Hambelton & District Riding Club Hunter Trial at Langdale Hall Stables Sunday 17th April was where Charlie and the horses ended up after the cancellation of Ivesley BE Event. We called as soon as we found out that Ivesley was cancelled and were able to get entries for both horses. Langdale is just a couple of miles from home so although it is a very small course and the event is unaffiliated, it was a good opportunity to keep the momentum going and to give Charlie a bit of fun with no pressure. Well when say no pressure, all her local friends from school were there and were she to do badly or dare I say have a stop, then I'm sure she would have needed at least a day off school!

In the end all went well .... both horses had clear rounds and great fun through the water splash. She took off so fast on Tara that I could not get any pictures of them but here are a couple of Rambler at the water.

We didn't stay for the results but as it was based on getting as close to an optimum time over 4 jumps and the fact that both horses now run at BE intermediate speed .... we're not hopeful and it was just a bit of fun anyway!

Also below is a copy of the draft article to appear in the Northern Horse Magazine.

The weather seemed to be conspiring against Hambelton & District Riding Clubs biannual Show cross and Hunter Trial, scheduled to run on Sunday 17th April at Langdale Hall by the kind permission of Mr & Mrs John Pratt.  Constant rain through the week had led to the cancellation of the local British Eventing competition at Ivesley and the late rush of competitors wishing to switch to the event at Langdale put the organizers under further pressure. With an excellent entry of 145, the decision was taken to go ahead so as to avoid disappointment.

Further rain resulted in the field that had been planned as a parking area, being put out of action to all but four wheeled drive vehicles; the only remaining option was to use a private single-track tarmac road for both access and exit.  All took the gridlock that followed in good spirit, wagons were unloaded and horses tacked up in the traffic jam, competitors went off for their rounds while the drivers (in most cases) remained with the vehicles until a parking space was available. Remarkably through all of this, the competition continued to run on time and did indeed finish at the expected time of 1pm.

The competition consisted of a show cross event at triers and open levels with classes for individuals and pairs. The show jumping course was designed and set up by the organiser Mrs V Pape and was run in the newly fenced ring. While not technically difficult, the use of brush and colourful fillers did make it a challenge.  The course rode and held up well but did end up looking rather well used!

The cross country course at Langdale  makes use of three fields and two woods with an excellent water  feature that is an extension of the fishing lake.

Water was the name of the game on the day. With out the hard take off and lading areas, the event could not have taken place.

The landing after the second jump in the coffin was covered by water and the ditch in the middle was a stream!  Should it still be called a coffin? Most of spectators on the day inevitably found their way to the water complex which in the open class consisted of a fence, followed by a stride, leading to a drop into the water,  five strides in the water  (we think) and a jump out.  Spectacular to watch on a normal day, it became breath taking with the water depth rising from its normal depth of 30cm to what must have been at least 75cm (I can not confirm the actual depth as I could not find anyone who had long enough wellies to walk it)!

The organisers can not stress enough their thanks to Mr & Mrs Pratt for allowing them to run the event and would also like to thank Mr Philip Orton who drove the tractor that was an essential aid to many who got stuck, as well as all the volunteers and helpers both on the day and in setting up and dismantling.

Results :