Withington or Moreton Morrell Novice

I haven't DONE Novice at MM, just spectated quite a few times, but I would say it would be nice for a first time of anything (it was my very first event!)

Only thing to be aware of is that the show-jumping was in a covered arena on two occasions when I went, because of the poor ground conditions. The dressage warm-up area was a bit dodgy too?
 
Judging from what the MM event was like last year the showjumping was in a field (opposite the xc field) and the ground was spot on.
The dressage warm up last year wasn't too bad, loads of room but part of it was on a slight hill.
The xc asgood, a nice course for a first time. The water isn't scary (last year is was a skinny, 2 strides then a left turn straight to a small drop into the water).
 
Never been to Morton Morrell, and last time i did the Novice at Withington was in '03, but i hade a great ride!
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Not sure if it's still there, but i remember a big ish bounce in the woods off a pretty tight turn, then another tight turn back to a hunting gate out the woods.
Also, an into space jump, down a steep slope to an arrow-head at the end of the course!
 
Hmmm, not sure my humungapony is up to tight turns quite yet, being 17.1hh and cocky as hell (even if he could do them, he may well choose not to
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) Hopefully by April he'll have remembered who's in charge....

Is it hilly there?
 
Withington Novice was the first ever event that Floyd did. We didn't have a clue back then having never been to a BE event (apart from Badminton in our lives) he did jump round clear. So a good first time ever BE event?

I went XC schooling up there after the event last year, first time my horse and ever been on a XC course, there were some smaller jumps. Anyway here are some photos for you!

1st Fence
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2nd fence, The Intermediate is the house with the rail behind it
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Long Route at the corner, the direct route is the rail running beside us.
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Going into the woods
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Rolltop in woods
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Not sure what water it is
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Last Fence
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I've got some more of the trakenner and drop at my sisters house I can post as well
 
Withington is a fantastic event but the Novice course is considered reasonably tough and lots of people do it just before they move up to Intermediate, so I would say MM.
 
Here some more...

The Novice Trakenner
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This one you went up a step along the top of a bank about 3 strides and jumped over the drop
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The steps
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Table coming out of the woods, you can see the bounce in the background
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Personally, I wouldnt run at either as a first time Novice!

MM isnt a great first timers novice, the SJing can cause quite a few problems and the xc isnt brilliant.
Withington is undulating, the fences are fair at that standard but because of the undulation it makes it a lot more difficult.

The SJing at withington is in a huge arena, so theres plenty of room. It can be very cold! but a lot of the top bods go there because its usually good ground even if everywhere is soggy because its sandy.

IMO if i had to run somewhere i would opt for Withington because the ground is better.

Vx
 
Sapey and Broadway are both in worc (not sure if thats over 3 hours for you) but both although I havent been there personally, have heard they are good first time courses.

Keysoe (beds)
Aston le Walls (Northants)
Brigstock (Northants)

All 3 are good first time Novice courses.
 
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