Compiegne 2007
A Team Hirst member on the Podium in France!
Comments by Tricia Hirst on the weekends events
We had such an amazing weekend at Compiegne. First of all I rode WFA Leena in the CEI 3* 140km with 90 starters. We finished 38th at a speed of 14.89kph. Really pleased with her as she had failed at the end of the 160km at Compiegne last year.
Then Georgina rode the CEI 2* 119km Young Horse (7 & 8yr olds) World Championships with Vlacq Abattarik. There were 114 starters and 26 different countries entered. It was extremely competitive as for a lot of the professional riders there was a lot of money at stake. So there were a lot of riders racing at the front. We knew that Tarik was fit as he had done the 160km at Euston Park in June, and he was full of running all day. The last loop was ridden at 23kph and unfortunately Tarik lost a shoe halfway round but because the ground conditions were so good Georgina kept on going as we didn't have time to stop.
The first three horses crossed the line, one of which would fail the final vetting, then about 3 minutes later a bunch of 5 horses came onto the finishing straight, with Georgina at the back. She kicked on and came storming through to cross the line first.
Tarik and Georgina had come 3rd in such a high class field it was amazing and won a bronze medal and enough prize money to pay for the trip!
Tricia
Click here for the winners' podium picture http://www.open-60.com/index.php?lang=uk&rub=404
