Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia

This weekend saw the 6^th running of the Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia Jumping Competition at the Cambodia Country Club.

The Championship runs over three dates, 17^th & 31^st February and 7^th January with results for each event day and the combined total of the three events deciding the overall championship riders in each division.

Clancy and I are both entered. Clancy in Pony 1 and me in Adult beginners. Clancy was having a hoot of a time being silly and clowning around in practice. He doesn’t really like jumping and there were two courses in the training arena for the little ones to choose, one with a jump and slalom and the other without a jump, but with two slalom. Clancy choose the additional slalom and did very well until the last section where he had to walk his horse (Chouchou) into a square on the ground and come to stop in front of the judges. Chouchou was a bit frisky and took of. Chouchou loves to jump so away she went over the jump at a pretty quick pace around the arena. Clancy did very well to stay on and even looked in control. It gave Clancy a good fright, some tears and a very good lesson in shortening the reins. Walking around the course with Clancy is Guillaume Lavirain the head instructor.

My event earlier in the day was on a great pony called Unique. My course was 6 jumps without the clock followed by an additional 3 timed jumps, if the first 6 jumps were cleared without fault. I cleared the 6 and posted a time of 23 seconds on the timed section (I need to check this). I won my division and I think I may have posted close to the overall best time for that course layout (I’ll check that also)! However, in typical John as I passed the finish line, I let down my guard, Unique shied and I went flying over his head landing flat on by back with the reins and the entire bridal in my hand (yanked right of Unique’s head). As I bounced I flipped straight to my legs and took a bow. The little kids loved it and I got lots of applause and back pats from impressed kids throughout the day. The trophy was worth it.

Photos:

Pony 1 Kids. Clancy Sophie and Sarah, with mum’s standing behind.

Talking Horses. NOT! Anny and Amanda