Western Morning News, The

Showing Legend Just Loves Horses at Home

F resh off the phone to Ireland, Robert Oliver has a contented smile on his face. A new arrival at his yard in the shape of show cob is set to be "probably the best we've had for a very long time" says the legendary show producer who has a life-long passion for showing animals. With 22 horses in from Cornwall to Scotland and beyond life at Upper House Farm in Upleadon, Gloucestershire, is as busy as ever for the team which includes Robert's wife, Claire (nee Oseman, former team and individual...

Tavy Valley Riding High at Area Qualifier ; in a Competitive Area 19 Horse Trials Qualifier, Tavy Valley Riding Club Was Triumphant in the Senior Novice Section, Beating 17 Teams to Pole Position at the Popular Venue of Southcott Farm, Winkleigh, North Devon.

In a competitive area 19 Horse Trials qualifier, Tavy Valley Riding Club was triumphant in the Senior Novice section, beating 17 teams to pole position at the popular venue of Southcott Farm, Winkleigh, North Devon. The small club, which has just 25 members and is based at Andy Reeves' St Leonard's Equitation Centre near Launceston, fielded one team with two new riders stepping in admirably.

Stunning Displays On the Cards at Hoys

A spectacular entertainment line-up is on the cards for this year's Horse of the Year Show (October 7-11) at Birmingham's new NEC LG Arena. In line with HOYS' very musical theme this year, the exclusive displays will include a specially choreographed Phantom of the Opera themed act performed by movie stunt team, Daniel Naprous (pictured below) and the Devil's Horsemen.

New Fwag Advisory Service ; Cornwall Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (Fwag) Is Launching an Exciting New Project Working with Horse Owners and Riding Stables Throughout the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cornwall Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) is launching an exciting new project working with horse owners and riding stables throughout the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Fwag will provide an advisory service to horse owners, managers of livery yards and riding stables to assist in tackling poisonous weeds, such as ragwort, reducing poor soil conditions and improving grassland management.

Cool Performance for Brake - Despite Dodging the Stable Cat ; Martin Brake Clinched the Kbis British Novice Regional Showjumping Final with a Cool and Calculated Performance On Charlotte Baines' Exciting Young Prospect Ab Sport Horses Zippy at Redpost, Near Totnes.

Martin Brake clinched the KBIS British novice regional showjumping final with a cool and calculated performance on Charlotte Baines' exciting young prospect AB Sport Horses Zippy at Redpost, near Totnes. "It was quite an eventful competition," said Martin, who is based at Yeovil.

Werth Suspended After Positive Dope Test On Whisper ; Top German Dressage Rider Isabell Werth has Been Suspended, Following a Positive Dope Test On Her Small Tour Horse Whisper, at the Cdi Wiesbaden, Germany.

Top German dressage rider Isabell Werth has been suspended, following a positive dope test on her small tour horse Whisper, at the CDI Wiesbaden, Germany. The 10-year-old chestnut gelding Whisper (by Wolkentanz I x Einstand) tested positive to Fluphenazine, a drug usually applied as antipsychotic for humans. It is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. One of its side effects is sedation, which is a reason why it could be used on horses.

First Win Is 'Great Moment' for Rider Tristan ; South West Riders Had Some Fantastic Successes This Year at the Cirencester Three-Day Festival of Endurance.

South West riders had some fantastic successes this year at the Cirencester three-day Festival of Endurance. Tristan Bishop, from Altarnun in North Cornwall, scored his first win in an endurance ride after competing in them for seven years, by coming first in the 100km (60 mile) Denbigh Slate at an average speed of 16.37 kph.

Devon Riders Collect Young Riders Award at Tanat Challenge Trec ; Lucy Thompson and Rebecca Harris, From Devon, Travelled More Than 200 Miles to the Tanat Valley in Wales to Compete at Level Three at Phil Weavers' Tanat Challenge Trec.

Lucy Thompson and Rebecca Harris, from Devon, travelled more than 200 miles to the Tanat Valley in Wales to compete at Level Three at Phil Weavers' Tanat Challenge Trec. The competition, held at Cefnhirfach Farm near Llanreadr-Ym- Morchnant close to the Berwyn Mountains in Wales, was extremely challenging at this level.

Microchip Derogation for Moorland Ponies

T he new EU regulations on horse identification which come into effect today are designed to harmonise rules across Europe and strengthen the horse passport scheme introduced in 2004. They require that all foals born after today, or those born before that have not yet been issued with a passport, have a microchip implanted by a vet to provide a permanent link between the horse and its passport.

Wiegersma Beats Class Field to Take Arville Title ; Lucy Wiegersma has Won Her First International Title of the 2009 Season, Leaving French Star Nicolas Touzaint and Aussie Olympian Clayton Fredericks Among Those Behind Her.

Lucy Wiegersma has won her first international title of the 2009 season, leaving French star Nicolas Touzaint and Aussie Olympian Clayton Fredericks among those behind her. The Hatherleigh rider had travelled to Belgium to challenge for the Arville CIC*** title with three horses, led by Christopher and Sarita Perkins' nine-year-old Simon Porloe. The pair was handily pleased in fifth after dressage but it wasn't quite the test Lucy had hoped for.

Changes Leave Racing On Course for Success

A bid to make gig racing a more spectator friendly sport for people on dry land proved a spectacular success at a Cornish resort this weekend. Looe Gig Club, with an eye to the popularity of their annual race meeting, altered the course to make the race easier to watch in its entirety by tourists who flock to the picturesque town.

Varazinskis Sets Sights On Productive Stay at Argyle ; Raivo Varazinskis Will Be a Long Way From Home During the Forthcoming Season - but He Feels the Exile Will Be Well Worth It If He Can Launch a Productive Career in English Football.

Raivo Varazinskis will be a long way from home during the forthcoming season - but he feels the exile will be well worth it if he can launch a productive career in English football. The 16-year-old goalkeeper from Latvia was one of nine first- year apprentices who were paraded this week by Plymouth Argyle. Now Varazinskis is hoping to justify the faith placed in him by the Pilgrims' coaching staff.

Peltier Leaves Glovers ; Huddersfield Town Manager Lee Clark has Expressed His Delight at Signing Lee Peltier From Yeovil Town.

Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark has expressed his delight at signing Lee Peltier from Yeovil Town. The 22-year-old has left Huish Park to link up with Yeovil's Coca- Cola League One rivals for an undisclosed fee. He made 76 first- team appearances for the Glovers, scoring one goal.

Gabb Shows He's One for the Future Despite Narrow Defeat ; Rising Westcountry Tennis Star Richard Gabb Came Close to Springing a Major Surprise at the All England Club Yesterday in His Second Round Junior Wimbledon Singles Match Against the Number Nine Seed, Dominik Schulz of Germany.

Rising Westcountry tennis star Richard Gabb came close to springing a major surprise at the All England Club yesterday in his second round junior Wimbledon singles match against the number nine seed, Dominik Schulz of Germany. Despite being 204 places below his opponent in the world rankings, 17-year old Gabb pushed the big-serving Schulz all the way before finally succumbing 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on Court 14.

Hewitt Relishing His Fresh Start in Spanish Premier League ; Former Cornish Pirates Head Coach Mark Hewitt Admits He Is Relishing a 'New Start' After Taking Charge of Spanish Premier League Side Club de Rugby La Vila.

Former Cornish Pirates head coach Mark Hewitt admits he is relishing a "new start" after taking charge of Spanish Premier League side Club de Rugby La Vila. The 49-year-old's three-season stay with the Pirates ended in February, and since then Hewitt has been chasing a number of options within the game.

Rudolph Punishes Somerset ; Jacques Rudolph's Superb 191 On the Opening Day at Taunton Put Winless Yorkshire in Control of Their Lv County Championships Clash with Somerset.

Jacques Rudolph's superb 191 on the opening day at Taunton put winless Yorkshire in control of their LV County Championships clash with Somerset. The Tykes are bidding to avoid an unwanted record of 18 first- class games without a win - a run that dates back to the corresponding fixture last season.

Starry-Eyed Truro Boatmen Hit the Jackpot Twice with Record Smoothounds ; Within the Space of a Week, Members of Truro Angling Club Fishing From Dave Trebilcock's Che Sara Sara Out of Newquay Twice Broke the Cornish Federation of Sea Anglers' Record for the Starry Smoothound.

Within the space of a week, members of Truro Angling Club fishing from Dave Trebilcock's Che Sara Sara out of Newquay twice broke the Cornish Federation of Sea Anglers' record for the Starry Smoothound. First to score with a fish of 23lb 12oz was Adrian Hill, then Graham Browning pushed it to a magnificent 25lb 7oz against the old record of 20lb 7oz that had stood for ten years.

Life Leads the Rest at Whiteway ; with Two Wins and Third-Placed Finish, Totnes All-Rounder Nick Life Was the Leading Expert in the South Hams Club's Orpa Championship Motocross Staged at Whiteway Barton Circuit.

With two wins and third-placed finish, Totnes all-rounder Nick Life was the leading expert in the South Hams club's ORPA Championship Motocross staged at Whiteway Barton circuit. Kelvin Townsend was the other race winner, whilst Charlie Layzell and Paul Vallance finished third and fourth overall - separated by just two points.

Devils Await Their Fate in Cup Semis ; Holders Plymouth Devils Have Been Drawn to Meet Bournemouth Buccaneers or Weymouth Wildcats in the Semi-Finals of the National League Knock-Out Cup.

Holders Plymouth Devils have been drawn to meet Bournemouth Buccaneers or Weymouth Wildcats in the semi-finals of the National League Knock-Out Cup. The Buccaneers and the Wildcats meet in their quarter-final second-leg clash at Bournemouth tomorrow. Weymouth hold a 16-point advantage from the first leg, having won it 56-40.

Berry On Course for Two in a Row ; the Westcountry's Reigning No.1 Assistant Will Put His Reputation On the Line As He Bids to Reach the Final of the Crown Golf English Pga Assistants' Championship for the Second Successive Year.

The Westcountry's reigning No.1 assistant will put his reputation on the line as he bids to reach the final of the Crown Golf English PGA Assistants' Championship for the second successive year. Cleeve Hill's Russ Berry, who topped the region's 2008 Titleist- FootJoy Young Professional League, is in the 50-strong field that will tee up at Bristol Golf Club on Monday, July 13, chasing one of six qualifying spots for September's final at Hampton Court Palace.