Great excitement at Portmore's Arena Eventing

Portmore Equestrian Centre's new initiative, Arena Eventing, got off to an impressive start on Sunday with a great turn out in all three classes.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jan 2016, 09:30 BST
Updated 20th Jan 2016, 09:34 BST

Raphael Suarez put his International Showjumping Course Designing techniques into action to prepare superb courses which incorporated coloured poles as well as a great selection of new portable rustic fences manufactured by David Kirkpatrick of DKRustiX. There was even a closed combination which, interestingly, caused very few problems.

The first class got underway promptly at 10am with the pathfinder, Janseen Hill, giving her young four year old, Diamonte Ziva Da Vide, plenty of education throughout the eighteen fences. This was a very impressive performance despite a minor navigational issue, courtesy of the pilot.

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Stephen Gibson was the eventual class winner, delivering an impeccably polished round on Reuban, slightly faster than the other equally impressive round of Emma Dowds and Mystery Aristocrat.

The 85cms class had the biggest entries of the day with plenty of clear rounds rewarding good horsemanship.

Regular eventer, Katie Good, picked up the red rosette on Lily with a four second margin over second placed Rocco Quinn on Princess.

Meantime, there was a very tightly contested 1m class where the accomplished partnership of Toni Quail and Ringfort Rua topped the leaderboard by just one second over fellow pony clubber, Chloe Rooney and Molly Mae.

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This series of Arena Eventing continues this coming Sunday, starting promptly at 10am with the 70cms class. To be eligible for prizes at the final on Sunday, February 14, combinations must have competed in any class on at least three of the five occasions prior to the final.

Full results

70cms: 1. Stephen Gibson, Reuban; 2. Emma Dowds, Mystery Aristocrat; 3. Aaron Nicholl, Dexter; 4. Nicola Martin, Splash; 5. Catherine Robinson, Blackie; 6. Tina Sterling-Berry, Ghost.

85cms: 1. Katie Good, Lily; 2. Rococo Quinn, Princess; 3. Emily Duncan, Cookie; 4. Louise Watt, Clone Clover; 5. Olivia Quinn, Redwood Thorn; 6. Matthew Johnston, Jupiter.

1m: 1. Toni Quail, Ringfort Rua; 2. Chloe Rooney, Molly May; 3. Matthew Johnston, Oscar; 4. Holly Boal, Bon Mahon Flash; 5. Kathryn Graham, Calais; 6. Justine Harding, Charisma.