Blenheim had been forecasted to be a wet affair but it has turned out much better than expected and today dawned cool and bright, pretty much perfect conditions for cross country. Tim and Garcon (Tibo) headed out early and had a super round with Tim letting Tibo move along without going for the time and brake testing for his next run at Boekelo in a couple of weeks. Tibo is brave and fluent and it was a mistake free round that has set him up perfectly. They added 16 time and as it turned out, that was a pretty good time for anyone outside of the top 20!
A couple of hours later saw Gloire de Marchenval (Louis) start and he is a horse with plenty of scope and a very amenable attitude. He looked a little surprised by the step up in class but just jumped bigger when he thought necessary and was having a peach of a round until the corner on a left hand turn after the skinny brush and ditch. Tim said wait, Louis thought he should go and he sprawled across the top of the corner and looked like they were about to taste the Blenheim turf face to face. Hats off to Louis, he fought tooth and nail to stay on his feet and some balance from Tim to stay aboard and they cantered away having upped the heart rates of a couple of spectators who were faced with a horse and rider heading straight for them and the string with the horses nose kissing the grass. Louis and Tim regrouped and cantered steadily home for a clear with 28 time and a very happy partnership and an MER (qualification)to boot for their first start at the level.
The Highlander (Ivar) was sitting in 5th spot which is quite remarkable for an 8 year old who was still running novice at the start of this season and he was sitting in the company of very good 9 year olds. Ivar has trained his jumping style on Falco’s which is no bad thing and he set out giving some spectacular demos over the first few. It’s a big log drop into the first river crossing at Blenheim and with the expanse of water in front of them quite the test for the young horses and yet Ivar jumped sky high in and then flicked his back end away too for good measure which Tim was ready for. To think how spooky he was at his first intermediate water at Burnham Market this year just shows how far he has come in just a few months!
Ivar has clearly decided he likes the international scene and not only was he bold, brave and turned allot of heads he was also fast. Just 5.2 time added made him equal 5th fastest of the day and he did it easily, moving up into 4th spot and marking the end of a great Blenheim for Tim with his trio of exciting young horses.
Ivar and Louis head into happy holiday season now having ticked all the boxes and more for their 2025 season and Tibo just has Boekelo to go. Congratulations to Sam Lissington who aced the class, leading from start to finish on Quantas R and the only horse to add nothing to their dressage score. That’s a special way to win and well deserved.