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Find out all about this weeks winners, their horses, their plans for the season and inspirations as well as learning what will be in their celebration ‘Chicken Dinner’.
If you have a win this week, we’ll help you shout it from the roof tops so get in touch at events@thegaitpost.com to be featured or tweet us @thegaitpost using the tag #TGPwinnerwinnerchickendinner
All disciplines welcome.
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
My aims with Chilli this year are to be once again competitive at Novice level and hopefully do a 1* by the end of the season.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
It was my second time at Bishop and I think I will be returning due to the foreword riding bold xc course.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
The biggest influence in my career so far has to be my boss Andrew Heffernan or the Heff for short. Due to his commitment and passion for the sport as a hole. Not just on the horse front but the running of an event as well as the design of the xc.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
The unsung hero of the team has to be the horse itself who has to carry round my lanky body every day of the week.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
I wish I would have known what studs were and how to put them in, the first events of my career were quite hair raising.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
I once saw a tiny puppy chasing after a lorry with a larger lady shouting across the lorry park where is my puppy.
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event has got to be Somerford Park, the facilities are excellent and there’s nothing like competing at home.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
I don’t care how my dinner is made as long as it’s served by a pretty girl and washed down with a single malt whiskey.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
As long as I’m singing it doesn’t matter what song, I have the voice of an angel!
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
My ultimate aim this year would be to qualify for the Badminton Grassroots in 2018.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
I have competed at Scotsburn a few times before at ODE and competing for Bennachie Pony Club at interbranch but this has been my first time doing the 100 track at Scotsburn. Scotsburn is a beautiful event and one of my favourites so I will definitely be back!
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
My biggest influence in eventing would be all my friends that I compete with. I thoroughly enjoy the social side of eventing, travelling up and down the country with my best friends to events and with the support of my family and boyfriend behind me it is great fun and the highlight of my year.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My Mum Fiona McLaren is the hero of my team, driving me up and down the country, getting up at the crack of dawn to help me out and supplying me with constant chocolate and water to keep me going throughout the day.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
The one thing I wish I’d known before I started eventing was how fit you needed to be to make it round the cross country! This came as a shock to me when I got half way round the cross country and felt very near to passing out!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
My favourite lorry karaoke song has got to be 500 miles by the Proclaimers.
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
My aim for the 2017 eventing season is to compete at the Scottish Championships that we qualified for at Kirriemuir Horse Trials earlier in the year, I’m also hoping to move up to BE100 on July 2nd.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
I am very happy with my first ever time competing at Scotsburn. I am so excited for our future and will definitely be returning.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
I am so privileged to have some awesome trainers to get the best out of us. I go to regular dressage lessons with Lucy Bailey, and jumping with Eilidh Middleton and Wills Oakden, who both event to a high standard themselves. Will and I have improved so much with their brilliant instruction.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
I think I was quite well prepared for eventing, having competed in team eventing for Deeside Pony Club the year before at interbranch, gaining another win for our team.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
I was recently galloping to the finish at Dalkeith Horse Trials for third place when I realised I had kicked on and was the wrong side of the time, dropping us to 13th!
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event I have done so far is definitely Kirriemuir Horse Trials, the cross country course is just awesome!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
My mum, Julie, and I are often singing our hearts out to Adele on the way to events… embarrassing, I know.
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
He’s now into Open Novices so we’ll focus on some 1*’s and with a bit of luck he may qualify for the Novice Regional Finals at Gatcombe.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
I’ve been once before to do the pre novice but it’s the first time I’ve done a novice here and we stayed over and the stables and facilities are all brilliant so we will definitely be back.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
Andrew Heffernan. I am based at Somerford Park and his training and guidance has played a major role in all my successes.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My boyfriend Ed (no I actually wasn’t forced to type this). He has a lot of faith in me and pushes me to improve, without him it wouldn’t be possible to take the number of horses competing. He doubles up as wagon driver, travelling head groom, travelling trainer not forgetting stud man. We try to make the days as fun as possible and are lucky we’re surrounded by many lovely owners who also get stuck in.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
There is nothing I’d like to have known before but I would have liked to have started my career in eventing from an earlier age.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
One of my first affiliated events at Richmond on a newly retrained racehorse trying a dressage saddle and spurs for the first time in the dressage…. one touch of the spur asking for canter in the corner between M and C..and a huge buck resulting in me flying through the air landing next to the judges car. A bad start to the day.
Which is your favourite event & why?
Somerford Park International. The courses and competition are to a high standard plus it’s right on our door step and there’s also a great gin bar to keep the groom happy!
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Any form of chicken pie and chips preferably from the pub washed down with a gin and tonic!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Ed thinks he does a great rendition of eye of the tiger.
© Jayphotos
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
I have just entered the Novice Regional Final at Nunney, so the aim is to go to the British Eventing Championships. Hopefully he will step up to Intermediate and do a few internationals before the end of the season. We are also aiming for BYRDS Home International and Inter-Regional dressage team selection this summer.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
Pontispool is one of our closer events (1 1/2 hours from home). I have been there as long as I can remember, probably for my first event! It’s a friendly event and I thought Eric Winter did a fantastic job on the cross country course design, with plenty of questions and a quick time which I really enjoyed.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
My Mum, Lucille. She has bred a lot of good horses and ponies from our Greenhays Stud. I’ve backed and produced some outstanding young ponies recently, and feel confident we will have something compete at the Europeans in a matter of years. She’s also my number one HGV trucker at the moment until I find time to take my HGV practical test!
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
Like every equestrian team there are lots of people who work behind the scenes most of the time! Other than my family who cope with my horsey obsessions, I have two extra special members of the team. Delerie Chambers, who helps me on the flat, I really value her opinion and approach to training and Nigel Pike our farrier who is essential to every horses development and performance.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
To give a horse as much time as it needs to mature and not to set goals too early on. There will be time to achieve goals when the horse is ready.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
Well…. A couple of years ago I had a young pony I produced who didn’t understand the ditch hedge scenario! He managed to go straight into the ditch, walking out of it still onboard was like the walk of shame! The pony was left rather confused but managed to carry on around the course to complete.
Which is your favourite event & why?
Aldon and Bricky, they are my locals. They are both very well organised with great courses, and I enjoy seeing lots of people I know.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
If my big sister is around to cook then a Thai green chicken curry, other wise I take anything I’m given! I’m a big water fan, but love ‘Palmers Lemonade’ after a long day.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Anything Ed Sheeran!
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
Aiming for a 2* but Frankly had a virus at the end of last year so that has put our preparation back as I don’t like to push the horses if in any doubt. He feels on top form again now so ready to go!
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
We love Pontispool as it’s always competitive with a good size track and lots of questions. A proper but fair challenge.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
This will tell you my age! Sir mark Todd and Lucinda Green, Ian stark and Ginny Leng!!
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
I am lucky enough to have many including my family and friends. They all pull together to help me from reminding me to enter, help with the horses, grooming and cheering me on. Oh and amazing packed lunches and cups of tea!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
Get a sponsor while you’re young!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
My horse pecked in the water at Glanusk and I was hanging off the side staring down into the water. My horse stopped and after about 5 minutes I managed to clamber back into the saddle turn, without crossing my tracks and jump the third element to a huge round of applause! I have a picture somewhere!
Which is your favourite event & why?
It was Longleat but sadly that is no more so probably the M-M cup and Badminton. Orions Brite Spark (homebred spotty) has been 6 times now, 2 with me and 4 with Lauren Collard. They finished 6th this year. We are regulars now and enjoy just being there!
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Forget the dinner, just vodka!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
We were singing Carpenter songs on the way back this time! Although I love electro swing so anything made by my nephew Odjbox!
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
She now has three Regional Final qualifications for Badminton MM Cup so I would love to qualify for that – but another really exciting thing that I am doing with this horse is breeding a foal from her. I put her to Diarado and she has just had an embryo transfer done and the pregnant surrogate mare will be joining us soon and fingers crossed the foal too at the end of March 2018.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
I last did Borde Hill eight years ago on a different horse. I would definitely come back again as I think it is really important for all three phases to matter – and Borde Hill provides just that.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
Mary King is my definite hero! I was lucky enough to have a private lesson with her for my 50th birthday present and learnt so much and she was so positive and encouraging – even though the horse I had at the time wasn’t particularly talented.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My husband is definitely my unsung hero – he is quietly supportive and whilst usually doesn’t come with me to events – will always have dinner going and either a cup of tea or a glass of wine waiting when I get home! He was also great at sorting the kids out when they were smaller if I was competing. I also could not manage without my friend Stella Burch who comes with me to all my events which is hard for her being a single parent and having to ask her mum to look after her son – so I really appreciate her too.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
I wish I had known that one day I would end up with a horse as good as the one I have now and that all the years of disappointment, training and trying would be worth it!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
Apart from missing out one of the XC fences at Burnham Beeches years ago, I very nearly had a ‘blooper’ at Borde Hill! I didn’t know what my score was before I went XC, and as I was nearing the end of the course they announced that I was on 17.8 and I was so gobsmacked I nearly fell off at the final combination!
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event is definitely Hambleden! It is only 10 minutes down the road from me and we also run our local Pony Club Horse Trials there so I know every inch of the course, as well as lots of people there. Also obviously galloping through those bluebells is amazing!
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
A rhubarb gin and tonic to start with on our balcony so that I can watch my horse grazing followed by something delicious that hubby will have cooked on the BBQ washed down with some wine! Obviously weather permitting ….!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Showing my age now, but at the moment it would probably have to be Dancing Queen by Abba as I am in awe of my mare’s last dressage score!
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
This is an ex racehorse owned by some family friends. He has hurdled successfully in France and was then bought to point to point in England last year. He proved a little slow! Our aim next is the BE100 at Stratford Hills and I am hopeful that he will move up through the grades.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
I have competed every year at Borde Hill since 2014. It is a local event to me and I love the usually challenging cross country course and terrain. I will definitely be coming back!
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
My biggest influence is definitely the Whittington family. Angie has been my trainer for the last four years and has helped me so much particularly in the dressage. Bryony has let me compete some lovely ponies that she has produced and I have also had some great cross country schooling from Francis. I am very lucky to live so near to them!
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
It has to be my Mum’s best friend Zoe Pennells who turns the horses out immaculately and helps with riding them day to day. But also my mum who drives me everywhere and my dad who pays for everything!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
I wish I knew how hard it would be to win an event! I’ve had my fair share of bad days – the good days need to be celebrated!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
Most certainly driving half way to an event before realising we had forgotten to load the horses!!
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event has to be Brightling. I live in the village and our whole family volunteer at the event. It’s always a great atmosphere.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
I do love a good roast and a large glass of Diet Coke!!!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Usually the big top 40 on a Sunday night when we’re stuck in traffic!
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
We are very excited to have been asked to compete for the South East in the National CCIJ* Championships at Frickley. We are then hoping to compete in the CCI* at Blair.
Is this your first time at this event, or are you a regular? If a regular, what keeps you coming back? If a first timer, will you be back?
I’ve competed at Borde Hill several times. On the last occasion I rode my pony Munro Highlander and qualified for the Intermediate Championships which we were lucky enough to win.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
I have been helped by a huge number of amazing people over the last few years, all of whom have had a massive influence on my eventing.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My mother who works tirelessly behind the scenes all the time and is so supportive of me.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
What a roller coaster it might be – so many ups followed by so many downs.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing.
I finished the cross country thinking I had done a fantastic clear only to be told by the steward I’d been eliminated for missing out a fence I never even walked!
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event is Eridge. We been going for several years and we’ve always had a really fun and successful time with the South East U18’s.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Steak and chips.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Faded by Alan Walker
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