Stonesby rider Willa Newton returned to competition at Oasby Horse Trials after a long injury lay off and won an Open Novice section with Georgie Jelf’s Cock A Doodle Do, adding just 1.2 time penalties to a 21.5 dressage score. This, despite having to complete her cross country phase in the very worst of the rain and wind.
Willa was sidelined for four months of this year with a pelvic injury sustained during cross country training at Bubby Upton’s Newmarket yard.
She told me, “I’ve had amazing rehabilitation at Jack Berry House in Malton, Yorkshire and feel great. No pain. I’m very grateful to all the riders who have helped me out by riding my horses while I’ve been out of action, and my sponsors for their continued support.”
She added that she would be back on Sunday to support John Paul Sheffield who qualified both Kingsman, owned by Isobel Crosbie, and her own Quality Time, for the British Eventing 5-Year-Old Championship while she was injured.
Another local rider, Somerby’s Angus Smales, won Intermediate Section A on Sally Chamberlain’s Dutch Warmblood Gino G.
Eliza Stoddart, from Market Harborough, finished 3rd in Intermediate Section B with Priorspark Precocious, owned by Anne Staley. She also went on to win he British Eventing 5-year-old Championship at Oasby Horse Trials for the second year running. This time with De Pleasure.
