Wow. What a week. Again.
It has been a complete privilege to be at Burghley Horse Trials - having been going as long as I can remember, taking my little camera and getting some cherished but amateurish snaps - to walk into the main arena on Wednesday with my media tabard on was a bit ‘of a moment’.
Gemma Tattersall & Santiago Bay during the first horse inspection, sponsored by Horsequest
It’s not an easy fairytale - leaving the house at 5am to return at 9pm its not as glamorous as you may believe, after five days of it I was exhausted. You can therefore imagine my delight when the media centre got treated to complementary Gin & Tonic cocktails courtesy of Warners and Joules who are launching a special edition at Burghley. (Well worth a tipple!)
Hhhmmm GIn Cocktails - can completely recommend this delicious Gin
There was a great atmosphere in the media centre all week; friends made, friends reunited and everyone helping each other out. I have been incredibly lucky to call these pro’s friends, they have given me so much advice and support along the way.
With the top placings taken this weekend by home-grown talent, Team GB selectors have a massive undertaking to whittle our talented bunch into a 3-person team for Tokyo - who would be your 3+1? Oliver, Piggy, Piggy, Tom, Laura, Kitty, Tina, Gemma, Alex, Sarah…. Oh wait is that more than 3?! Selectors I do not envy your task ahead.
Piggy French & Vanir Kamira fly the Horse Sport Ireland Flyover fence on their way to delivering a clear round inside the time - the only combination this year to make the time
We all had a stark reminder that we were at one of the largest spectator events in the U.K. when the police explosive detection dogs came sniffing round the media centre. A sobering reminder to us all that we need to stay vigilant. On passing some unattended bags on cross country, we were mightily relieved to discover these were in fact stewards picnics. Never hurts to ask as they say.
I’ve had some great photographers, whom I admire, saying some very kind things about my work - it means the world to be at these events and to be able to capture them.
Dressage days done, I walked the cross country course to get a plan in my head for Saturday. Wow. It was a big and bold course that awaited them all. A plan was made and despite my usual wobbles, this time I stuck to it. And I am so glad I did. I captured most riders and got some images I’m rather chuffed with. The course had its share of problems, but as with all Burghley’s the cream rose to the top and my 3 favs were all sitting in the press conference on Saturday evening.
Oliver Townend & Ballaghmor Class fly the final fence of Captain Mark Philips challenging cross country course to lie in 3rd place overnight
The stage was set for drama and tension on Sunday and that’s what it delivered. I was proud to sit in the main arena on Sunday alongside the sport’s best photographers and capture the moments. There was even some time for a quick trot through the shopping village during the lunch break.
It felt odd that at the end of the day Pippa Funnell, the Pippa that had just won The Land Rover Burghley Perpetual Challenge Trophy, put her head around the door to the media centre and thanked us all for capturing the event. Humbling and honoured to have captured this legendary lady’s second Burghley victory.
Winners of The Land Rover Perpetual Challenge Trophy - Pippa Funnell riding Jonathan & Jane Clarke’s MGH Grafton Street
So after 72 competitors had completed 3 phases, several press conferences and thousands of images, the walk back to the car on Sunday evening after all the excitement had died down, was a good one. One of relief for capturing all the moments I had been commissioned to. For getting the images to the respective parties in a timely fashion. For capturing the stories of the event and for feeling like I had done myself a little bit proud. Burghley. Done.
It takes hours to capture these events and a lot of hard work, so I was wonderfully surprised when a shiny package landed through the letterbox on Tuesday morning. The kind folks at Horsequest, who I had been providing social media content for, had organised the best thank you. A wonderful box of delicious marshmallow with some of their favourite images of the week printed on - brilliant! Thank you to Sarah and the Horsequest team, it was a pleasure to work for you this week.
A very thoughtful thank you gift from the lovely folks at Horsequest - great to see all my images, almost too good to eat, almost!
2,200 miles have been driven these last two weeks - an epic journey of distance and experience. Back to normality and onwards to the last few events of the season. After a long sleep that is.