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Well, what can I say, it was an absolute scream! The Twin Palms Riding Centre, Desperate Housewives In House Show Jumping Event, was a classic.
It felt almost like war time. The current glanders situation has brought out the fighting spirit and a determination to have a go and win despite the odds.
The afternoon started with the Honeymoon Paradise, the pair's race when the couple had to stay together over a course of jumps, if one of the pair jumped before their partner completed the previous fence they were immediately divorced (eliminated).
We saw debuts by new riders Nina astride Otto, accompanied by Shama riding Dollar, also making their first show jumping event; Alan steering Santa, with Boras and Prince proving it's not only for the girls! Apollo and Valentino, both flat racing horses, entered to prove nothing is impossible; Apollo impatiently having to wait for Valentino as he took each of the 60cm fences as though it were a 120m oxer! Britta, Bahrain's best dressage rider took to the challenge aboard Eid.
This was followed by Marriage, Trials and Tribulations, Happiness and Horrors of married life ... this obstacle course saw them jumping, twisting and turning in all directions - over the fences, round the barrels and through the finish. But this event had a twist - one of each pair was knocked out, leaving the winner to go through to the next round.
This certainly brought out the winning streak in all. After the first round, unlikely winners paired together and went hell for leather to get into the quarter-finals. There was more excitement than the World Cup!
The semi-finals had the crowd screaming. Cairis took an amazingly agile Aztec into the semis and was only just pipped at the post by Florence and her super quick pony Miss Print.
The other pair in the semi-final, Natasha and Lucia, proved to be a force to be reckoned with beating Rania and Nafa (one of the fastest ponies at TP) to get into the final.
As Florence and Miss Print set off against Natasha and Lucia, it initially looked a sure bet for Miss Print to race to victory until Lucia put in that extra stride to win by a nose.
Moving swiftly onto Class 3 'The Seven Year Itch Take Your Pick' had all the fences adorned with pictures of favourite pin-ups, each fence having a secret number and it was up to the individual to take their own line, being able to jump one fence or all eight, or whatever combination.
It was great fun and with some very strange combinations being taken, I mean, who would pick Brad Pitt and Rod Stewart or Hugh Jackman and Jack Nicholson? Anyway, combinations all added up gave a surprising end result, with what was again a packed out class.
The evening ended with the inevitable D I V O R C E called Chase the Lawyer with the Puissance class winner receiving the biggest divorce settlement.
This again brought the riders out in droves and proved such a popular event. The single pole ominous in the fading light, got higher and higher, the two riders left to fight it out at the end of the class were two young ladies we hope will not know the trials and tribulations of divorce in any sense of the word but they fought it out and it was young Rania and veteran Nafa that narrowly beat Kate Addison and her brave Chief over the final fence.
It was an awesome way to finish off what has been a very sad year for Twin Palms. Big thanks to Anki for putting on the show and proving that despite all the sadness and pain of recent months life does go on.
WINNERS
Honeymoon Pairs Class 1: Rania Al Rashoodi and Nafa with Florence Finzi and MissPrint.
The Marriage Class 2: Natasha Park and Lucia
Seven Year Itch Take Your Pick Class 3: Nicky Park and Lucia
The Divorce Puisssance Class 4: Rania Al Rashoodi and Nafa.
For full list of winners and pictures of the event see the Twin Palms facebook page and website.
