Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Part 14

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Laura Birley Catton Park OIu21 winner

Jo Ward Catton Park BE100 winner

Alice Davies-Cook Belsay ONu18 winner

Alice Tracey Warwick Hall NRF winner

20 year old, Laura Birley from Selby won the OIu21 at Catton Park riding Boxtree and I.

© Gus Winterman/Blackheart Imagery

What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?

My aim for Dan this year is to do our first advanced at Aston at the end of July and then hopefully do our first CIC*** at 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?

This is the first time I’ve been to Catton and it was such a lovely event, I’ll definitely be going back!

© Gus Winterman/Blackheart Imagery

Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?

The two biggest influences in my eventing career to date are Dee Hankey and Tracy Garside, who are my trainers. Tracy because she is a master at taking young horses and teaching them the foundation that allows them to move up the levels. That experience translates into my training. Dee is a master of ring craft and my show jumping remains impeccable with her support. The work I do with both of my trainers compliments each other and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without them.

Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?

Definitely my mum. She comes to nearly every event with me and I couldn’t do it without her! At my first event when I was just 11, she stood in the dressage warm up on her horse too nervous to warm up, as I was going xc. She finally decided earlier this year that if I was brave enough to jump the courses, she should at least be brave enough to watch! She always puts my events before her own and I don’t think I could ever thank her enough for everything she does for me.

What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?

Always bring a spare head collar. I’ve had Dan break two in the last two events and previous horses break several that I wasn’t prepared for. Maybe now I’ll learn my lesson!

Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing

We went to Bold Heath and stabled overnight. There was some sugar beet in the back of the lorry for my pony, Otto. After a good show jumping round, we left him and went to walk the course, only to return to find he had a plastic Tesco’s carrier bag hanging out of his mouth. On further investigation, we found he’d eaten both the unsoaked sugar beet and the plastic bag it was in! We had to call the vet and, when she stopped laughing, she told us that he would be fine and that the run xc would be good for him!

Which is your favourite event & why?

I think my favourite event would have to be Aston, because I think it is kind on the horses with dressage and showjumping usually on an arena. The levels are testing but fair and for me it’s good that it’s flat, as Dan can be a touch lazy!

What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?

Definitely something with cheese. I’d have to wash it down with a gin and tonic, and perhaps top that up with a couple of jägerbombs!

What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?

When mum’s driving, her favourite is Billy Ocean’s Red Light Spells Danger so I have no choice in the matter (but I hate it actually). Since going to university, however, I have been driving myself around in the lorry so l love Gold Digger by Kanye West.

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49 year old, professional eventer and trainer Jo Ward won the BE100 at Catton Park riding Cantaur Liza Jane.  

What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?

My aim is to sell Liza to someone who can compete for the Grassroots Champs at Badminton! As I think she would be ‘top notch’ for this special competition.

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 competing at Catton for as long as I can remember & the beautiful setting, flat arenas & a a fair test xc is what keeps me coming back!

Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?

My biggest influence in my eventing career are the wonderful horses that have come & gone in my career.

Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?

The unsung hero of my team is my fiancé David who is always there for me whether he comes or stays at home to look after the dogs & horses (we have 13 dogs).

What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?

The one thing I’d wish I’d known before I started is to enjoy every win because events really do take some winning!

Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing

I’ve probably done them all after eventing for almost 30 years but falling off an Intermediate horse in the collecting ring then going on & getting a clear with a high placing! That was pretty funny!

Which is your favourite event & why?

My favourite event is Blenheim Palace as it’s so beautiful, friendly & you definitely feel like your in the big time!

What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?

My chicken dinner will definitely be a shortcrust pastry pie washed down with a nice rose wine.

16 year old, Alice Davies-Cooke from north wales who aims to be a professional rider won the ONu18 at Belsay riding Discovery V. 

What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?

For this season I would like to achieve my aim of doing our second CCI* together at Frickley U18 Championships.

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?

This is my second time at this event with this horse but the last time I came here it was in 2015. We came back here because it is a challenging course which my horse needs other wise he doesn’t concentrate but he certainly did!

Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?

My biggest influence at the moment is probably Micheal Jung.

Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?

This is probably my mum, because she does so much hard work to make my eventing career possible and never stops working, supporting and helping me even when I’m boarding at school. So I would say that she is the core and unsung hero of our team.

What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?

How to maintain the ups and how to ride the downs.

Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing

I was at Richmond this season competing in the OI and I set off xc and he was jumping really well and we came to the water which was a log drop in and a skinny brush out and he jumped so big into the water and the drag of the water unbalanced him and I toppled over the top and this was at the furthest point on the course and I had to walk to the doctors , through the lorry park in see through white jodhpurs!

Which is your favourite event & why?

Floors Castle because it’s so magical and the course is just amazing.

What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?

As a team we love Queen so probably one of their songs.

20 year old, Alice Tracey from Nantwich who is currently based with Hannah Bate won the NRF at Warwick Hall. 

What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?

Step up and compete successfully at Intermediate and CIC** and the 7y/o Championships at Osberton to finish my 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?

I’ve been to Warwick twice, I love the event it’s friendly and the course is well thought out and flowing.

Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?

Hannah Bate, for the day to day training, advice and guidance she gives me whilst working for her
As a child Pippa Funnell because I wanted to grow up and be an eventer just like her.

Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?

My mum, for her amazing ongoing support and belief in me that I can succeed and achieve my goals. My dad for enabling me to have such a fantastic horse who couldn’t try harder for me.

What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?

How addictive it was going to become!

Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing

I forgot where I was going half way around the CIC* at Floors Castle! I cantered to the top of a hill and couldn’t see me next fence and my mind went totally blank, thankfully a woman watching directed me back down the hill but I ended up finishing 1 minute over the time and had the mick taken out of me all the way home!

Which is your favourite event & why?

Barbury, because it’s so beautiful.

What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?

Would have to be my dads roast with a G&T.

What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?

There are too many to pick just one!