The young rider European Championships proved a week of mixed emotions. A good test put us in pole position after two days of Dressage as well as Uchin taking the overall lead individually. I was having a great round cross country until the last combination on the course where an unlucky glance off dashed hopes of an individual medal. The rest of the team enjoyed better fortunes with three clears keeping us in the lead with a nail biting climax on showjumping day. With strong pressure from the Irish team we held our nerve and brought home the team gold!

The final trial took place at Aston le Walls this weekend and with a double clear finishing on dressage score of 30 meant it was another win for Uchin. So I look forward to going to Blair on the 15th August.

Raphael won the tough OI section at Glanusk International with a fantastic double clear finishing on his dressage score of 28.6. The section was full of strong horse and rider combinations all battling to take the great prize money of £1000.

The great form that both horses have achieved this year has paid off and both are longlisted for the Young Riders team for the European Championships in Scotland in August.  Next step is the combined training and final trials at Aston le Walls in July.  Final selection will follow, so keep everything crossed!

A fantastic week at Houghton Hall with both Uchin and Raphael in the CCI**.  Uchin led after the dressage and a trouble-free double clear put us on top of the podium!  Eight year old Raph made the cross country feel very easy and just rolled a pole show jumping but jumped superbly and finished a very creditable fifteenth in his first 2 star.  Really delighted with both of them and hope this helps our chances of Under 21s team selection.

Uchin and I did our first Advanced together at Withington, and it went better than I could have hoped.  The advanced test rode really well and he gave me the most fantastic ride across country, jumping everything so easily!  To my delight we finished fourth, and won the Under 25s section.

Watch out everyone I have just passed my HGV and can’t wait to get out on the road!  My first outing will be Weston Park next weekend for the Under 21 trials so

A terrible day at Broadway when dear little My Patch broke his pastern at the third fence cross country and later had to be put down.  He was the most genuine and kind hearted horse who always tried his very best for me and I am devastated for the best owners anyone oould wish for in Steve and Alison Smith.  I want to say a huge thank you to them for letting me ride such a great horse and supporting me through the ups and downs of eventing.  This is a very sad time for all of us.

Brilliant win in the Under 21 trials at Weston Park with Uchin.  We performed a great dressage test to earn an amazing 20.0 score and then a good double clear only just outside the time gave us a winning margin of nearly ten marks!  Couldn’t have asked for a better selection trial result!

After the scare of nearly losing Raph to colic last autumn it was fantastic to feel him so fit and well at Somerley where he was fourth in the Intermediate.  He has already been third and fourth in his first two outings of the season so it’s full steam ahead for the Under 21s selection battle.   I also gave a radio interview the following day with Olympic medallist Amy Williams which was a great experience.