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Horse Trials Cancelled Brockenhurst Park press release 2 July 2001

ike so many horse trials and other events across the country Brockenhurst Park has been forced to cancel this year due to foot and mouth disease. MAFF requires that the herd of cows on the parkland be moved away twenty-eight days before and twenty-eight days after the event. We are unable to comply and are therefore unable to run.

Plantagenet Proves his Valour Horse and Hound 17 August 2000

An advanced win for Graham Law lays down the challenge for Burghley, while William Fox-Pitt continues his run of success. Jane Perry reports.

raham Law’s decision to give Plantagenet Of Rushall a final advanced run before Burghley at Brockenhurst Park proved the right one when the pair won section H by a clear seven-point margin. Heading proceedings after the dressage with a mark of 29, Graham produced a beautifully-judged show jumping round, managing – unlike many riders – to avoid being caught out by time-faults and with Plantagenet’s solid cross-country performance within the optimum time, no one could stop them. “He’s always been a fantastic jumper,” said Graham, “but dressage has often left us a few marks behind the leaders so we’ve been working hard on that. Fortunately, Ulrik Molgaard moved in next door to us a couple of months ago and he has been a big help.” Having been placed at Blenheim and Punchestown three-stars, Graham feels that the 10-year old Ra Nova gelding is now ready for the step up and he is looking forward to Burghley. Unfortunately the horse’s owner, former horse trials steward Barry Wookey, did not see their win as he was in the middle of harvesting and had to stay at home to drive the combine. Tina Gifford also turned in a good dressage mark of 31 with Priory Investments, Christy & Co and Sedgwick’s Captain Christy (pictured). Although she had not intended to run the horse across country, Tina changed her mind after walking the course and was rewarded with second place. It’s a nice track and I felt it would be good experience,” she said. “I didn’t push him and was surprised to only get five time-penalties.” A couple of marks behind was Lucinda Fredericks on Blue Mezzo while Rosie Clapham and Tullamore III (pictured below), who were the first pair of the day to complete the cross-country within the optimum and had led the section for some time, dropped back to fourth. Following up on his Gatcombe success the previous week, William Fox-Pitt scored another win in advanced section J, this time riding Jayne Apter, Hackett and Studio & TV hire’s Stunning. On a mark of 30, William was lying just behind Lucinda Fredericks with Tina’s Gold and Darrell Scaife on Chase The Melody, both on 24 after dressage. However, when Lucinda decided not to run across country and Darrell rolled a pole in the show jumping and incurred 10 cross country time penalties to drop to eighth, Wiliam only needed to finish within the time on the New Zealand-bred former racehorse to collect their second advanced victory in less than a month. It has taken a while for Willaim and Stunning to click, but in recent weeks their form has been impressive and they look to be well in contention for Blenheim. Helen Wilson, on her own Barons B-Line, had been the early leader in the section, but in the last few rounds of the day the leaderboard changed rapidly, with first Clea Hoeg-Mudd onDaws Willowherb taking over, then Marie Sleet storming round on Penny Royal II to head proceedings before William finally settled the matter, relegating Marie and Clea to second and third places respectively. Several new fences were introduced into Mark Phillip’s cross-country course, including a pheasant feeder and kissing seat at fences six and seven and a double of logs replacing the brushes at the first road crossing. There was also a new bounce fence going into the wood which riders felt rode much better than the old coffin-type fence it replaced. The final new addition was a brush toward the end of the course, which was sponsored by riders David Green, Bruce Haskell, Darrell Scaife and Joe Meyer, who all compete on Brockenhurst organizer Trisha Rickards’ horses. Overall, the course caused few problems, although the treble of palisades early on caught out some, including Dag Albert, who had been in contention on Soca Step. Brook Staples took a crashing fall from Glentilt at the double of corners, but in fact this fence caused fewer problems than in previous years. The event once again suffered a rather high level of withdrawals due to the hard going after recent dry weather, but much was done to alleviate the problem, including sand being put on the landing side of fences and those who did complete were pleasantly surprised at how well the ground rode. It was also nice to see the advanced sections run during the early and middle part of the day, so that the large crowd of spectators could enjoy top-class competition. Courtesy of Jane Perry and Horse and Hound.

Edward Out-Foxes his Rivals New Forest Post 17 August 2000

he sun blazed down on the tenth Brockenhurst Park Horse Trials last weekend. William Fox-Pitt fought off world class competition to win the advanced section on his horse Stunning ahead of an all star line up including Hampshire’s Lucinda Fredericks (pictured), Robert Lemieux, Dag Albert and David Green. Olympic hopeful Kristina Gifford of Sussex clinched second in the other advanced section, just points behind Graham Law’s Plantagenet of Rushall who won the section. The hard fought ‘Holiday Direct Open Novice’ section was taken by Rachel Jones on Pioneer Lady who won a holiday for two in Greece courtesy of Holiday Direct in Southampton’s Ocean Village for her efforts. With nine months of work having gone into this year’s trials the organizing committee say that preparations for next year’s event will soon be underway. Organiser Trisha Rickards said: “The trials have an excellent reputation all over the country and continue to go from strength to strength.”

A Stunning Weekend for William Brockenhurst Park Press Release 13 August 2000

illiam Fox-Pitt beat off world class competition to take the honours at this weekend’s Brockenhurst Park Horse Trials. Fox-Pitt riding Stunning won the advanced section ahead of an all star line up which included Robert Lemieux, Dag Albert, David Green and Hampshire’s Lucinda Fredericks. Sussex based rider Kristina Gifford was well placed on both her rides, clinching second in the other advanced section just points behind Graham Law’s Plantagenet of Rushall who won the section. Gifford was showing the confidence that she will no doubt take with her to the Olympics in Sydney next month as Great Britain’s first reserve. Miss Gifford was not the only Olympic hopeful riding at the Brockenhurst Park Horse Trials, which hosted several of top riders including Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Rodney Powell (GB), Anna Hilton (SWE) and Brook Staples (AUS) who will all be bidding for gold in Sydney. The hard fought ‘Holiday Direct Open Novice section’ was won by Rachael Jones on her own horse Pioneer Lady, a single point clear of Cressida Clague-Reading’s Volnay. Rachael Jones was lucky enough to receive a holiday for two people in Greece, courtesy of Holiday Direct in Southampton’s Ocean Village. Newbury based Mark Corbett won the John Jeffries Shield for the best Hampshire rider in the novice class. The three cross country courses, recently re-designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Mike McNulty, tested riders to the limit. Under the watchful eye of Mike Etherington-Smith, one of the British Horse Trials Association’s (BHTA) Technical Advisers who is not only the Course Designer of the Cross Country Course in Sydney but also a member of the BHTA safety committee. This year’s trials in their tenth year proved to be as popular as ever with over 700 entries. For the most part the 300 acre estate owned by Dr and Mrs. Anthony Rickards was bathed in blazing sunshine, as crowds were treated to a real feast of equine competition. With over nine months of work having gone into this year’s horse trials the organising committee say preparations for next year’s event will soon be underway, “the trials have an excellent reputation all over the country and they continue to go from strength to strength. I couldn’t be happier with the way the weekend has gone,” said Organiser Trisha Rickards. Courtesy of Alex Lewis, Meridian News

Jocelyn Rides to Victory at Brockenhurst Brockenhurst Park Press Release 12 August 1999

ampshire based Kiwi Dan Jocelyn beat off world class competition to take the honours at this weekend’s Brockenhurst Park Horse Trials. Jocelyn riding Silence won the advanced section ahead of an all star line up which included Australian Olympic medallists Matt Ryan and David Green as well as fellow New Zealanders Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson. Todd who won at Gatcombe earlier this month, had to settle for third on his mount Diamond Hall Red. “The little horse went very well, I just had a great day. The course was very demanding, but the ground and going was perfect.” –said Jocelyn who’s hoping to be selected for next year’s Syndey Olympics. “It’s something I’ve been building this horse up to for a while now, and even though the games are a long way away he (Silence) is doing everything right, and if he’s needed hopefully he’ll be ready.” There were section wins also for British riders Rosie Clapham and Jo Marsh-Smith, and a third place in one of the advanced classes for Hampshire’s Lucinda Fredericks on her horse Across the Water. Around 5000 spectators turned out over the two days to see the event, now in its ninth year. “A perfect venue, great weather and the attraction of many top event riders and their horses meant the event was well supported locally as well as nationally” said organizer Trisha Rickards. “The trials have an excellent reputation all over the country and they continue to go from strength to strength. I couldn’t be happier with the way the weekend has gone.” Courtesy of Alex Lewis, Meridian News.

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