I had a couple of classes to rest before I was busy again in Children's Jumpers with spirited little Woodcroft Fantasma who was behaving like an angel in the warm up. She jumped a fast clear in the first round, but over confident from her success, demolished the 4th jump in the second round putting her in 4th for that class. It was down to the classic; Fantasma jumped an amazing round and was only just beaten by Rothwell Summer of Rose. But her early start was good enough for her to gain joint champion of the division, a brilliant result for a pony who has only shown a few times, she really loves it.

Fantasma only had a short break though, because she was quickly in the next division, First Year Green Hunters. Although Fantasma is more of a fast jumper, we put her in this class to give her experience which she needs. She was a respectable 5th out of 7 in her first over fences class, but it was slightly too difficult for her and she slipped to last in the second class. But she had a short break to recover while I rode Woodcroft Alex in second year hunters and I competed with my sister, Nicola who was riding the steady haflinger mare, Woodcroft Tuesday's Child in a very stiff class.

The first O/F class was ours. From the moment I patted Alex's neatly plaited mane as I went in to after the last rider cantered out, I have never felt so pleased about the stud's performance. Nicola was an amazing first and Alex, using all his strength was a close second. Nicola rode like an angel and deserved to do well, she is only 12 after all. In the next O/F class though, her nerves failed her. Knowing all eyes were on her she slipped to 7th. Alex tried his hardest, but the competition was very tough and he only managed 4th. Making a quick change of horse, I warmed Fantasma up for the stake class. She jumped like a dream and her slight hesitation was the only thing that kept her from the top. She got a well earned second, but there was more to come.

There was a small administration error which gave me a well-earned rest before the Working Hunter Class. This was the biggest class of the morning and I felt slightly hesitant, even though SSF An Ode to No One was fighting fit and had been hunting all season. I had no reason to be nervous, Ode has limited showing experience and so do I in those sorts of classes, but we tried our best and got a first and a second in the first two fence classes. I would have to wait to see if she could repeat that performance because I had 5 mins to warm up Woodcroft Alex before his 3rd class. Alex and Tuesday both went brilliantly, Alex was a very good second and Tuesday and Nicola lacked inexperience, but still got a respectable 7th. There was still more to come, but I didn't have time to think about that becuse my groom was handing me a now quite tired Woodcroft Fantasma for her final class.

Under saddle, Fantasma was brilliant, slighty slower than usual, she gave the ridden performance of her life to acheive a close second. She just missed out on being reserve champion of the division and did really well. We put her into the lorry, wearing her new cooler rug and she has a well-earned rest. I had one more class before lunch, Alex and Tuesday were under saddle. Alex was sluggy and made some bad mistakes, putting him down to 7th, but was really proud of Nicola, she had been working really hard on her flat work recently and all her hard work paid off, putting her in first and as a surprise reserve champion of the division.

Ode repeated her breathtaking performance, making impressive work in the stake to get her 2nd first of the day. Champion of Division was almost guaranteed, but we still had to try hard. Ode went like the champion she is and got 3rd under saddle making her the champion of one of the toughest divisions against 9 of the best horses by a long way. I was incredibly proud of her and all that training has paid off. Ode is now taking a short break from showing to become a carrier mare for the breeding program.

After a first succesful day we were in very good spirits the next morning and in he first class, the prestigous $1,000 CHJL Children's Jumper Classic, Nicola riding her favourite, Cotton Candy had a brilliant time and came first out of 5 fantastic horses, winning $500. They were incredibly pleased. I was riding straight away in the CHHL Children's Hunter Classic on Woodcroft Valentino and Nicola was taking her bouncy dartmoor, Woodcroft Demonic Intentions tound the course. Fudge wanted to win and he went like a dream, but only managing 4th against the tough competition. Woodcroft Demonic Intentions was just there for the experience and he also did well, gaining a respectable 6th out of 7.

The grand prix jumping classes were on next, so we watched the fantastic horses jumping up to 7'2". Then came the Juniour Hunter classes. Although these classes are designed for horses, Woodcroft Captivation is full up 14.2hh and can manage the fences easily. She was the smallest in the class, but managed a good second out of 10 in the first O/F class. Slipping slightly, she came unstuck at a corner in the second class, putting her in 6th. Still slightly unnerved, she managed 7th in the stake and then she had short break before the U/S class. She went back into the ring perfectly settled and put the 9 horses to shame riding like a dream and getting a very close second. Captive managed to be joint reserve of the division as well and she deserves it.

There was a short break before our speciality and the most competitive classes at the show, Pony Hunters. There were an incredible 14 entries in the Small Pony Hunters including Nicola with Woodcroft Demonic Intentions and little Emily riding spirited Woodcroft Moonchild. Neither was in the first 8 in the first O/F class, but they rode really well to get 7th and 6th respectively in the model. They had a short break while I rode Woodcroft Fantasma to a respectable 5th out of 13 in the Medium Pony Hunters, then they were back on again. They were both on green ponies, but Emily managed to get another 7th in the second fence class. Fantasma went well again in the over fence class and gained 2nd out of 13, but she made a mistake in the saddle class which put her down to 6th.

Large Pony Hunters was going to be interesting - 18 entries including the highest pointed horse in EF, IHa Nottingham (EASC) (who I now own). I was riding Moonlight Mystery. Nicola was determined to do well, she was one of the youngest in the class and was pleased with her earlier success on the haflinger mare. In the first O/F class, she was unlucky though and went to fast which upset Tuesday. I rode to 7th out of 18 and Emily was a very surprised 4th out of 18 of the best ponies around. She was like a kite *LoL*

The Model class was next and Tuesday was messing aoround so I wasn't in the top 8. Nicola had calmed down and made a very good 3rd, just beaten by the elusive Notty. Emily (who was still like a kite) went in and had the happiest ride of her life, putting her a very pleased and happy 7th. In the 2nd O/F class, Nicola rode like an absolute angel - I was really proud of her, she was against some of the best in EF and got 2nd. Jubilee was slightly more settled and got a respectable 4th. Emily was too hyper and unfortunately didn't get placed. We knew Nicola had a good chance of getting reserve in the division if she was placed again on the flat.

Nicola and Tuesday's flat work was good and they were 7th. Emily, determination shining through, impressed the judges and got 3rd so we had to seriously calm her down !!! Nicola was reserv champion as we had hoped and Emily exceeded all our expectations. There were 20 entries in the pony winners class - the best of the best - I went in with Fantasma and Nicola rode Tuesday. The ponies and the riders were all outstanding, but Fantasma knows when to put on a show and got 4th. Tuesday was still very tired from her last few classes, but got a good 9th out of 20. The Junior Hunter 'Winners' Class was next and Captivation was the smallest by about a hand, but she was a very good 8th out of 11.

Emily was riding Moon again and Nicola was taking bouncy little Demon into the 13 and under hunters next after she had decided to save her more experienced ride, Candy, for the bigger classes at the end of the week. There were 11 entries and in the first jumping class Emily rode to a good 7th and Nicola wasn't placed. Neither was placed in the second class, but Nicola's good flatwork got her a 1st under saddle (Emily was 7th) and a surprise reserve champion of the division. Woodcroft is starting to get a reputation for the way it's ponies are worked more on the flat (I'm a firm believer in you can't jump well unless you do lots of flat work).

I was riding Fudge in the 14-17 yrs hunters and he was in a sulk. He does pick his moments. Sulking because he hadn't had as much attention over the last few days because I had been busy, he demolished the first two fence classes by knocking almost every jump and refusing a large part. He obviously decided he'd done enough damage because he went quite well in the saddle class and was 6th out of 11, but I could kill that horse sometimes. Nicola had qualified for the Children's Hunter 'Winners' Class and was 3rd out of 8, ironically beating the horse who was champion in 13 and Under Hunter.

The next day, we had slightly less work to do as it was jumpers to begin. For an experiment, I was taking Ode into a junior jumper class to give her some valuable experience. Unfortunately, Ode has very little respect for anything less substantial than a telegraph pole and wasn't placed on the first course. The class was very big (16) and I was surprised and pleased that she was 6th in the second class. However, she didn't do as well in the classic and wasn't placed again. I am thinking of just specialising her in hunter and dressage, especially after her Working Hunter classes earlier in the week.

Equitation was up next and 11 and under was to begin. There were 11 entries and Emily and Moonchild were 2nd over fences. It was Nicola's turn to be in the ribbons next and she was 2nd on the flat, while Emily was 5th. They were joint reserve champions and Emily's first reserve champion of the show and for quite a long time, so she was pleased. 15-17 Equitation was next and I was one of the youngest. Alex, however, went like a dream and was 1st over fences and 4th on the flat. We narrowly missed champion and got a good reserve (flatwork again).

Next were the medal classes, we were hoping to do well in these as we had been doing a lot of preperation (yes, on the flat). Emily was in the mini-medal first. Moonchild was first on the first course out of 9, but Emily's over-confidence meant she missed a fence in the second course and was last. But, she did well enough to get called back for the final phase. The test was to dismount and re-mount and although Emily did it easily, she accidently let Moonchild throw her head. She was a very good 4th in the final medal standings though.

Next was the HSA Medal, in which Nicola was riding her experienced Cotton Candy. She was the youngest in the class which had adults in and she was 13th out of 15 on the first course. She rode well on the second course and was 8th, but she didn't quite do well nough to get called back. Next was the SPCA Medal and I had two good ponies in, Jubilee and Captivation. I rode Captivation first as my pathfinder and I didn't expect to do really well as she was first, so I was very pleased with 7th. As I knew the course, I had no problem riding Jubilee to a good 2nd. I eased off on Jubilee and gave her a slight rest in the second, flat phase knowing we were already through. Instead, I put all my efforts into Captivation who went like an angel to get an amazing first. This meant I had 2 rides in the 2nd phase.

The test was to drop stirrups on the flat and work collectively at the walk, trot, canter, and hand gallop. Yes, FLATWORK !!! I had no trouble doing a good job at something my well-schooled rides could do and was absolutely thrlled when Captivation was second and Jubilee was 3rd out of 14 good horses.

The full results aren't out yet, but when they are my little story will be finished