Guernsey team does the island proud throughout

PHENOMENAL' was the apt word used by BSJA Guernsey chairman Ken Carre to describe the Horse of the Year Show. He and his committee could have hardly wished for a better five-day event than that which was completed at Chemin Le Roi on Sunday.

The standard of jumping was outstanding, the number of entries was superb and the support from the public was excellent.

The one thing missing was a Guernsey team victory but there can be no doubting that both the seniors and juniors did their island proud.

The youngsters, in particular, could hardly have done much better considering the inexperience of the team. They performed brilliantly and it was just unfortunate that they were facing a fantastic Jersey side.

The teams went into the second leg of the match level on no faults apiece and Gabriella Gervaise-Brazier riding Westside Miracle got the Sarnians off to a fine start as she accrued just four faults around the testing course built by David Cole.

Her sister Samantha then followed for the Guernsey team on Crystal Sword and that combination also put in a courageous display as they clipped just two fences to finish on eight faults.

Fallon Ephgrave was the third team member to go and it was a tremendously brave performance by the girl who had suffered a nasty fall early in the show.

Her mount AC McCoy dislodged only the final fence of the dyke in a good round of just four faults.

Team captain Charlotte Breban was to provide a fitting fourth and final Guernsey round by going clear on Caughley Krakerjak to ensure her team finished on a total of just eight faults - the three best rounds counting from each leg.

However, Jersey's class was emphasised by four perfect rounds in the deciding leg.

Emily Rowland, Helen Papworth and Stephanie Miller ensured that captain Emma Brint had no pressure on her when she was last to jump in the entire show.

But, just for good measure, she produced a faultless display to complete proceedings before collecting the Team Trophy.

The Guernsey seniors had earlier performed bravely as they attempted to make up the 15-fault deficit they had from the first leg against Jersey and the British team.

And although they did not manage to improve on their third place position, they accumulated the least faults of the three teams over the second leg.

Kate Torode and Aspen Gem got them off to the ideal start with their second clear of the team competition, but Snaffles Purple Patch and Emma Dorey were unfortunately eliminated after two refusals.

The combination did well to compete at all as earlier the vet had had to examine the unwell horse.

But there was a great performance by Sarah Le Tissier and Sheer Elegance to follow, especially considering the pressured circumstances.

The combination had suffered an elimination in the first leg, however, they came back strongly and produced a wonderful round marred only by one refusal that caused a total of seven faults.

Captain Jan Coomer riding Just Do It then conceded just four faults to leave the team on 26 faults.

Jersey claimed the inter-insular Settyres Trophy with 16 faults after they had to compete in the second leg without captain Helen Clackett whose horse Just Jodi was lame.

Dark Jester ridden by Julie Lidgett and Lisa Phillips on Playboy both notched up eight faults while Jo Hayman and Montana Star produced an excellent clear round.

The British finished as winners of the Ringer Memorial Trophy on 12 faults thanks to a clear round from captain Sandra Low-Mitchell (Ominous), four faults from Danny McGlynn (Honeybrook Flight) and eight from Emma Oakley (Lando).

However, there was a home winner of the main individual class of the final day as Pipper Parsons on Nervenfee won the three-way jump-off for the Senior Showjumper of the Year title.

Holly O'Brien and Vicki Travers were the other two riders to go clear in the first round but Nervenfee produced a brilliant clear in 38.18sec. to take the Brian Trophy.

Prince Chardonnay ridden by Stephanie Miller from Jersey won the Canham Trophy for the junior version of the event while the Nursery/128cm championship was won by another Jersey combination - Oakmeadow Bethan and Jack Clackett.

Parsons also won the Fantast 151 Trophy for the leading Guernsey senior rider in jumping classes through the show and the Brian Memorial Trophy for the local senior who scores most points at affiliated shows in Guernsey in 2003.

Leanne Galienne and Sweet Meoldy completed their superb season by collecting the Surcouf Trophy and the Carpenter Trophy as leading junior combination both locally and overall while Dorey and Snaffles Purple Patch won the prestigious Keen Trophy for most clear rounds in graded classes over the season.