It always amazes me every season, throughout winter the alarm clock has been sworn at, yet on this Friday morning at 4.15am the alarm tune was the best noise in the world. Because it was not another day at the desk, it was Eventing-Day! The alarm call that signified the long winter had finally come to an end and for the next eight months, weekends were the mecca once more. (Or so we thought!)
Yes, I was keen, a little too keen, but can you blame a girl. It may have been -3 degrees when I scrapped the ice off the windscreen, but there was a world-champion shaped light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
It was bl***y freezing at Oasby, but it was; much to everyone’s sheer amazement not that muddy – the boots remained clean, all day, in fact. The Bede Team had done a fabulous job, the going was near perfect, the tracks were their usual up to height yet inviting selves, in order to blow off those winter cobwebs.
The OI class at Oasby 1 usually delivers a sprinkling of stars, setting out on their well-trodden trails to bigger Spring targets; but this year we were in for a particular treat. Five-star winners, Badminton entrants, Championship contenders and medal hopefuls all filled the four sections.
But there was one shining star that jumped off the entry pages (once you’d spent more time than usual navigating the new EARS BE system!) the Double Gold Medal winning World Champ – Allstar B. And yes his performance was worthy of the 4.15am alarm call. He dazzled in the warmup and he and regular petite partner Ros Canter delivered a 22.1 in the dressage phase. And so started his trail to bigger Spring targets and fingers crossed a certain trip out East.
World Champions: Res Canter & Allstar B on their way to a double clear at Oasby Horse Trials, March 2020
Oasby’s ground held up remarkably well, not least to those who had seen the woeful scenes at Tweseldown the day prior where they sadly were forced by mother nature to abandon all competition only a few hours into a four-day schedule.
Spring sunshine and blue skies, Oasby delivered! Heres Holly Needham & Cruz V sailing over the British Polo Gin Trakehner during the OIu21 class
The 2020 season started where the 2019 season had finished, with Piggy March sitting atop the leaderboard. Piggy won two OI sections, with Kentucky bound Brookfield Innocent securing victory in section L on 22.6 and stable mate Brookfield Quality taking section I adding a sprinkling of time to a great dressage score, completing on 25.3.
The winning streak continues…. Piggy March & Brookfield Innocent winning one of the OI sections, Oasby
The OIu21 section was fiercely contested despite the early season, with the top 12 being separated by less than 10 marks. Heidi Coy taking the victory on the gorgeous Russal Z.
Heidi Coy & Russal Z, Lincoln Horse Trials, March 2020
Best part of the day, chatting to super groom Sarah Charnley, who kindly let me have a little moment with superstar and all-round legend Alby!
It was so good to catch up with the ‘tog pack too. Its been a long winter after all.
With Coronavirus dilemma’s, the Photography Show at the NEC was postponed, leaving me with a blank weekend. For anyone wondering what happened to most of the Tweseldown defectors, well they entered Lincolnshire so I thought I’d follow them out East and head there myself.
And then came the thing....
At first it was a thing, although rather terrible, a thing on far away shores, the thing of news headlines and sound bites but a far away thing. Then it became an annoying thing, the thing that people took precautions over and meant some postponements.
Always being one to try and spin a positive; instead of heading to The Photography Show at the NEC, I took another look at the Eventing calendar and with the re-routing of horses from a sadly abandoned Twelseldown, suddenly Lincoln’s entries got rather exciting.
Laura Collett & London 52 blow the cobwebs off with a steady double clear, Lincoln Horse Trials, March 2020
With Friday’s announcements of FEI advice and Boris advising caution, I concluded that standing in a field in the fresh Lincoln air, I’d be safe enough. So off to not-so-sunny Lincoln I headed (I mean the blue skies suddenly deserted me didn’t they?!)
The winners keep coming for Piggy March: Cooley Monsoon (Eddie) on his way to OI victory, Lincoln Horse Trials
Despite the persistent precipitation that greeted me, nothing could dampen the spirits, championship ponies and Eventing friends kept me smiling all day long. Alby, Froggy, Dan, Mario & Alfie; they all came out to play.
Kitty King & Vendredi BIats gallop across country, on their way to 3rd place in the Advanced Intermediate class, Lincoln, March 2020
There was mud, there was raindrops, there were thrills and a few spills. The Champion was the victor, with Allstar B taking the AI class; rightfully King of his County.
King of his County, Allstar B and Res Canter on their way to winning the AI, Lincoln Horse Trials
The day ended with a long walk back to the car, whilst ‘togs tried to second guess whether we’d meet again at Thoresby. Surely there was a way we could keep some kind of show on the road. Wasn’t there?!
The day was concluded with Quality Street, the generously kind Iain Beavis came to the rescue with the perfect now self-isolation rations. Thank you Iain.
Oliver Townend & Priorspark Opposition Free tackle the XC, Lincoln Horse Trials, March 2020
Sadly Monday evening, following Boris’ latest somber update, BE made the, by then, inevitable announcement that all competition was cancelled. The eight month calendar seemingly erased for now. The right call, sometimes there are bigger priorities and now is the time for us all to do what we can, so that normality is reinstated as soon as possible.
Ultimately Eventers (both competitors and supporters) are a bloody tough breed, we’ve got through previous outbreaks, disasters and wartime; the sport will make it through this.
Focused: Katie Bleloch & Goldlook head out across country, Lincoln Horse Trials, March 2020
We’ve weathered cancellations and abandonments before, and this time will be no different. Its heartbreaking to loose the hotly anticipated Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby and potentially the likes of Badminton may also be under threat. My sympathies to the organising teams at this difficult time. But we will all be back.
Whether Tokyo comes or is lost, all that matters is everyone is still here when we pick up where the season paused, be that hopefully in a few weeks or we draw stumps and start a fresh next season with renewed energy.
As long as the friends I have made on this wonderful journey are here with me, that’s all that ultimately matters.
Now I just need to figure out what to do with these spare weekends, I mean what am I meant to do? There’s a few website updates and admin jobs to entertain me in the short term - now would be a good time to get those portrait requests in now (hint, hint)
Stay safe, shout if you need anything and hopefully see you all soon.