Saturday saw the start of the spring tour of events in Portugal with the
National classes at Mata Du Duque.
After a few days of rain the going was perfect for all three phases and the
Sun shone all day!!
Mata Du Duque no longer run International classes but the facilities and
organisation are still as such.
With all Phases been on super sandy going our Groom Matthew was delighted
that no studs were required.
Fernhill Pimms performed his usual stunning dressage and lead from the
start in the CNC 1star, a clear
in both show-jumping and cross country secured him a win in this class. At
only his second start at this level, last time 2nd as he had a copule of xc time, he looked
confident and happy.
Loughnatousa Rua placed 4th in this class after having an unusual show jump
down. We were delighted with his cross country performance as he has taken time to get to grips
with this phase but really looked like the good horse we always believed he will be.
Chivas again was consistant and finished 7th, he is growing in maturity
with each run he has and by Barroca we think he will be really ready to go for it!!
We were very proud of our Junior rider Shane Power who made his debut on
his new ride for the season Killossery Kassandra, the Master Imp sired mare recently purchased from
Sarah Glynn. He did a respectable dressage test to leave him in the top few but a mistake in the
show jumping slipped him down the order a bit. However his cross country round was exemplary and
Shane gave the Mare a super ride to finish 8th.
Fernhill Viper made her 2 star debut with Carol on board and looked set to do a stunning Dressage until
the atmosphere got the better of her and she had a couple of inattentive moments in the canter work!!!
However she reformed herself in the other phases and finished 3rd. A great
result for her first attempt and she looks set to have a good Spring Tour.
The Sunday saw the Preliminary class take place with the dressage and show
jumping at the same venue as the previous day but the xc moved to the tamer but equally well
presented course in Villa Nova, St Estevo.
Francisco lead the dressage this time on an Irish horse “Sunset”, by Quality and bred by Denis Coakley
who is now based in Portugal. The horse is now owned by Vasco Canto Monix
who is enjoying his new role as event horse owner. Sunset recorded a super double clear and we were
all delighted for Vasco as he ran around after his horse with video camera in hand!!
Our new addition to the Fernhill string Fernhill Dust-up finished 2nd just
being pipped in the Dressage by Sunset. He found this level easy and will now move up to the 1 star next
week in Vale Sabroso.
