Suggestions for harder PN/BE100's?

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Matafleur

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I am hoping to move my now 5 yr old up to Novice next season, probably at Sapey in April if the start of the season goes to plan.

So far this year we have done 4 PN's at Ascott-U-Wychwood, Homme House, ALW and Highclere.

We have Purston in September and then probably Dauntsey and Calmsden to finish. I am hoping to move up to Newcomers in a month or so (1.05m currently comfortable inc j/o) and the dressage... well, only my pride is likely to get hurt there! :D:o

Next year she will probably do a teamchase and possibly a BE90 followed by BE100 at Swalcliffe and somewhere else (maybe Bickenhall if it fits?) before moving up. That's the plan anyway, something is bound to go wrong in the meantime!

So the purpose of my rambling post is to ask if the PN's we have done/will do are upper or lower end? I want to make sure we have both been pretty well tested at PN before moving up. I am quite ditchy but am improving as she will go if I can move my legs enough to kick. It is possible that next season may be my last at least for a while so would like to have a crack at Novice and possibly qualify her for the 6 yr old champs (which I would probably send her to with another rider).

Your comments and advice are much appreciated :)
 
Maybe a bit far for you, but have heard Allerton Park is quite challenging especially the water. I haven't seen it but a friend who has been round thinks most of the course is nearer to a novice.
 
Thanks everyone, I think Allerton and BCA may be a bit of a trek but will have a look at Rodbaston for the end of the season. We will be doing Dauntsey so that may show up any issues. :)
 
Ascott-U-Wychwood - nice inviting course
Highclere - big bold, galloping courswe, with some testing parts
Purston - a very long course, almost maximum length, so requires a good level of fitness. Some trickier combinations.
Dauntsey - Big, testing course, a good final PN before moving up to Novice.
Swalcliffe - quite a nice course, was foul weather and therefore foul going at this years BE, but a nice course, very inviting.

Hope that helps you :)
 
If you could do it - Aldon's 3day PN
the track is slightly trickier than the normal PN course and its a lovely event
i have a video i could upload if you wanted to see the course
 
Thanks GM, that was exactly what I was after! Have to say though, Broadway is 2 mins from me and I think it's one of the easiest PN's around, wasn't even going to bother doing it to end the season as it just doesn't interest me! I think I have a different perception because it is my local, but it's interesting how different people view courses differently :).

I have been most worried at AUW but think that was because it was my first with her and I had no idea if she would cope or not. Homme, I didn't think she would cope - wrong:rolleyes:! and then ALW was fine and Highclere was pretty straightforward.

I think Dauntsey and Purston may cause us problems but I still have no idea what she is likely to struggle with or what to work on :confused:!

Langside - that was exactly my plan...until I checked the rule book and saw that 5 yr olds can't do 3days :(

Thanks for the input, I'm feeling my way a bit and everyone has been very helpful :)
 
The good/bad news is that you don't qualify for the 6yo champs any more. There aren't any qualifiers, they just run a championship 6yo CIC* alongside the 4 and 5yo finals at Osberton and it's simply (!) a matter of entering.

I thought you could do Aldon PN 3 day and it was only FEI 3 days you couldn't do (was considering doing it with my 5yo this year), but I may have read the rule book wrongly.
 
Gamebird said:
The good/bad news is that you don't qualify for the 6yo champs any more. There aren't any qualifiers, they just run a championship 6yo CIC* alongside the 4 and 5yo finals at Osberton and it's simply (!) a matter of entering.

I thought you could do Aldon PN 3 day and it was only FEI 3 days you couldn't do (was considering doing it with my 5yo this year), but I may have read the rule book wrongly.
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Ah yes, but we still need a CIC qual which in our (my!) case may not be the foregone conclusion it should be! We wouldn't have a hope of qualifying the old way anyway! :D

I will have another look at the book, I just remember thinking it was a good idea and then being disappointed...

Will you do the 6 yr olds at Osberton do you think? I'm guessing it will be a strong CIC as it's a champ.
 
Hard to say! I've certainly done CIC*s on 6yos before and not thought it was too much but it depends on the horse. Realistically we would be nobodies in that sort of company! I'm not quite sure how they'll manage the ballot etc. either - surely they'll be innundated with entries?

If the season goes well it's a possibility, but will definitely be more to say 'we got the T-shirt' than for any other reason. Ask me again this time next year!!!!
 
Gamebird said:
Hard to say! I've certainly done CIC*s on 6yos before and not thought it was too much but it depends on the horse. Realistically we would be nobodies in that sort of company! I'm not quite sure how they'll manage the ballot etc. either - surely they'll be innundated with entries?

If the season goes well it's a possibility, but will definitely be more to say 'we got the T-shirt' than for any other reason. Ask me again this time next year!!!!
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It will be interesting to see how this years champs go and if it remains the same next year. We would only be doing it as it would be the only champs we're likely to get to, I don't think I would manage a strong 1* so would have a nice day being an owner an drinking Pimms - lovely :D.
 
Matafleur said:
Just checked the book online, it says min age for all National 3 day events is six. National is in bold so does that mean it's a new rule this year?
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If it's in bold then yes, new rule. Just as well I didn't have my heart set on entering. Given that plenty of 5yos run at novice this time of year (especially in professional hands) I can't see the issue with a PN3DE :confused:
 
Aldon has beefed up the PN anyway so even if you just did the regular it would be a challenge.

Might be too late now but Bricky's PN is right up to complexity and height.
 
Thanks LEC, Bricky is still open but the drive is putting me off. Even when I lived in Poole the drive to Bricky wasn't very appealing! I remember it being up the tiniest roads possible?

What sort of things do they have in the course? I would have to stable so it would be an expensive trip but I know it's renowned for being top end. I was hoping Dauntsey would be comparable but a lot closer to us! :)

I know I am spoilt about the distance I will travel but I quite often go alone so it's just me driving and riding and of course if we get into trouble I'm a lot further from home :(.

:)
 
I love Bricky its a super friendly event. Dressage warm up is a pain as can be steep, the sjing is nice and the xc is challenging with a bit of everything but rides nicely if you attack. I have stayed before in a really nice little stables close to the pub. Its worth going for the PN especially if you are going to be upgraded by next year.
 
Dauntsey sounds like it will be a good benchmark for you both. It is 'ditch city' - for the past 2 years there have been 4 fences on the course with massive ditches in front or underneath them. Its a good course though - big & bold but generally un-technical.
I hope you enjoy it!
 
Would have suggested Mount Ballan as the SJing is always testing and rather big (I swear they have a "special" measuring stick there) and the XC is top end but they've moved it from October to May which doesn't really help you!

Haven't been to Dauntsey myself but have heard it's top end.
 
Broadway from what I thought was pretty twisty, a little more complex than most PNs, like Holdenby or AUW, and others I've done.

I think Purston or Dauntsey sound pretty good for you - I might be saying Purston is a bit easier than it is, but I only went there for a PN run after I'd done 2 Novices, so it seemed easy! I think there are plenty of questions there, and it's a longer run - prepping you for longer runs at Novice. Also the water is one of the trickiest PNs I have seen, and there were several skinny combos, and a tricky array of fences, that start at fence 4 and don't stop until the penultimate. It's a lovely place, too.
 
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