"As I still hadn’t completed all of my qualifications, and with only a couple of weeks left to qualify, I was starting to get a little bit tetchy! I still had to get Bracks (Headmore Boadicia) qualified at elementary freestyle to music and medium, and Dante (Headmore Downtopia) at elementary freestyle to music so we took them both for a bit of a road trip around the M25 to Essendon and Epping Forest in Essex! The organiser was incredibly helpful and fitted us in, and she also made our first time as late as possible so we had enough time to make it there.

Well worth it

Thankfully, we arrived with plenty of time to spare and Bracks came out full of life and raring to go despite having done a lot of competing. The Dengie nutritionist suggested that I feed my competition horses a Dengie supplement, performance vitamins and minerals, to ensure that they are getting the correct nutrients to keep them on tip top condition, and they are definitely feeling the benefit as both Bracks and Dante had more than enough energy despite all of the competing they had done and the fairly long journey down. Her medium test went well and there were no mistakes, although there were a few green moments as it was in a short arena so everything came up much quicker. However, it was good enough to score 70% and win, completing her medium qualification. We then had our freestyle to music tests. Dante went first and there were a couple of mistakes although I was very pleased with his way of going. It was then Bracks’ turn and she felt like she really enjoyed it. Dante scored just under 70% and Bracks scored 71.8%, finishing second and first respectively, completing both of their qualifications, making it well worth the journey.

Lightening the load

Following Essendon on Wednesday, I had the practical part of my CPC test on Thursday morning. I had to be at Bypass driving training for 7o’clock in the morning so that I could learn everything I needed to know before my test at 8:45. It was, I am very pleased to say, fairly straightforward and I passed it, not quite with flying colours but well enough for a pass! I now know how to safely load my lorry up so the load is evenly distributed and how to check for any illegal immigrants or drugs that may have been hidden on my truck before a cross channel ferry crossing!

Champion of champions

It was also the Brightwells auction last week and Del (Headmore Delegate) and I had been asked to compete in the Champion of Champions classes at medium and advanced medium following our success at the Nationals. They were very small and select classes and it was held in the main arena, which was very spooky and full of atmosphere. However, I had been feeding Del Nupafeed to help him cope, and he was fantastic. We were last to go in the medium and Peter Storr had scored over 79% on his advanced medium national champion, so we knew we had to go for it. Despite Del getting a little worried in the atmosphere, my trusty Nupafeed did its job and he answered all of my questions. The judges were Francis Verbeek and Peter Engel, two top International judges, and they fell in love with Del. As it was in front of an audience, after every test they spoke aloud to give some feedback. They said that they loved us as a partnership and we had such harmony, but Peter’s test was just that much more difficult, which was the difference. We scored just over 77%, finishing just behind Peter, but still a good effort nonetheless.

The following day it was the advanced medium, and Del went even better than in the medium. I made his test quite difficult so we had one small mistake in a change, but other than that the test was foot perfect and the judges comments were fantastic. They said that we had such harmony and they had been waiting for a freestyle test like ours. They loved the music and said that Del always had such swing in his back and looked like he was doing it all without me asking. We scored a massive 79%, winning by 5%, and the audience clapped when our score was read out, which I found very touching. It’s lovely to know that the foreign judges love Del more than our British judges, so roll on next year!"