Cricklade rider has good competition in France (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cricklade rider has good competition in France

5:26pm Sunday 22nd November 2009

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CRICKLADE show jumper Johnathan Bowman is looking forward to a big finish to his season at the Hartpury Spectacular next month after an excellent third-place finish in France last week.

Bowman and his top horse, the nine-year-old Marcel Des Rosiers, were pipped for the top prize at a competition in Strazeele, just south of Dunkirk and close to the Belgian border.

After a conservative display netted seventh place prize money on the first day, Bowman admits he ‘let the handbrake off’ on day two and he was leading the competition until the final few contestants.

"I went clear and we were narrowly beaten on time by a couple of local riders," said Bowman. "I was ninth to go from 87 starters and it just gave the late contestants something to aim at."

Bowman collected about 600 euros for his weekend’s work, a couple of saddle cloths and four oven-ready chickens! – the event took place on a chicken farm.

"That level of performance would easily have won in England and the standard was higher than a competition in Holland where I got another placing a couple of months ago," he said.

"Along with a sixth place finish against the big boys in a Windsor 1.40 speed class recently, it has to be my best effort of the year."

Now Bowman is really looking forward to the Hartpury Spectacular.

"I am going for the Silver Tour and I think I have a good chance of winning," he said.

"Marcel Des Rosiers is so quick and nimble, he jumps well and he is as brave as a lion.

"I bought him as a three-year-old so we have been together a long time which is why really trusts me."

As a coach, Bowman is also having a good year with his eventing pupils doing well at Gatcombe and Hartpury.

"I ride the competition horses in the morning and every afternoon I am teaching, not just at home near Cricklade but as far afield as Bristol and Leominster," he said.

"My next project is to go to Holland this weekend to try and buy a couple of good jumping prospects and set up a syndicate of owners for them.

"It is so good to have a horse capable of competing well abroad, like Marcel, because then the owners can come over, too, and make a weekend of it."

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