ONE of the earliest runs of the season and a first outing for many, the Poplar Park Horse Trials in Hollesley offered a great opportunity to let horses blow the cobwebs away this weekend.

The inviting course, on good going, provided a confidence-building run for many and there were some top combinations enjoying the bright weather and good conditions.

Kizzy Smith, from Saffron Walden, riding six-year-old mare Abbotts Vale Razz opened her season well with a win at BE 90 sec A, kicking off her season in style.

In BE90 sec B it was a good day for Heather McCredie, from Stowmarket, who cooked up a storm riding 15.1hh gelding Jamie Oliver, to finish only 0.2 points ahead of second-placed Sarah Williamson, from Bury St Edmunds.

It was Heather’s excellent dressage of 23.5 that set her up for the win, allowing her plenty of margin which ensured her 8.8 time penalties across country did not cost her the top spot.

Novice sec E winner Casey McKenna travelled from Barnston in Essex to ride his strapping gelding Field Master Mungo to first place, improving dramatically on last year’s 20th position.

Casey runs Elite Performance Horses in Barnston where he produces horses for both eventing and dressage.

He finished a full five points ahead of Sarah Williamson and Bonnabee, who also had picked up a second place in BE90 sec B riding Golden Polar Star.

On Sunday the BE100 classes ran on Poplar’s sandy soil. Posy Ash and her own Gran Torino picked up the first place rosette in section H with Scott Allen from Billericay and Wonita of Bellhouse taking the honours in section I.

The big classes attracted plenty of spectators, with many crowding round the two water jumps to watch the top riders in action in the Intermediate classes.

Oliver Townend brought a lorry full of horses – including his new ride Armada who he has picked up from Andrew Nicholson.

Armada was just enjoying a quiet introduction and withdrew before the cross country, but Oliver picked up first place on Nina Barbour’s Pepper Anne in Open Intermediate L.

Another of his rides, ODT Sonas Rovatio also took the honours in Advanced Intermediate section M.

Organiser James Hardwick said: “It went very well and we had fantastic weather which brought a massive crowd – it was great to see so many spectators on the cross country course.”

Results:

BE90 (A) 1- Kizzy Smith, Abbotts Vale Razz. 2- Rosie Chinery, Alaidhs Boy. 3- Jo Williams, Nobodys Fool

BE90(B) 1- Heather McCredie, Jamie Oliver. 2- Sarah Williamson, Golden Polar Star. 3- Zara Lye, Tiny Tom

BE90 (C) 1- Bethany Riddle, Suzie II. 2- Lucy Frost, Polly Whispers. 3- Abby Aird, Willows Santana Classic

BE90 Open (D) 1- Becky Woolven, Derby Daybreak. 2- Fiona Breach, Drumhowan Black Magic. 3- Fiona Breach, Fernhill Adventure

Novice (E) 1- Casey McKenna, Field Master Mungo. 2- Sarah Williamson, Bonnabee. 3- Megan Heath, Whisper XXVI

Open Novice (F) 1- James Sommerville, Kiltealy King. 2- Emma Humphrey, Ushouldbesolucky. 3- Casey Parker, Chataigne Filice

Int-Novice (G) 1- Laura Normand, Vardigo. 2- Hamish Golding, Get Set II. 3- Virginia Wells, Zwier. BE100 (H) 1- Virginia Wells, Golden Beech II. 2- Alex Greatorex, Ridinghill Dolomitiche. 3- Jane Hood, Knave of Golden Hearts.

BE100 (I) 1- Scott Allen, Wonita of Bellhouse. 2- Biddy Brasted-Watts, Market Fiesta. 3- Louise Cullen, Simply Barntown

BE100 Open (J) 1- Penny Sangster, Endymion Entrechat. 2- Julie Horton, Royle Walsh II. 3- James Pratt, Pacific Blue II

Int (K) 1- Richard Skelt, Cloudy Bay Boy. 2- Jodie Amos, Wise Crack. 3- Oliver Townend, Cooley Master Class

Open Int (L) 1- Oliver Townend, Pepper Anne. 2- Angus Smales, Its a Jackpot. 3- Jodie Amos, King Albert

Ad-Int (M) 1- Oliver Townend, ODT Sonas Rovatio. 2- Caroline Powell, Boston Two Tip. 3- Sophie Jenman, Geronimo.

Novice (N) 1- Emma Humphrey, Zeus IV. 2- Scott Allen, Wozz Two of Bellhouse. 3- Howard Booker, Allsorts