A short ride report from the FEI class from Keysoe.
KEYSOE FEI
Four Lancashire riders headed to Keysoe for the FEI International CEI ** classes last weekend. Two Young Riders, Katie Atkinson on HS Prosper & Emily Mchugh on another of the Atkinson’s horses Ibn Derkisha. The hotly contested open 120km ** class had 5 horses from the UAE stables along with Jackie Lloyd on Khafifa BJ & Linda Cowperthwaite on Maraday Mystaron. Letting the UAE do their own speedy way leaving Linda & Jackie to be the leading Brits around the route what was developing into a warm day with temperatures hitting 25oC, lots of tight turns and hard ground; a big ask on our horses and making the crews work very hard. Unfortunately we lost Emily at Vetgate 1. On phase 3 Katie caught up with Linda & Jackie and all 3 riders continued to work as a team to keep spirits up as the horses hit the 100km mark in the heat of the day. At the final veterinary check Jackie presented first with Khalifa with Maraday Mystaron 40 seconds behind and Katies horse 2 minutes later. All hands on deck as compulsory re-presentation at this vetgate, all horses safely through. Jackie would be setting out first of the Lancashire trio and in 3rd place of the 120km class at this point. A slight mix up with my times delayed my departure but I decided to wait with Katie and set off on the final loop together as our horses had worked well on the previous phase. Maraday Mystaron showed his experience and knew he was on the final loop and was bouncing along. We caught up with Khalifa and so all 3 Lancashire horses together, was a great sight. As we turned on to the final leg on to the cross country course Katie took a pull to leave Jackie and I to battle it out, no battle we’re mates but Maraday Mystaron was focused on getting to the finish line. He hasn’t forgiven me for pulling him back at Kings Forest earlier in the year. At the final vetting sadly Khalifa was found to have a sight hind lameness, very disheartening but Khalifa did the distance and will be back fighting to get that 120km under his belt. Maraday Mystaron & HS Prosper both passed the final vetting resulting in Katie winning her CEI** Young Rider class & crowned Endurance GB National Champion and Maraday Mystaron 3rd in the Open CEI ** and the 1st British rider home. Excellent results in a tough international race.
2 photos attached taken by us. Khalifa & Ron at the start & our crews hard at work as the day got hotter.
