Actual competition report...Point to Pointing is back on!

dominobrown

dominobrown

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I have given up doing competition reports on here, as have most people it seems :(
Another thing- you cant put pointing as a prefix, though there are plenty more obscure sports that you can....

Anyways I am back pointing :D
This time I however I am doing all the training etc, and have a lovely maiden who belongs to the person I work for. She had run in 2 bumpers previously (NH flat races) but never been over a fence.

I have done quite a bit of hunting to qualify...




I seemed to end up 'baby sitting' a load of kids, which is easier said than done on young pointer, luckily she is a lovely horse to hunt.
The hunting brought her on no end... she learnt to think for herself and pay attention to what she was doing. We also did a spot of jumping for the first time too, there is a video of this but I don't know how to get it off facebook.

She jumped really well out hunting, there were no hedges but timber rails, some xc jumps (quite trappy) and stone walls.

We struggled to find somewhere to school her but one of bosses horses who is trained by Chris Grant had a little bit of a leg so needed to come home so we took her over to his yard to school... his wife Sue took some pictures...


First time over a 'proper' fence!

First ditch sequence....



(love this picture!)




She jumped quite big fist time, but was never going to do anything other than jump them. Chris gave me a few tips, he used to train her.

Then the big day itself at Alnwick.... There was a lot of doubters saying that I was mad etc etc....
My friend who used to train and ride came, as well as my good friend who has worked in racing forever to lead up. Walked the course with jockey friend who gave some tips etc, where the best ground was etc.
The poor mare got very buzzed up at this point... it took chris and sue grant, both my other racing friends and 3 other people to tack her up!!! I was getting quite nervous as this point... between them they probably have the experience of taking up 1000's of racehorse and we just managed.
Luckily she settled in the paddock....
http://www.p2pnorthernphotos.co.uk/rrc14/pages/RRC14_092 copy.htm

As there were 16 runners and this was her first time jumping I dropped her out the back to stay out of the mayhem, give her plenty of room and time to see the fences.
Links to pictures...
http://www.p2pnorthernphotos.co.uk/rrc14/pages/RRC14_126 copy.htm

http://www.p2pnorthernphotos.co.uk/rrc14/pages/RRC14_127 copy.htm

http://www.p2pnorthernphotos.co.uk/rrc14/pages/RRC14_168 copy.htm

http://www.p2pnorthernphotos.co.uk/rrc14/pages/RRC14_169 copy.htm

http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?containerid=26945028539&pictureid=26945042280

http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?containerid=26945028539&pictureid=26945031401

http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?containerid=26945028539&pictureid=26945031923

http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?containerid=26945028539&pictureid=26945031241

http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?containerid=26945028539&pictureid=26945031241

Style wise I need to work on keeping my hand down on landing and being a bit more streamlined.

As I had dropped her out the back and she is not particularly quick anyways, she made up some places towards the end up the hill and was staying on well but needs 3 miles next time, not 2m4f as she is a proper stayer. She had too much to do to catch the leaders, my fault, but she was still full of running, ears pricked jumping well over the last with plenty more in the tank. Not a scratch on her and she settled down after the race, I think she might of enjoyed it too :)
 
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Great report and amazing pics! You are very brave and I loved reading about something abit different. Sounds like she has an exciting future ahead of her :)
 
Great report DB and well done for finishing, just a matter of time until you're in the winners enclosure! Rosie has acquired 2 pointers and is planning to race again this season for the first time since her accident but we'll be in East Anglia so we won't see you and the new girl :(
 
Thank you for a great report. You both look fabulous. I can't begin to imagine doing what you do!

Lovely that she is a nice hunter, means she will always have a job, especially if she is patient enough to nanny children (though I need to get myself a racehorse to keep up with the child I nanny out hunting! She is the fastest out!).
 
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