September continued where August exited stage left, an action packed month with just enough spare time for a spot of seashell collecting….
I continue to be ever-grateful that am able to continue to attend events, it has been a testament to every event that we can continue the sport, although it remains deeply saddening that not everyone can enjoy it in person.
Greetings from Blenheim-on-sea aka Burnham Market, enjoying the beautiful Norfolk coastline in between chasing around after ponies!
Events are making great efforts to offer live-streaming services – I just have to remember now that you can all probably see me attempting to run around on xc – although I am thankful that due to a perfectly positioned fence judge’s car, you were spared the near collapse after chasing Gary around at Burnham, a calamitous scene which can only be likened to taking a fish out of water, being left gasping and writhing around on the grass! You don’t realise how fast a horse gallops until you want to photograph said horse at several jumps within the round.
September has followed a similar path for me over the last few seasons, but although this looked similar on paper, it was just a little bit different.
Of course the first weekend in September has always been and hopefully will always be, Burghley weekend. Back in the spring, my little black dog was thriving with lack of the usual jaunts to regular calendar fixtures so I wanted to train him better this autumn.
Beautiful Burghley House
Not wanting to suffer a further groundhog day type scenario, I madly hatched a plan on what should have been the first day of dressage that I would indeed still make the pilgrimage to Burghley on the Saturday. I have said many a time whilst enjoying the horse trials that I should like to look around the house so that’s what I did – I instead of running around cross country, I took a leisurely stroll around the beautiful house albeit with my face-mask and hand sanitiser, I completely recommend a visit.
After a lunch in the orangery, I enjoyed a walk around the park – a walk over Lion Bridge, the trot up strip and a stroll over to Discovery Valley. There were just 80-odd world class horses missing.
But the mad plan seemed to work and my little brain was soothed that I had indeed made my annual pilgrimage and hopefully next year things will look a little more familiar when I make my return pilgrimage.
Cornbury House had been murmured to be worth the wait and it was definitely that and so much more.
Each and every one of the organising team should take a socially distant self-imposed pat on the back as it was a great success.
Zara Tindall & Showtime drop into the second water complex during the CCI-2*S class, Cornbury House International Horse Trials, September 2020
After the doom and gloom of this Eventing year, this shiny gem emerged from the pack and really made their presence known that weekend.
An organiser with the courage and conviction to see his vision through is a rare gem an as such must be treated as the precious commodity that he is. Eventing always needs more mainstream press coverage and this venue has excelled itself in it’s first year in terms of transcending the usual publications straight into mainstream media coverage, leaping straight into a 2x double page spread in HELLO magazine.
I was privileged that weekend to hear first-hand David Howden, Cornbury Event President, speak several times and the natural enthusiasm for the sport, the determination for putting on a first-class event and for ensuring that as many as possible could enjoy it with first class live-streaming service, free to all. David and the Cornbury team deserve all the positive plaudits that came flooding in.
Lizzie Doolittle & Shop DJ, amidst the stunning backdrop of the Wychwood Forest, Cornbury House International Horse Trials, September 2020
It was the perfect Mary Berry-esque recipe of a huge serving of a David Evans designed course, stunning Oxfordshire country parkland, endless views & vantage points and world-class sport.
It was also a delight to catch up with the lovely folks at Horsequest, who are based on the Cornbury estate and were sponsors of the fixture.
Piggy March & Flemington Ruby jump the Horsequest Trakehner during the Cornbury House International Horse Trials, September 2020
Onwards we went to what was being billed as ‘Blenheim-on-sea’ by some, out to Norfolk I drove (blimey that drive doesn’t get any shorter!) but for the lack of palatial grandeur that we missed from not being at Blenheim, I gained evening walks along beautiful Brancaster beach after a usual breezy day spent at Burnham Market.
The only CCI4*L running on UK soil this fragmented-season, the entries were plentiful and the team at Musketeer did a fabulous job in also hosting the annual hotly-anticipated 8&9 year old CCI4*S class.
It was a shame that a few notable entries withdrew before cross country, but the line up still read as a who’s who of international eventing. Although the course was understandably on the shorter side for a 4*L due to lack of prep runs due to the ever-annoying pandemic, it did cause its fair share of trouble – not least resulting in an unbelievable save from Oliver Townend when Tregilder left a leg at the tricky corner at 10 – on a par with the great Nicholson Burghley save!
Izzy Taylor’s Monkeying Around didn’t live up to his name on this occasion and put in 3 foot-perfect phases to take the CCI4*L title.
Izzy Taylor & Monkeying Around on their way to victory in the CCI-4*L class at the Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials, September 2020
Scores tumbled in the CCI4*S class and then as if by some heavenly miracle the sun shone just as the special one came up the hill for his dressage test – it was almost as if him upstairs knew what was being ordained that weekend and I was treated to one last sun-filled extended trot sequence.
Much had been said by me - here’s my blog on the special one’s swansong - on Cillnabradden Evo’s retirement, so I’ll spare you all much more. Other than to say he has arrived home back in Devon, fit and well. Enjoy your retirement Gary!
The 8&9 year old class always seems to ensure that the cream rises to the top and this year albeit it not in its usual home in Blenheim, it was no exception. In Yas Ingham’s Banzai du Loir, Ros’s Lordships Graffalo & KItty’s stunning Cristal Fontaine, we have 3 supremely talented equines, all destined for big things in the next few seasons ahead.
Yasmin Ingham & Banzai du Loir take the Fairfax CCI-4*S 8&9 year old class at Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials, September 2020
There was just time to squeeze in one final destination, a little road trip to Cheshire to watch the next generation of Eventers tackle the BE100 course at Kelsall Hill.
Dare I say it but as the nights get shorter and chillier, we are heading into the final month of Eventing - lets hope we manage to keep the pandemic at bay long enough to complete the season - with the Young Horse Championship at Thoresby, Le Lion and Pau amongst the highlights to look forward to (fingers and toes firmly crossed) oh and every course designer trying to use as many pumpkins as fence dressing
Onwards, hopefully, to the next adventure….