As Lucy Kemplay guided the inexperienced Lexies Joy over the final showjump and across the finish line, her smile said it all.
This may not have been the biggest win of 35-year-old Lucy’s career, but her victory in the Stratstone Aston Martin CCI* at Glanusk on a talented young horse with only half a dozen novices under his belt was worth its weight in gold in terms of satisfaction.
The bright sunshine that shone over the Legge-Bourkes’ magnificent Glanusk Estate as Lucy entered the arena for the final phase was in stark contrast to the dire conditions of the previous three days. Relentless rain had left the ground sodden in many areas of the park and forced the cancellation of all the national one-day classes.
“All credit to the organisers for keeping going,” said two-times national young rider champion Lucy, for whom this was a first visit to the Powys event.
“I usually enter Houghton, but I’d heard good things about this place and I fancied a change – I’m really glad I came, despite the weather.”
Lucy completed on her dressage score of 48.1 with Lexies Joy, a Ghareeb seven-year-old who was bought by his owner Kim Turner to hunt.
“Kim wanted something that could jump big hedges – she’s a joint-master of the Quorn,” explained Lucy, who found the gelding in Vere Phillipps’ yard. “The idea was for me to play around with him eventing, but he’s exceeded our expectations.
“I told Kim last night that she’d have to go and find herself another hunter!”
The Hows Racesafe under-18 national championship, also run at CCI* level although over a slightly different cross-country track, went to Isabella Innes Kerr, 17, riding Carolyn.
