Little Mattingly BE80 Report

Little Mattingly has always been an extremely popular event with its well presented cross country course and friendly atmosphere which would account for the three full sections in the KBIS BE80 (T) class that took place on the Saturday.

 

Young Rider Henrietta Hine produced the best dressage test of the day with a rarely seen mark of just 18 penalties, which meant that despite picking up eight faults in the show jumping they kept hold of their lead throughout. Henrietta achieved this great results on board her own 6-year-old mare Zilona, in what was just their second BE event.

 

Sections J an L were both won on dressage marks, the first was taken by Emily Erde with Calcourt Fox on the Run, finishing on a very good score of 25.5 and the second by Amy Stanton and Autumn Days, again on a good score of 28.8.

 

Unfortunately it was not all good news in the BE80 (T) class as one competitor suffered an unfortunate fall in the show jumping collecting ring. Seventeen year old Chloe Briffa fell when her horse, six-year-old Paddington Bear IX, stumbled over the practice fence sending Chloe straight over his shoulder where she landed on her head.

 

Paramedics were quick to the scene and Chloe was air lifted off to Southampton Hospital where, due to the swelling on her brain, she was put into a medically induced coma in order to allow the swelling to reduce. Luckily Chloe is said to be making steady progress having awoken from the coma ten days after the fall.

 

The accident, which happened mid afternoon on the Saturday of the event, meant that the remaining competitors times were pushed back by around an hour. Organisers and volunteers worked hard to ensure that everything continued on and commented that the remaining competitors waited patientialy for their turn showing concern for the rider in question.

 

Everyone involved was delighted to hear of Chloe’s progress and wish her a speedy and healthy recovery.

 

Click here for the full results from Little Mattingly Horse Trials