Goodwood hosts super hunter trial

After weeks of cold weather, Goodwood Pony Club were welcomed with warm sunshine and blue skies (albeit a chilly wind!) for their Open Hunter Trial which took place on the Goodwood Estate recently, by kind permission of the Earl of March.

This really is a beautiful setting and encouraged many spectators to walk their dogs whilst watching excellent competition over a variety of well-built fences, including water and the infamous 'Goodwood House'. A lot of work had been put in by the Pony Club Committee to reorganise the course; the start and first two fences have moved to the east side of Goodwood House adjacent to a new venue for horsebox parking, which made access for everyone to the event so much easier. Classes held (split into Pony Club members & Associates and non-members) were Novice (2'6") and Intermediate (2'9") with Pairs in both sections; riders competing against an optimum time.

Jessica Rogers riding Baby and member of Goodwood PC won the first class from Nathan Teear (Miss Maddie) in second and Niamh Murphy (Braeburn) third.. Danielle Sparrow (Juke Nokeham) won the non-members Novice with Cathy Stubbs (Marble Arch) second and Stephanie Chaplin (Autumn Mist II) third. Camilla Lewis was winner of the Intermediate Pony Club Members and Emma Keet (Kirby Mallore) had a good win in the Intermediate Non-members. The Pairs are always good fun to watch and Rachel Dobbs partnering Alex Faulkner were successful in winning the Novice class from Jessica and Hannah Rogers in second. Harriet Taylor with Alice Jeffries won the Intermediate with Charlotte Morley and Jenna Bennett taking second place.

For full results, see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette, April 12