Congratulations to the logistics department for managing to get: 21 horses, 13 people and several dogs safely through the three day journey to Portugal. The team is as follows:
People: David and Louise, Daley Fisher, Graham Gillespie, our working pupils Annie Platt and Antonia Platt, Oliva Gillespie, fabulous grooms Joe and Alice, Anna-Marie and Kristina Vitek, and Connor and Charlie.
Horses: Marvin van de Waterhoeve who is a new ride for Louise, owned by Margie Goldestein Engle; Foudre F, Matts VG owned by David and the Gillespies, our own Fiona van het Lemmenshof, Ana Haurie’s Donna Pascale and Curley Sue, Charlotte Platt’s Jenson 55, six year old Charlotta II owned by ourselves and the Gillespies, our own six year old Noble de Reve, Carlosspri owned by Alan Burnell, 7 year old I’m Special Too DHH owned in partnership with Willem Greve and Ben & Wim Schröder, Antonia Platt’s own Amigo, Debbie Lax’s 7 year old Senator’s Rhondiago, the Gillespie’s Cascara B and Cancara E, and the Vitek’s Mama Mia Picobello Z, LVS Shelby, Lamborghini, Cognac, Kamirez van Orchids and Mateo di Belle.
Jumping started on Tuesday with the young horse classes. Louise and Charlotta and Anna and Noble de Reve made a good start in the six year olds, and I’m Special Too jumped clear in the seven year olds for David, and Graham just had four faults on Rhondiago.
The six year olds both jumped nicely on Wednesday and I’m Special was 5th in the seven year olds.
The older horses started jumping on Thursday and Louise and Marvin made a good debut with just four faults in the 1.40. David and Jenson 55 followed up with an excellent 6th place in the 1.45 two phase. In the 1.30 Louise and Cascara B were 4th and Ant Platt and Amigo were clear. Matts VG jumped a clear jumping round with Graham.
In the six year olds Charlotta was 6th and Noble de Reve jumped well and Rhondiago was 10th in the seven year olds.
On Friday Jenson 55 continued his punchy start to 2020 with 3rd in the 1.45 ranking class and Louise and Marvin made a great start in their first ranking class together to finish 13th. In the 1.35 Amigo jumped another double clear, Foudre F was clear jumping and both Donna Pascale and Carlosspri jumped well. Daley and Curley Sue were 11th in the 1.20.
The Vitek girls started their show in very positive form: Anna-Marie was 8th in the 1.20 with Mama Mia, Kristina was clear in this class with Lamborghini, Kristina was 6th in the 1.10 with Kamiriz van Orchids.
On Saturday Carlosspri was 5th and Donna Pascale 12th in the 1.35, and Foudre was 11th in the 1.40. Louise and Fiona clocked up our first win of the tour in the 1.30 two phase and Louise was also 9th on Cascara B. In the 1.20 Daley and Curley Sue were 4th, Anna-Marie was 8th on Mama Mia. In the 1.10 Kristina was 2nd on Karmirez.
On Sunday Foudre jumped well in the 1.35 jump-off class to finish 13th. In the 1.30 Louise finished 7th with Cascara and Daley and Curley Sue were 9th. Both Jenson 55 and Marvin had an unlucky four faults in the Grand Prix, but we were very pleased as this is so early in the year. Our second winner of the first week was Anna-Marie and Matteo who took the 1.10 Accumulator with Kristina and Kamirez finishing a close 3rd. Anna-Marie then finished off a really great first week with 3rd place in the 1.20 jump-off class with Mama Mia.
Many, many thanks to the whole team, it is takes great team work and proper hard work to pull off such a successful start to a show so far from home this early in the year.
