South West Daffy Ducks Put In A Quacking Team Effort

The South West region adds a team win to a successful year, and a career change pays dividends for an ex-eventer

- Helen Triggs

THE South West region is having a successful year, adding the senior Home International title to their para Home International and youth inter-regional victories. Their Daffy Ducks team, comprising Danielle Rhodes, Natasha Rumble, Katie Kneen and Gayle King, brought the title home, just pipping Southern Bolinger into second by less than 2%, with Eastern Hendrix just 3% behind them.

The Daffy Ducks’ highestplaced combination was Danielle and Sycamore Stirling (Fred), who is owned by Kim Gibson and Robert Kirby. Fred, a British-bred five-year-old by Showmaker, was the youngest horse on the team. They were second individually at novice on an average score of 70.62%, having achieved a super 72.47% in the first round.

Danielle has been riding Fred for a year, since he was first backed.

“He’s quite a shy character under saddle so I’ve had to work on his confidence in the ring,” said Danielle. “He was a bit tired today as this was his biggest competition staying away and he’s still only a baby. Yesterday, once he’d done his first medium trot, he really stayed with me. He has the most trainable attitude.”

Natasha and Liz Rawlingson’s 18-year-old Don Paccini were fourth in the advanced medium with an average score of 68.87%. ‘Alfie’ had only done a handful of advanced mediums when Natasha took over the ride in August last year. His 70% score in Sunday’s class was a personal best.