jules89
Well-Known Member
First of all I would like to say THANKYOU to each and every person that has helped me this week - especially those on HHO
it has been VERY much appreciated
Ok anyway - grab a large glass of vino - this is going to be a long one!!
So thanks to my mother's blase opinion on getting out of bed, we leave about 15 mins late...gah! Cue me being very stressed and flustered!
We arrive and LITERALLY had 7 minutes to warm up...!
ho hum! He actually came out rather nicely and had just enough beans to be sparkly but not mad!
I rode through the test not expecting any good marks due to lack of warm up, so I was gobsmacked to see later on that we had a 32...!
ooops (thanks Judge
)
After a quick run around the XC (well, when I say run I actually mean plod!
), we prepared for the SJ ... I haven't been feeling great for last few days and after several rather swift trips to the loo, we were on our way
He warmed up nicely, jumping well, seeing good shots, etc. Went into the ring and although he jumped well it was VERY VERY VERY fast... we had 2 down - one careless and one because we were too flat... and we VERY nearly ran straight past the planks because I swear I cuold not stop - and I am a strong young woman!
Anyway, I was just relieved to get round...!
Just to show how fast he was going :
I love this one -
anyway...onto the XC - the track was nice, a lot of questions rather than fences and twisty but lovely ground and perfect for a first run. ( I have Course photos if anyone wants them)
I wasn't going to run him fast as I doubt we were competitive. He was a loon by the time we reached the warm up, and I was positively green but he is just so cool
1,2,3 were all fine, seeing beautiful shots. 4 (the first double on the first vid) was AWFUL - he fought me going in and we wavered off the line I was trying to ride...Cue 5 strides being put in a 3 stride distance...! (actually looks better than it rode!) and it was also the flower boxes I had a rotational over 2 years ago
damned things! anyway after popping the palasade (sp) we came to the palasade to bench on a 3 stride line...
The stride didn't come up, and he sort of landed on it, so we stopped
I don't mind because I would rather him do that than take a massive flier and scare himself - it was a 50:50 stop and he's not one to stop so I can put my hands up to an early run mistake.
Anyway after that he was mega round the rest of the course, over some nasty lines (such as 9ab which was on a 90 degree angle, the coffin, the water (jump then step in then two angled houses on 2 strides) and the jump, step down to the skinny arrowhead brush. He fought me quite a bit causing some duff strides later on but ho hum.
ETA: he really made that track feel easy - yes we had a stop but he popped everything with such boldness and confidence, it is so refreshing to know (or at least hope) that he loves his job
Spoke to Eric Smiley whilst I was there (as well as miss Lukas
) and we talked aout maybe sticking him in a soft pelham with a rubber curb chain, as in the SJ particularly, I couldn't stop... it took all my strength to turn him! Ideas on a postcard please.
anyway - last pics and vids:
The propics are awesome but sadly I didn't have my wallet on me!
Sorry there are loads of pics, but we all know you guys love them!
Thanks again to everyone for wishing me good luck and generally helping me get my ar&e in gear
Ok anyway - grab a large glass of vino - this is going to be a long one!!
So thanks to my mother's blase opinion on getting out of bed, we leave about 15 mins late...gah! Cue me being very stressed and flustered!
We arrive and LITERALLY had 7 minutes to warm up...!
I rode through the test not expecting any good marks due to lack of warm up, so I was gobsmacked to see later on that we had a 32...!
After a quick run around the XC (well, when I say run I actually mean plod!
He warmed up nicely, jumping well, seeing good shots, etc. Went into the ring and although he jumped well it was VERY VERY VERY fast... we had 2 down - one careless and one because we were too flat... and we VERY nearly ran straight past the planks because I swear I cuold not stop - and I am a strong young woman!
Anyway, I was just relieved to get round...!
Just to show how fast he was going :
I love this one -
anyway...onto the XC - the track was nice, a lot of questions rather than fences and twisty but lovely ground and perfect for a first run. ( I have Course photos if anyone wants them)
I wasn't going to run him fast as I doubt we were competitive. He was a loon by the time we reached the warm up, and I was positively green but he is just so cool
1,2,3 were all fine, seeing beautiful shots. 4 (the first double on the first vid) was AWFUL - he fought me going in and we wavered off the line I was trying to ride...Cue 5 strides being put in a 3 stride distance...! (actually looks better than it rode!) and it was also the flower boxes I had a rotational over 2 years ago
The stride didn't come up, and he sort of landed on it, so we stopped
I don't mind because I would rather him do that than take a massive flier and scare himself - it was a 50:50 stop and he's not one to stop so I can put my hands up to an early run mistake.
Anyway after that he was mega round the rest of the course, over some nasty lines (such as 9ab which was on a 90 degree angle, the coffin, the water (jump then step in then two angled houses on 2 strides) and the jump, step down to the skinny arrowhead brush. He fought me quite a bit causing some duff strides later on but ho hum.
ETA: he really made that track feel easy - yes we had a stop but he popped everything with such boldness and confidence, it is so refreshing to know (or at least hope) that he loves his job
Spoke to Eric Smiley whilst I was there (as well as miss Lukas
anyway - last pics and vids:
The propics are awesome but sadly I didn't have my wallet on me!
Sorry there are loads of pics, but we all know you guys love them!
Thanks again to everyone for wishing me good luck and generally helping me get my ar&e in gear
