Unfortunately, August began a little as July had ended...major dramas with the truck! In this instance, the problem was that I didn’t actually have it to drive, having sent it back to Anemone trucks to sort the list of problems I had documented! After a week and a half (which included the Aug 6-8 weekend when I would have liked to be in Belgium competing at the Bonnheiden CSI2* but just couldn’t deal with having to hire a vehicle & head down to the Show by myself on a day’s notice!) of having the truck to fix up, the dealer assured me that the truck itself was ready to collect but he was just waiting for the German registration authorities to get back to him regarding potential registration on export plates. Apparently, it was proving near impossible to register in Holland as I, let alone the Austalian owner’s of the truck!, could prove residency in Holland. Getting a start at Valkenswaard CSI2* Aug 13-15 also proved not possible even though I did head down to stalk Edwina Alexander (Australian rider whose partner, Jan Tops runs the Show & Stal Tops in Valkenswaard) on the final day of the previous weekend’s CSI2* Show, Aug 8 to ask her what I had to do to get a start the following weekend. She was friendly (especially as I accosted her on the competition arena as she was leaving the course walk for the Grand Prix!) and said she would speak with Jan & get back to me...it was a case of too little too late though as the Show was absolutely full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After waiting all day for DHL to deliver the trading plates we arrived late Thursday night & got the best park for the Show...right outside our stable!

After missing out on a run at Bonnheiden and a start at Valkenswaard not looking likely, I then became a little desperate to get to Gilbert Bockmann’s yard in Lastrup, Germany both for essential training and a much needed competition start. With some help from Gert Lozeman (Henk Jan’s father who had helped me source the truck to begin with), I was able to arrange to pick the truck up (still on trading plates which only last 5 days!) on Monday Aug 9 & leave the next day for Stal Bockmann. I had some productive training during the week and Gilbert did get me into a German National Show at Timmel on Sunday where I had some good training rounds, including a 5th in a ‘S’ class (1.35 -1.40m). After another strong hit out at Gilli’s (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunburst-Equestrian/333490374355), I felt as well prepared as possible (considering the circumstances of the past month anyway!) for Hachenburg and knew it was just a matter of giving my mare a good enough ride for her to show her stuff!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking the Grand Prix class at Hachenburg CSI3*

In many ways, our results at Hachenburg were pleasing with a great clear on Day 1 to run 12th in the Table A One Round Stakes then a 4 fault round in the 1st selection trial class that combined qualified us in 9th position for the Grand Prix class of 40 starters. Certainly, 17 faults in the actual Grand Prix was disappointing (especially as it has us sitting well behind the 3 experienced ‘boys’ - Chris Chugg, James Patterson-Robinson & Matt Williams - and one point off Paul Athanasoff in 5th out of 5 Aussies contesting for 4 remaining spots on the WEG squad) but realistically we were both short of miles in the ring at that level since winning the Grand Prix at the Australian National Championships in October 2009. I remain confident that my horse has the ability to jump successfully at these European Grand Prixs...she just needs a better ride! Still, the miles at Hachenburg should have prepared us better for Paderborn where I certainly need to step up!