIC**.  All the young horses went well.  The second weekend Jigilo, the stallion by Jumbo, owned by Caroline Bates was third in the CCI**, Woodfalls Indigo Jones (Scooby) was 9^th in the CCI*** and Granntevka Prince went very well in his first CIC***.

ALDON: What a shock; freezing weather and rain, the suntan washing off before my eyes.  All went well.  Simon Porloe won his first Novice and Raven’s Wing (Ray) was second in his first Pre Novice.

MORETON: Mid week with Pre Novices.  All placed, then straight on to:-

FONTAINEBLEAU with Shabraak (Ross). Worse weather still; it was freezing cold and snowing.  He went very well despite having a close encounter with a drain in the stable yard!  Ended up fourth and Best of British.  Straight back to UK overnight to

SOMERLEY where Beckli was 6^th in Open Intermediate with a double clear.

BURNHAM MARKET: Beginning to think the weather gods have got it in for us.  Granntevka Prince was 2^nd in CIC***, the others went well but were unplaced.

PORTMAN: mid week.  Simon 2^nd Novice, Prometheus (Sam) 3^rd Novice, Ravenswing (Ray) 4^th in his first Novice.  Jeopardy (Jep) won his first PN, Comet 3^rd and Eric 7^th.  A total of 17 horses were run from our yard of which 13 were placed (ridden by me, Jade and Fred).  Fred is a new addition to our team, an 18 year old Irish rider who will be put on the Team Wiegersma hall of fame page shortly.

NEC: Indoor Cross Country at the National Open Show Jumping.  Great fun; lights, music and excitable crowd.  Rode French Leave (Sandy) who loved it and was still high on Monday morning! On the second day we were 4^th paired with Guy Williams.

WESTON cancelled due to 3” of snow.  Perhaps I shouldn’t mention the weather gods again. 

BELTON: Beckli went very well to win Advanced.  Sandy  was 7^th in the OI his first run of the season.

Sandy has also been pursuing a show jumping career alongside his eventing.  He qualified for the Hickstead Novice Winter Championships (to be held at the Royal International Meeting in July) and has got a little closer to his goal of competing at the HOYS by getting his Foxhunter double clears.  He will compete in some regional finals this summer as well as the Grade C of 1.20m amateur qualifiers.

3rd March 2008

The first entry for the diary is by Vicki as Lucy, together with Tiggy, Caroline, Hendrik (her Dad) and Suzanna Hext, are all busy packing up for the first event of the season at Barrocca in Portugal. Suzanna, who is currently a working pupil with us, will be competing on her own horse Sweet Jemima. Lucy will be riding Woodfalls Indigo Jones, Grantevka Prince, Cornish Nomad and the Jumbo stallion Jigilo, belonging to Caroline Bates.

There have been plenty of problems to solve getting ready for this, mostly due to the lorry situation; it is currently having some major work done and won’t be ready in time for the trip! Thankfully Clare Beacham, herself once a working pupil with the Wiegersmas, has kindly lent her beautiful (smart) lorry and saved the day! Everyone is a bit nervous about keeping it beautiful but they are looking forward to a great trip in more comfort than usual.