Take 2! first novices

[Kentisheventer]

Looking at peoples opinions of MK, it seems that it is perhaps a bit too beefy since it was made a NRF. But, still looking for any novices that people think would be suitable for a first-timer between late june and late july. Any views on: Salperton, Stonar, Shipton Moyne, Cheltenham or ALW?

Many thanks

 

[ChestnutMonty]

Great Tew - is first week of June but it's lovely, not too far from Oxford

 

[Kentisheventer]

[ QUOTE ]
Great Tew - is first week of June but it's lovely, not too far from Oxford

[/ QUOTE ]

might be an idea

all my exams bar 1 end on the 11th and i have one on the 22nd, so it could take some convincing

 

[kerilli]

ALW last year was v nice novice. only thing is they sometimes have a biggish trak early on, with no alternative, so not good for ditchy ones!
Haven't done Salperton for years but it was my big horse's first novice then and I thought it was a lovely course, absolutely perfect. Cheltenham in same year wasn't nice at all, but haven't been since!

 

[milliepops]

I did Cheltenham as my first Novice, and thought it was fine. Ground was quite hard as the weather had been baking - we all SJed in shirt sleeves. Haven't been back since though as the timing has always been wrong for me.

ETA I thought Salperton was cancelled

 

[KatB]

Cheltenham ground is normally baked!! Agree with Great Tew, I had earmarked that as a possible first Novice. ALW is always mentioned as a good un

 

[ColouredFan]

Salperton is listed as cancelled on the BE website.

I did Stonar as one of my first novices and thought it was a nice course. Is West Wilts too far for you thats a nice course?

Cheltenham is a shorter course and last time i went there was no water jump, the ground is often hard there thou.

 

[milliepops]

Oh yes, would agree about West Wilts, and it's practically next door to Stonar. Nice inviting course IMO

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I didn't like the waters at Stonar, thought they were a bit trappy (but haven't been for a few years, so might have improved now)

 

[ColouredFan]

ah the water level was too high when I went there so they had to exclude the first one, the second one was ok.

 

[LEC]

West Wilts is very straightforward. Stonar was an absolute cow of a course last year. Terribly designed and I have never seen so many people withdraw before xc. I will not be going back if the same designer is being used. Think it was Andrew Fell. Loads of pros used to go as a nice first run will be interesting to see if they still do. They have a double of cheese wedges going downhill on undulating ground on a curve of about 4 strides! Everything was technical. Another question was jump up onto a bank down off bank then 2 strides to a skinny off set box. Shame they decided to change things as nothing wrong with it before.