As the alarm goes off at some ungodly hour this morning, I soon realise that the cooler temperature heralds the arrival of September.
A month that usually brings much joy and excitement, combined with a hectic workload.
I should have been waking up amid ten days of annual leave, I should be bleary-eyed from a trip to the Highlands, with a short break at home, then onwards towards the melee that is Burghley.
But alas COVID has rather turned my plans upside down this season.
Not all bad though, I am incredibly grateful to have squeezed in so much Eventing over the last month. More so than ever, I feel in a privileged position to be able to have a front row seat on the Eventing action. I do hope that with limited crowd trials now re-scheduled in racing, that soon Eventing will be able to welcome back its dedicated and loyal spectator base.
August has been a hectic month, four events, nearly 1,300 miles travelled and an unmentionable number of photos taken.
There was an extended Cholmondeley Castle visit, which included the superstar Cillnabradden Evo making his 2020 debut – so good to see him back out, he looked just as excited as I was to be back out Eventing as I was, even if he did just come for a dressage & showjumping jolly that day.
Cillnabradden Evo & Oliver Townend, Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials, August 2020
Me and my new car have been to up to Cheshire, down to Wellington, back at Aston and all the way North to Burgham - what a packed month it has been.
Aston ran over what is probably a BE record of 6 days, I don’t have that much stamina so just the couple of days for me. Wellington was a very pleasant trip last weekend, the first time I have visited that course, such a big and bold cross country course that was very beautiful to photograph (head over to Eventing Times to look at the photos) - there was even chance to squeeze in a visit to the Confetti Fields for a little photoshoot with my nieces!
Piggy March & Dragon on their way to winning the OI class, Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials, August 2020
The crescendo of the month was beautiful Burgham. Yes, it may be some three long hours from home, but oh my days that drive was worth it. I personally had waited since Osberton last Autumn to witness International level competition take place. In theory it shouldn’t be any different to watching a national event, but it is somehow. They draw in a wide range of competitors and they usually deliver an extra added competitive edge.
Burgham did not disappoint.
On top of the world - Allstar B & Ros Canter, current world champions gallop to their first CCI4*S victory, on a record breaking lowest finishing score to win Section M at Burgham International Horse Trials, August 2020
A world number one. A world champion. Three past class winners. Five star winners. More entries that anyone could have imagined! Eventing bliss.
The entry list almost seemed a piece of Eventing mythology, if Carlsberg did entry lists. But alas this dream actually came true. A whole day devoted to watching the brightest stars compete. And I had somehow got an invitation to the biggest party of the season. A strange party, one that required scurrying around a large cross country course in a face mask – I mean I am not the fittest person on the circuit, despite my lockdown training, but a face mask brings a whole new level of hinderance and breathlessness. But such was the stars on show, I’d have run around with my pants on my head to be in that field, so all thoughts of breathing and foggy viewfinders were swiftly dismissed.
A class of their own… Oliver Townend & Ballaghmor Class cruise to victory in section L of the CCI4*S class, Burgham International Horse Trials, August 2020
August was also hectic on a personal level, with a new day job to get to grips with – this sadly meant that I couldn’t be at Burgham for as many days as I would have liked (I haven’t broken the new boss in on the importance of Gary just yet), as the Special one was in the 3* class on the Friday – I am very lucky to have so many people I call friends now on the circuit and the gent that is Tim Wilkinson thankfully treated me to a few photos of the special one winning his first International since smashing the Badminton dressage record last Spring – he led 3* section J from start to finish. Thank you Tim.
Cillnabradden Evo & Oliver Townend, winners CCI3*S Burgham International Horse Trials, August 2020
Image Credit: Tim Wilkinson/Eventing Images
Amazingly that was Gary’s 7th International win of his Eventing career and his 15th International podium finish - he has an amazing record of at least one win in each season that he has competed - a stellar performer that definitely deserves all his carrots & polos.
Good boy Gary, hopefully see you out again soon.
Reflecting on how I had been present during his last ten runs, made me realise how incredibly lucky I am, to follow as much of this wonderful sport as I do.
The 4* class did not disappoint – it’s not often you get fairytales come true, but to have all my favourite ponies finish in the top 5 of both sections; I undertook the long drive home with a grin from ear to ear.
A massive thank you to the team at Burgham for getting the international show on the road again, keeping us all safe and ensuring that with the wonders of technology that everyone at home could enjoy the action too.
I was also very lucky to meet the wonderfully talented Nicole Brown for a socially-distant catch up - she is as wonderful as she sounds on the Podcast - we spent a few minutes fan-girling about our Equine heroes that we had enjoyed that weekend. Here is Nicole’s vlog of BTS action from Burgham. Lovely to meet you Nicole, hopefully see you at Burnham Market International!
So often September brings a reassuring regularity to the calendar, we have either enjoyed a championships or the generous hospitality of the Scottish Highlands, we build to the excitement and prestige of Burghley, then enjoy the splendour of Blenheim Palace.
I shall be sobbing into my cornflakes this week without Burghley to entertain me. I am so lucky to have been as many times as I have, but there shall be a big Burghley sized hole in my September calendar this month.
#SeeYouAtBurghley2021 couldn't be more apt - hopefully we can all reconvene there next year!
Here’s some highlights from last year to keep us all going…
This September has a very different feel – the Eventing world is eagerly looking forward to new blood on the September calendar with the arrival (or return some may say) of Cornbury International Horse Trials. I am really looking forward to this new sparkly gem on the September list – I hope to enjoy the action across the weekend.
My usual cry of ‘hey I’m not done with the summer yet’ is ever more poignant this year. Just when I am appreciating Eventing in my shorts, suddenly it’s 1st September and the countdown is on to the final events of the year.
Whilst we are all so lucky to be enjoying the staple end of season highlight of the 8 & 9 year old class, the usual sneaky peak at the stars of future championships – this year, thanks to the wonderful team at Musketeer, we shall all be enjoying this sporting highlight in new surroundings – as the class moves to Burnham Market for this year. As if this season hadn’t already turned my routine-loving brain upside down, my usually April visit to Burnham will be in September instead. Here’s hoping mother nature treats us to some September sun as opposed to its usual arctic blast at Burnham. And I manage to fit in a beach walk as a substitute for the usual walk around the Palace grounds.
Planning ahead during a global pandemic is a little tricky, but with only a few weeks left of the season, I have been trying to plot out how the final few weeks of the season may look like – having spent so long wishing and hoping to be back Eventing, I am not quite ready to pack the camera away just yet.
I have a few more adventures planned before the frosts of Autumn take their hold. This hopefully will include a little Eventing jolly to foreign shores, COVID restrictions permitting of course.
See you all soon