TOP Isle of Wight horse rider Sarah Holmes reached the pinnacle of her career in eventing — rubbing shoulders with the world’s best in her highest-ranked three-day event to date in south-west France.
The 27-year-old, of Rookley, travelled 1,800 miles to the Pyrenean foothills to take part in the Les Etoiles de Pau (Pau Horse Trials), with her impressive horse, Lowhill Clover, in the CC14 competition.
It was her first four-star event — the height an event rider’s career, next to the Olympics.
Sarah Holmes riding Caroline Ross's Greenvale Coriado in the cross-country phase of the two-star competition at the Pau Horse Trials in France recently. Photo: William Carey Photography
Sarah, who took on dressage, showjumping and her favourite discipline, cross-country, also rode Greenvale Coriado, owned by Caroliine Ross, in the lower-tier CIC 2 competition.
The course Sarah had to tackle featured 45 jumping efforts over a distance of 6,320m, designed to question the abilities of the world’s top eventing riders, including new world champion, Ros Canter.
“Pau was an amazing experience. I feel really privileged to have the horses and support to compete at this level against some of the world’s top riders,” said Sarah, who runs a livery yard and represented Britain at the 2015 European Championships in the CIC two-star competition and who made the step-up to three-star two years ago.
“I am the first rider from the Island to be riding at this level and the support I receive while I’m away is incredible and very overwhelming.
“The cross-country course was the biggest course I have faced to date. The fences were up to height and although the terrain was fairly flat, the technical fences certainly made it challenging.
“Lowhill Clover felt incredible!
Sarah Holmes riding Caroline Ross's Greenvale Coriado in the dressage phase of the two-star competition at the Pau Horse Trials in France, recently. Photo: William Carey Photography
“However, my four-star event did not finish as I would have liked. It was a tough track and I made a couple of stupid mistakes, which was gutting. I went under-powered up a hill to a brush, followed by a narrow skinny. I was too focused on the skinny and stopped at the brush.
“After giving myself a shake, he then gave me an amazing ride. I was gutted to miss him at Fence 28 and had a dismount, which was very frustrating.
“Never mind, though. There is always another day. This has given me more of a drive. I loved the buzz it gave me and I so want to continue at this level into winter training.”
Riding Greenvale Coriado was also a challenge, finishing 28th in the competition with two double clears in the cross-country and showjumping phases — something the top riders could not achieve.
“All this could not be possible without the support of my owners, family, friends and my sponsors,” stressed Sarah.
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