IWMT 2016: Another successful event at Smiths Lawn Horse Trials

Winner, Rachel Harris, receiving her prizes from Kathryn & Louise

 It wasn't just the sunshine providing the heat at Smiths Lawn horse trials, Windsor, the competition for the Ian White Memorial Trophy was hot too, with the top 5 riders all completing on sub-30 scores.

Rachel Harris and Manor Mayhem led the field from the start, posting an unbeatable dressage score of 24.5, with no extra penalties to add after the final phase. "We entered this section last year as our first BE100 and came second, so it was amazing to go one better this year!" Rachel also commented on the lovely atmosphere of the competition saying, "we really like the encouraging feel this section gives to amateur riders plus the whole event at Smiths Lawn is great and really friendly." Rachel wins a training session with top trainer, Gill Watson, as well as lots of other goodies from our wonderful sponsors.

Just 0.6 of a penalty separated the next 4 riders with Giselle Mackinlay (Dark Spirit) taking the runner-up prize (29.3 penalties), followed by Olivia Mitchell (Woodland Lad) in third, on a score of 29.5. Fourth placed Jessie Vanassche and her stunning horse, Da Vinci II, finished on 29.8 and are a familiar combination in this class, having been the IWMT champion it last year. Their impeccable turnout won Jessie the Willow trophy for the second year running.

Willow trophy winner: Jessie Vanassche

The Moose trophy, awarded to the combination closest to the optimum time across country, went to 11th-placed Amanda Brettle on Ysgwynfawr Fergus - every commentator's nightmare!

And, as has become a tradition in the IWMT class, there are no losers; Gina Weare on Youghal Grey Boy, will receive a box of brownies from Chester the Eventer and his owners, Cala and Garry Russell. Gina and 'Louey' sadly parted company at fence 10 but thanks to Louey's 'quick thinking', Gina was able to remount and complete the course. "He waited for me, very conveniently next to one of the driving obstacles, so we even had a mounting block." But, perhaps eventing is not Louey's first love, as Gina explained. "Louey is looking forward to the winter when he can go and do his proper job of jumping big hedges with the Mid Surrey Farmers Draghounds, and doesn't have to do stressage and pole vaulting!"


A huge thank you, as always, to our fabulous sponsors, who provided the fantastic goodie bags to 10th place.
This year they were: Protexin Equine, Gill Watson, Equilibrium Products, Elizabeth Hough of Your Great Mind Coaching, Nigel Taylor from Aston-le-Walls horse trials, Crisy Salmon of Feelgood Forever, and Sarah Alexander (alexander technique teacher/craniosacral therapist). Not forgetting the lovely Tissie Reason and her super team at Smiths Lawn horse trials, who have supported the Memorial Trophy class since our first year in 2009.

A special thank you must also go to Bradley Hall of Running Fox Event Catering who kindly gave me and my support team (Liz Bonnieman, Dawn Bentley, Alison and Eleanor Dexter and Louise Leverton from Protexin) free bacon butties (delicious they were too, I might add) while we were judging the best turned out prize, donating the proceeds to our charity this year,  Brain Tumour Research.

Judging the best turned out with the help of our canine friends!

Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical and Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical, copy and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients. Her customers include pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world.