BADMINTON-BASED rider Rachael Claridge and her World Start and Development squad horse Blue Chip Maarhabi achieved third place in the gruelling 80km Minions Moorland Endurance GB ride.
Formerly from Cornwall, Claridge knew the route after winning the event two years running with her Team GB horses Silver Mistrahl and Prince Meliodas.
However, the conditions were against her on this occasion. Riding with elite squad riders Annie Joppe and Nicky Sherry, Claridge’s horse lost a shoe which delayed her at the second compulsory vet hold whilst Richard Hayden replaced it.
However, they held their position ahead of Dorset’s Kirsty Wiscombe, who lost two shoes over the distance due to the taxing terrain, by ten minutes Joppe went on to win the event by a nose ahead of Sherry after a breathtaking finish over the final 10km of the course which took them past the famous Bodmin Moor Cheese Ring and Hurlers standing stones.
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