Which BE Novice - W.Park, Burnham Mkt or Gt Witchingham?

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SillyMare

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I am looking for a nice inviting, galloping course with a not-too-scary show jumping phase for a second BE Novice outing on a bold but green horse.

Needs to be before the 8th April (outstanding insurance claim deadline - long story).

The obvious one is Goring Heath but it is an unlucky course for me.

My best options logistically look like W. Park or B. Market.

Gt. Witchingham is possible but it is a long way from me.

Any suggestions / information about these courses?

Thanks
 
I haven't done the Novice at Weston but I think it's probably one of my luckiest courses! I love it there, Janet puts on a fantastic event and I've always found her courses to to ride well, really flowing. I'm thinking about trekking all the way there for my boys' first intermediates.
 
I did Grt Witch as my 1st Novice, its a lovely course but SJ is usually up to height and the XC has a couple of big fences on and a couple of tenchincal (ish) ones for the start of the season. Number 2 is a BIG table but straightforward fence obviously, then no 3 was a double of sloping palisades through the woods the 2nd one with quite a big drop into the nxt field, next few pretty straightforward, ditch and hedge then a roll top to a stream then the bigger water which is a step off or a drop I think then up a step to a fence, then to a big ish trekhaner, then a couple of fences to a dip down in a little woods out over a skinny anvil thing - cant spell it!! Its used on a boat!!
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Then a few straightforward fences to finish.

Burnham market SJing is up to height to I found, I also did the Novice here, the XC was much the same as Grt Witch but the water caused a few to go OMG as its very open and theres always a crowd up on the bank, but it depends how experienced your horse is.

Havent been to Weston or Goring
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Hope that helps
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In my opinion Goring is one of the hardest Novices around... it always seems very up to height and they throw a bit of everything in. You have huge great gallops up bloody steep hills, followed by some pretty tight accuracy questions. It always seems to catch a few out.
 
Thanks.

Weston Park is the easiest for me to get to so I think it will probably be that one that we aim for.

Good to hear Burnham Market and Gt Witchingham are useful options too - she is quite green and has has a year off so the water at B. Market might be a lot to ask!

Goring - I have done the Novice there twice (the only 2 Novices I have done in the last 10 years) and come home with a lame horse twice (consecutive years, different horses). Nice event but I have concluded it is too unlucky for me!
 
Weston is a great novice especially if you have a bold horse, not too technical but chunkily built. Going usually good too. I always say i'm not going back to great witch, then go back and remember why - hate that event!! Burnham is always a well built course too.
 
The showjumping at Weston is always quite technical... The xc is great for bold horses, I love it there always have a great xc round... Janet is fab at building rider frightners but encouraging the horse!

I've only been to the second Goring but thought the ground was very hard with not that much done and the course was a bit uninspiring in my opinion (comparing it to Weston
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OH suggests Burnham Market, he says it is a good galloping course wih lots of sold timber but still inviting. Sj tends to be lots of poles and not many fillers, but usually flowing and well built. On the occasions he has been there, the ground has always been well prepared. What about Poplar Park or is it too early in the season (or too far to travel)?
 
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Hello stranger!!! If you go to Weston Park I'll come and groom for you!!!
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[/ QUOTE ]

I think Weston Park looks like the winner at the moment - would be lovely to see you.

Of course she has to stay sound around the PN track at Isleham and Oasby first!...
 
Weston's always a lovely course as long as you're not a wimp and your horse is bold! Janet builds great courses, always. they walk quite impressively, but always ride much better than they walk. make sure your horse jumps skinnies though cos she does like those quite a lot..!
 
last year the SJ at Gt Witch was one of the biggest all season. XC can be well up to height too. There were only 2 DC's in the JRN (Bee was one!) The 2nd water at Gt W is a log drop into a stream turn right, up step one stride and over a jetty there was a long route last year. The 2nd fence in the XC was a full up square trailer/table, only a few strides after the first fence. bee said once she had that out of the way the rest got easier! I think the photos are on Real Time Imaging

here is Willough fence 1 http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=3825&Action=VF&id=3750135&pcp=21&ppwd=rd3034dk

fence 6 or 7 http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=3825&Action=VF&id=3750138&pcp=21&ppwd=rd3034dk

treble http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=3825&Action=VF&id=3750141&pcp=21&ppwd=rd3034dk

XC http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=3825&Action=VF&id=3749191&ppwd=rd3034dk

this is fence 4 but it was too dark when Bee went to take this photo http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=3825&Action=VF&id=3749140&ppwd=rd3034dk

Why don't you try to go up to novice at Oasby, it is straightforward.

Burnham Market has a lovely setting for the SJ an nice big level arena, the SJ's look the same as the GT Witch ones.
 
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