We had 2 teams qualify for the BRC Novice SJ champs at Arena UK on the 5th and 6th April. Our team members were : 80 Natalie Flewitt – Dunard Dexter Sandra Bond -Brownlees Russet Simone Money – Crannard Pringles Julie Turner – Shanbally Alvin 90 Natalie Flewitt – Dunard Dexter Simone Money – Crannard Pringles Julie Turner – Shanbally Alvin Maria Veale – Widos Autumn sun All except Sandra and I travelled up on the Friday and enjoyed getting their horses comfortable for the weekend ahead. As we have to provide a volunteer per team Maria kindly volunteered to help on the Saturday morning so she could then help with the 80 team on the Saturday afternoon (Big thanks Maria 😊) Sandra and I then arrived at 11:30 to walk the course (first round outside) and met the teamies for a delicious choc muffin at Julies lorry! Sandra was the pathfinder and did a lovely clear round. This was followed by further flawless clears from Nat and Simone and an unlucky 4 faults for Julie but the team went forward to the second round on zero 😊 Any faults in the first round meant you could only jump up to fence 8 and any faults in that round meant you didn’t go further than fence 8 through to the jump off section. The second round was a big full up course which caused problems, I had volunteered to help and was picking up ‘A LOT’ of poles! Particularly fence one, eight and the second part of the double. Sandra again went first and did a foot perfect round but missed the last fence in the JO and represented giving her 4 faults for the circle, this still gave her a clear for the team. Nat followed with a super round just clipping the planks giving 4 faults. Julie followed next with Alvin who did a lovely clear round and kept the team in contention. The results being online kept everyone on their toes and it was all down to Simone who was one of the last riders to go before we could see the final results. Her cracking double clear and speedy JO on Merv meant the team had won!! And Simone finished 4th individually out of 112 riders 😊 The only team from 24 teams to finish on a zero score. There were cheers, hugs and tears! Finished off with a lovely presentation and prizes – Well done High Fenners! We then travelled home leaving the 90 team to another day of jumping on the Sunday. The courses on Sunday were bigger and technical and both being outside in different arenas. All the horses jumped brilliantly with Nat jumping clear in the first round and all 3 gaining 4 faults meaning we went through on 8 after round one. The second round Nat, Maria and Simone all jumped clear with Nat going through to the JO. Julie had an unfortunate 4 flts but the team’s zero score in that round meant they finished the team on a score of 8 and 14th overall out of 26 teams. Well done ladies, fabulous riding all weekend, great team spirit and lots of fun! Thanks for representing the club and looking forward to the next stay away champs at Aston Le walls for the Arena eventing champs 🥳