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Lottie and I have done it!  We took part in Broadway BE80(T) on 6th May 2017.  It was a long day during which I think I hardly stopped smiling.  Our dressage test was not too bad - 38.5 penalties which I was happy with as I learnt that studding for dressage in grass is probably needed if I want to get more than 4 marks for my canter!  Lottie found the slippy, hard and slopey ground in the grass arena a bit of a shock after our usual perfectly flat surfaces that you have for BD!

Show jumping was not too bad.  Lottie found the busy show jumping arena rather over-exciting and we had to spend a good few minutes steadily cantering around before she began to settle.  We still got 4 faults in the show jumping, with Lottie and I having a 'discussion' about speed and direction coming into the 3rd and smallest fence.

XC was awesome.  We started off a little green and looking at the fences, but with no suggestion of a stop.  By fence 4 Lottie had got the idea and we were on a roll.  This was stopped a little when we got to a steep hill after a fence with a sharp corner at the bottom.  We live and ride in a flat area, and Lottie decided trotting down the hill would be sensible.  This lost a bit of our rhythm which we regained, but then lost again for the ditch to rolltop combination.  We got stickily over the ditch and rolltop, but never regained our mojo, with Lottie feeling very much like she had run out of petrol.  WE scrabbled over the next fence (a wall), and splashed our way through the water after a bit of hesitation.  Then with just three fences to the finish line I retired.  Lottie had done so well and had no energy left for those fences.  Rather than ruin her and my confidence we pulled up, and will try it all again another day!

A massive thank you to my wonderful support crew - Amy, Dani and Martyn.  You guys were brilliant and made it easy for me and Lottie to do our stuff!

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I'm not normally one for fund raising.  I don't bake cakes, shave my head, or sit in baths full of baked beans.  But I really really want to raise some money for cancer research.  And I really want to achieve my dream of doing BE with my lovely young mare.  The Wobbleberry Challenge is therefore a perfect fit for me!

So what is the challenge?  

The challenge is to compete at a British Eventing 80 event in the autumn of 2017. To get there will require many other challenges along the way - such as getting fit, loosing weight, conquering nerves, training hard, and learning the skills necessary to be able to compete safely.

If what I raise can help even one young person with cancer it will be worth it.  Those who know me personally will know that my son Tom has been battling cancer for the last 6 years.  He's been so brave and strong and is truly an inspiration to me.  He's been through so much and suffered more than most people can imagine.  But through it all has stayed cheerful and positive.  In all honesty, I'm doing this for him!