BITTERWELL SPIRIT Results
2008
| 9th March 2008 | Forest of Dean 42k CR | Grade 1 |
| 16th March 2008 | Harling Drove 80k ER | 5th Place 20.5 kph |
| 24th April 2008 | Sangatte FEI 2* 119k | 6th place 15.6kph |
| 25th May 2008 | Dukeries FEI 3* 160k 1 day | 7th Place 15.0kph |
2007
| 11th March 2008 | Forest of Dean 68k CR | Grade 1 |
| 7th April 2007 | Haywood Oaks 110k FEI 2* | 6th Place |
| 29th April 2007 | Berkshire Downs 84k ER | 3rd Place |
| 23rd June 2007 | Cirencester Park 100k ER | 4th Place |
| 21st October 2007 | Tintern 68k CR | Grade 1 |
2006
| 5th March 2006 | Tilford 66k CR | Grade 1 |
| 1st April 2006 | Haywood Oaks 83k ER | 2nd Place |
| 29th April 2006 | Berkshire Downs 160k ER 2days | 2nd Place |
| 28th May 2006 | Cerne Giant 65k GR | Grade 3 |
| 17th June 2006 | Cirencester Park 160k ER Summer Solstice 1 day | 1st Place |
| 28th July 2008 | Lindum Spirit 167k ER 3days | 1st Place |
| 10th September 2008 | Three Rivers 90k ER | 1st Place |
| 30th September 2008 | Red Dragon 160k ER
2days | 4th Place |
In 2006 Bitterwell Spirit was EnduranceGB National Champion
We started competing in 2000 with 8 novice rides successfully completed and an upgrade to Intermediate at the end of the season. Spirit’s clumsiness was a problem and with an enforced break from endurance in the Foot and Mouth year of 2001 we spent the year concentrating on flat work.
2002 was the year that we started to make our mark with a second place in our first attempt at an ER – the 80km event at Three Rivers at Salisbury Racecourse.
In 2004 we achieved 4th place in the 130km class at Three Rivers (Salisbury) – in blistering heat. The longest distance he had completed so far.
In 2005 the highlight of the season, was the AHS Marathon in October at Larkhill racecourse on Salisbury Plain where we took 7th place and the award for the highest placed Crabbet horse. This year we also completed our first 2 day 160km ER at Cirencester Park, taking 5th place.
2006 really saw the results of my time and patience with this very talented horse.
We started the season with second place in the Haywood Oaks 83 km ER at a speed of 18.69kph.
The Southern Championship at Wantage was next where we again took second place in the 2 day 160km ER, at a speed of 18.4kph.
Then the Summer Solstice at Cirencester Park. This was our first one day 160km ride but we rode it from the front and were rewarded with a win and the EGB National Championship title.
Next was the 3 day 167km ER at Lindum in the Lincolnshire Wolds, where again we were in first place.
The last 2 rides of this amazing season have been the 90km class at Three Rivers (Salisbury) where again we came first, and then the 2 day 160km at Red Dragon (Wales) where we came 4th after a very hard ride.
Photos:
Cirencester Park Solstice 2006 photo by Eric G Jones
Red Dragon 2006 photo by Gilly Wheeler
Berkshire Downs 2005 photo by Eric G Jones
