Kelsall Hill vs South of England - views on the Intermediate XC

[Cazza263]

As title really - daughter and horse were all set to do their first Intermediate at Burnham Market but it has been cancelled :-( So now looking to re-route for an outing before Lt Downham. Unfortunately Pontispool and Allerton are both too far away so looking at the following weekend, which means either South of England or Kelsall Hill. Need to make a decision quickly as SoE only got space in the OI and Kelsall Hill's ballot date is tomorrow!

Are either/both suitable as first time Intermediates? Or should we wait and go to Lt Downham which we know well and they did an XC clinic there recently jumping some of the Intermediate fences ...

Thanks

 

[cundlegreen]

As title really - daughter and horse were all set to do their first Intermediate at Burnham Market but it has been cancelled :-( So now looking to re-route for an outing before Lt Downham. Unfortunately Pontispool and Allerton are both too far away so looking at the following weekend, which means either South of England or Kelsall Hill. Need to make a decision quickly as SoE only got space in the OI and Kelsall Hill's ballot date is tomorrow!

Are either/both suitable as first time Intermediates? Or should we wait and go to Lt Downham which we know well and they did an XC clinic there recently jumping some of the Intermediate fences ...

Thanks

I'm in the same situation as you, have just gone to enter the Intermediate at SOE to find its closed. I'm told that its a stiff Intermediate, yet the photos on Shoestring Eventing seem to show a nice enough, straightforward course. Now considering options.....

 

[Cazza263]

Luckily we still have the option of the OIu21 at SoE - yes it is a pretty stiff intermediate I think, but we have seen the course there as went for the CIC* in 2013 with another horse and had a look at the course then so not totally put off as at least it is not completely unknown to us, whereas we have no idea at all what Kelsall Hill is like ...

 

[HotToTrot]

Now I don't think SoE is that tough. Never done the Int there, but I did the CIC* in 2013 and I thought it was pretty similar to the Int.

 

[Golden_Match_II]

IME people often do SOE as their first Intermediate as it's a bold but straightforward course, but totally depends on your horse's strengths. Have heard Kelsall is pretty meaty, so if I were in your position I'd opt for SOE. I've not competed at either, but have been to watch SOE.