NOVEMBER 2009 TEAM REPORT
In 2009 Paul competed in
78 National One Day Events (106 in 2008 decreased by 26%),
18 International One Day Events (CICs) (21 in 2008 decreased by 14%)
9 International Three Day Events (CCIs) (9 in 2008, no change).
From these competitions we achieved Five Wins (5 in 2008 no change) at National One Day Events and a massive 54 Top Ten Placings (55 in 2008).
2009 Winners to starters ratio of 7%. 2008 Winners to starters ratio of 5%.
2009 top 10 places to starters ratio of 51%. 2008 top 10 places to starters ratio of 40%.
The rankings for the 2009 Eventing Season have now been published and it is great that of the approximate 12,000 British Eventing members,
Paul has achieved his best ever UK Rider Ranking, finally breaking into the top 10 with a ranking of 7th with 854 B.E. points (11th in 2008 with 610 B.E. points).
From the team’s results in all International Competitions Paul has achieved his best ever World Rider Ranking of 14th (25th in 2008)
British Eventing currently has approximately 14,000 horses registered as competing in Eventing and so it is great to have three horses recognised amongst the prestigious top 100 horses list (2 in 2008),
Jenny and Claus Waalers’ Inonothing (Mannie) continues to show his exceptional consistency maintaining his exact same ranking from last year of 9th , this year however with a increase of 56 points to 342 B.E. points (9th in 2008 with 286 B.E. points)
Sue White’s Kilfinnie (Scottie) burst into the top 100 list this year with an awesome 2009 ranking of 20th with 239 B.E. points
Martin and Suzi Belshams’ Stormhill Michael (Mike) improved on his 2008 ranking of 98th to this year be ranked 66th with 124 B.E. points
In 2009 Zoe Wilkinson competed in
28 National One Day Events (12 in 2008 increased by 133%),
1 International Events (1 in 2008, no change).
From these competitions Zoe achieved One Win (1 in 2008 no change) and a creditable 13 Top Ten Placings (5 in 2008).
2009 top 10 places to starters ratio of 46%. 2008 top 10 places to starters ratio of 42%.
In 2009 Georgina Tapner competed in
15 National One Day Events (4 in 2008 increased by 275%!!),
From these competitions Georgina achieved Two Wins and an impressive 8 Top Ten Placings (2 in 2008).
2009 Winners to starters ratio of 13%.
2009 top 10 places to starters ratio of 53%. 2008 top 10 places to starters ratio of 50%.
Our Staff members for 2009; Zoe Wilkinson, Emily Dunn, James White, Georgie Jupe, Hannia Otffinowska and Tom Haynes. Special mention to Zoe and Emily for their exceptional loyalty throughout a turbulent year which despite the chaos which we have often found ourselves in have still held everything together to enable us to achieve the fantastic results of this season, and provide the utmost care for all of the horses of the team.
One of the Highlights of the year for the team was Georgina winning the best groom award at the Luhmuhlen CCI**** Event in Germany whilst grooming for Inonothing. This is an award that Georgina has been desperate to win at a four star event ever since Inonothing has been competing at this top level of the sport, so we are exceptionally proud of her achievement.
Thanks to our extended support team for 2009; Jamie Goddard of Goddard Farrier Services, Martine Wilke of Back in Line Chiropractic Services, and Sonya Nightingale of Highworth Physiotherapy Clinic have all put in a huge effort throughout the season to make sure all of the horses always have the best of care and are given the maximum opportunity to perform to their best ability at every one of their competitions. The sponsors of the Tapner Eventing Team for 2009; Premier Equine International, Badminton Horse Feeds, Wickstead Farm Equestrian Centre, Care on Call (UK), Equestrian Federation of Australia, Point 2 Air jackets, Gatehouse Equestrian Hats and Westgate EFI have all given highly valuable support to make the efforts of the team so much easier throughout the season.
Paul and Georgina would like to express our thanks to our sponsors, our staff, our extended support team, our horse owners and of course to our dear friends, the horses, for a great 2009 season. With 2009 producing the best results ever for the team, 2010 is set to be really exciting!
OCTOBER 2009 TEAM REPORT
Jenny and Claus Waalers’ Inonothing (Mannie) and Sue White’s Tiger Flynn (Tiger) and Kilfinnie (Scottie) are now taking a well earned holiday after their season of Eventing and are enjoying lots of time in the field being mud monsters!
Vicki Mace-Benson, Georgina Tapner and Captain Fred and Penny Barker’s Wickstead Didgeridoo (Balloo) competed in Dauntsey Parks Intermediate Novice section at the beginning of the month, as a confidence building exercise prior to his CCI** debut, which was mission accomplished with a good dressage score and easy double clear. Balloo then took a trip to France to take part the Le Lion D’Angers CCI** 7 year old World Championships, all connections thought Balloo put in a fantastic dressage test however the judges didn’t seem to agree! After a strong start on the tough cross country track, Balloo made a minor error at a massive drop fence which saw him and Paul take a nose dive just 3 fences from home, a hugely disappointing end to their trip to France.
Sally and Colm McGinns’ Cheers Woody (Woody) was in action at Dauntsey Parks Novice section, after putting in the best dressage of his section Woody did a clear show jumping round but then found the double of trakheners on the way home all too exciting and had a technical 20 penalties across country. The last event of the season saw Woody going HC in the Novice at Aldon where another good dressage and a fantastic double clear gave a positive end to Woody’s season!
Captain Fred and Penny Barker’s Kilronan (Tom), now a fully fledged member of the Tapner Eventing Team, put in another of his brilliant performances in all three phases in the Novice at Dauntsey Park, with Paul deciding to take it steadier on the cross country in prep for Tom’s first Intermediate run at his next Event left Tom in 8th place. Aldon International saw Tom move up a level to Intermediate for the first time, and after a strong dressage and double clear with just a few time penalties from the cross country, Tom took home a fantastic 6th place, a brilliant result for his first time at this level and good way to end the season!
Georgina Tapner and her own Oki Doki X (Oliver) had a very good month of Eventing during October, firstly at Dauntsey Park, where a double clear and 30 dressage score was enough to take 3rd place in the Pre-Novice section. Then at the final event of the season, Oliver and George put in an outstanding performance in the Pre-Novice section at Aldon, to finish on their super impressive dressage score of 20 (which had Georgina literally dancing round the scoreboards announcing loudly to the world that she had just got a 20 dressage score!!), gaining a brilliant WIN for their final event!
Zoe Wilkinson and We Found Nemo (Nemo) had just one event of the season left at Dauntsy Park in the Novice section. After a good dressage and good show jumping and an unfortunate run out across country left Zoe and Nemo out of the placings for this month.