The morning of this crucial day dawned foggy and sounds were discordant so Shamrock did not recognise the sight and sound of tractors moving in and out of the deep thick fog with their lights on as they groomed the arenas nearby. Shamrock snapped her leather halter and we suspect she hurt her poll.

More incidents occurred for the pair when Sam went to mount and some grit went in her eye. Later she was attended to by Angela Tovey the Doctor on call who anesthetized her eye and plucked out grit that had become embedded in her cornea! What a professional Sam is to continue riding with grit stuck to her eye!

With another early draw they rode an accurate test to finish 12th in a field of 21 with a score of 61.5 their lowest dressage score ever but certainly not their worst performance. We were surprised as this combination were in fifth position nation wide coming into this final test.

We dont know where the combination finished overall in the Challenge as this sheet wasnt pinned on the board in the marquee.