Gillian Kyle (IRL), Technical Delegate, & Marcin Konarski (POL), Course Designer.

Course walk with course designer Marcin Konarski on the CICO 3* Nations Cup cross country course.

2015 is a year of changes on the cross country course.

Firstly, we have a new water fence – Poda Lake. Secondly, our main arena is no longer a grass one, but now is made from all -weather mixture of sands. And last but not least we built many new fences this year.

As always cross starts with a few warm up jumps which aim is to prepare the horse and rider to the coming questions. These are respectively: STRZEGOM, VORNBROCK, The Brusch, Stargona fences. Next is a combination 5AB-ROTANES – composed of two skinnies on the show jumping arena. A design of those fences looks like typical obstacles known from show jumping courses, but they were adjusted to the cross requirements.

Then we have 6AB classic combination of huge house and four strides on the left curve line equally massive corner. After that strong opening there’s a time for some canter on longer distance and two big tables 7/8 – BM HORSE I GILLMET. Next is a huge ditch, fence no. 9, which this year is sponsored by LOWER SILESIA. And then it’s time for another test. 10ABC DEVUCOUX COMPLEX – demands highly precise approach and full concentration between the elements.

And again there’s a time to have some rest and to speed up on the way to next combination – well known Strzegom’s log on the ditch – no. 10 – DOLNET and full size FEEDING RACK. After that the most influential part of cross country begins. First combination ANR -13ABC consisting of massive oxer and two corners on the right curve. These are positioned so that they provoke horse to run out to the left. Just before the first water fence there’s a full size PALACE ANR – fence no. 14 and here we are in front of combination 15 AB BETGRAN/GRANITEX, composed of two skinnies on one stride distance, but the landing after the second one is almost 2m high drop to water. Between two water complexes there is a time to take a breath so we have two tables no. 16 BOGLER and no.17 BORGA. Fence 18AB – TRACKTEC is a combination which requires riding with a great deal of precision and excellent balance of the rider. No. 19 – TORPOL – the log on the hill is just an entry for two enormous hedges on skew line 20A – JOHN DEER and 20B – MANITOU. Fence 21 – SV SPORTMARKETING is another big ditch in the cross country course. And now there’s a time for completely new combination on Strzegom course 22 and 23AB – PODA LAKE consisting of massive log and almost 2m drop and huge boat in the water. The course ends with skinny in 5-6 stride distance. From there there’s a straight way to finish. See you next year!

Marta Wójcik
Ośrodek Jeździecki Stragona
Morawa 36
58 -150 Strzegom
Tel/Fax +48 74 855 40 42
e -mail: m.wojcik@stragona.pl
www.Stragona.pl