Bumpy ride of highs and lows at show for Bobbie

B OBBIE Martin Pope experienced mixed emotions at the Grange Equestrian Centre where she celebrated a win in the Woof Wear novice on Magnetoes Dream, but had to commiserate with her sister Carly who suffered a bad fall in the jump-off and was airlifted to hospital by the Devon Air Ambulance service.

"It was a show of highs and lows," said 20-year-old Bobbie, who is on a gap year focusing on horses and helping her parents Steve and Jill at the family's Redpark Equestrian Centre, near Minehead in Somerset.

"It was good for me but unfortunate for Carly. My pony only came over from Ireland a week ago. This was our first affiliated show together. His eyes were out on stalks in the warm-up and we were eliminated. But he came out a lot happier in the qualifier and gave me a super ride."

Thirty-four hopefuls set out over Raf Suarez's inviting track and 16 returned clean score sheets for a place in the barrage. The class ended in a perfect result for the course builder when eight emerged with double clears for an equal number of tickets on offer to the Blue Chip championships at Hartpury College in April (1-5).

Rachel Gardener and Chantry Rose set an early target from second draw and this stayed good enough for an eventual fourth place. Rachel, who is a McTimoney Animal Practitioner and Equine Sports Massage therapist, jointly owns this six-year-old daughter of Olympic Lux out of Clover Country with Richard Oliver. "Our main focus is eventing," said Newton Abbot-based Rachel, who also picked up the seventh placed ticket on her second ride West Stoke Mayfair.

St Columb-based Adam Ellery came next with a calculated clear round on Claire Rushworth's Whisper X to clinch the final qualifying ticket.

"I'm chuffed to bits," said Claire, who is currently sidelined due to injury. "It's the first time Adam has sat on this horse and he did a brilliant job to qualify."

Two horses later, Bobbie Martin Pope threw caution to the wind on Magnetoes Dream in setting an unbeatable target and shaving four seconds off the time.

"My intention was to try for a safe double clear but I couldn't resist going all out for it," said Bobbie, who spotted her nine-year-old gelding on a buying trip to Ireland with her mother Jill.

"He was on the yard of a long-standing contact of my parents. I immediately took a shine to him and was thrilled when mum said I could have him as a late Christmas present."

Bobbie admits to enjoying a competitive relationship with her 22-year-old sister Carly, a fourth-year veterinary student at Edinburgh University.

"We always try to beat one another," she said, "but I was devastated when she had such a bad fall. Fortunately, the Devon Air Ambulance were fast in responding. The crew were brilliant in their care and control of the situation and we can't thank them enough."

It was Jan Thomason from Stithians in Cornwall who came back with the next serious challenge on her home-bred grey No Fear. This careful daughter of Squire Tregarrion came tantalisingly close to Bobbie's target for an eventual third place.

"She's a 12-year-old but with very low mileage," said Jan, who has recently retired from a full-time teaching career to concentrate on horses and train with Claire Rushworth.

"She's spent most of her time out hunting and this is her first proper show jumping season," said Jan.

Kayleigh Perring followed and, taking full advantage of the long stride of her eight-year-old gelding Appolon, she set sail with determination.

All eyes went to the clock as the 21-year-old from Modbury took the shortest route to finish a fraction away from the winning time with her son of John Whitaker's puissance horse Exploit de Roulard.

"I bought him four years ago from Brian Rendle," said Kayleigh, who trains with Justin Tuff.

"He's a big horse and has taken time to fully develop. But it's all beginning to click now and we've been placed on our last six outings." The fifth qualifying ticket went to 19-year-old Annie Moody and the 13-year-old Holstein gelding Mr Macintosh.

"He's on loan to me from Lizzie Pyle," said Annie, who lives at Modbury. "He evented as a youngster but has done very little since. I'm glad it went well as Lizzie was here supporting us."

Seventeen-year-old Zoe Reddan secured the sixth qualifying place on her seven-year-old mare Voice B.

Acquired as a four-year-old, this impressive daughter of Amsterdam, who carries the famous lines of Argentinius, has been carefully produced by her sympathetic young rider.

"This summer will be her first full season," said Zoe, who combines competing with running the Grange centre with her brother David.

Carly was discharged from hospital that evening after receiving treatment for a clean break of the collar bone