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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.
© Matt Nuttall Photography
© Action Replay Photography
© Matt Nuttall Photography
© Matt Nuttall Photography
© Matt Nuttall Photography
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
He is a relatively new horse I only started riding him at the beginning of the season. I am taking him to Hickstead for the Amlin Plus Eventers Challenge, and we will keep educating him at CCI2* this year.
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?
Aston le Walls is a regular fixture in my diary, Nigel and his team are amazing at preparing educational courses for horses either established or moving up the levels, they always make an effort with the ground too.
© Brian Findlay Photography
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
I spent a few months at the Billy Stud with William and Pippa Funnell as an 18yo which is the best education I could have had as an ambitious young rider – I admire Pippa hugely and ask her advice whenever I can.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My dad who does so many behind the scenes jobs at home and I couldn’t do it without him.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
I think I knew what I was getting myself into… I’m very passionate about the sport but you have to learn to function on no sleep!
© Kitty Johnson
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
I seem to have blonde moments quite often…
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event is Chatsworth, I’ve been lucky enough to have some really special wins there – a win in the CIC* in 2014, a double in the BYEH qualifier in 2015, my five year old also qualified for BYEH 2017. It’s a beautiful spring setting for us to enjoy.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
My favourite “chicken dinner” would be fillet steak and a G&T or a glass of red wine.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Current lorry song… ‘On my Mind’ by Disciples
© Brian Findlay Photography
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
My aim at the beginning of 2017 was to go competitively at BE105 now I would love to try a novice!
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 a couple of times to LD and will absolutely be coming back for a number of reasons…. Most of all the ground which is always so good and they always run such a good event.
© Action Replay Photography
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
Mary king was my inspiration but Sam Griffiths has had the biggest influence. I went on a course walk with him at Blenheim 3 yrs ago and at the end I managed to have a ‘quiet word’ regarding my difficulties with Goochy … he put me on the right track and I haven’t looked back since!
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
The team is just me & Goochy and if I’m really lucky my wonderful daughter Shannon who groom’s for me when she can. So it would be Shannon I don’t think I could do it without her support
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
How addictive it is!!!
© Action Replay Photography
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing.
At Keysoe last year when goochy jumped me right out of the saddle on the last fence SJ then went on to ‘strut his stuff’ around the arena until every helper possible was called in as he was enjoying himself way too much 😁
Which is your favourite event & why?
That’s a tough one!! I absolutely love Offchurch Bury (apart from the horse flies) so would have to say Little Downham for obvious reasons.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
My husband is a butcher and brings home marinated chicken breasts which are divine … washed down with prosecco of course!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon.
© Action Replay Photography
This was the very first event I completed on Bloomfield Brunei (Panda) last year when I ran in the BE90 after buying her from my trainer, Tiny Clapham of Eventers International in April 2016. Tiny is quite the matchmaker!
Panda has a chequered past having been a riding school horse and hunting hireling but had not evented until she came to me. She had great bloodlines which sparked Tiny’s interest (Damsire – Seacrest, Sire – Ghareeb), she is an attractive mare and is a real character so needed carefully bringing on. I felt very honoured when Tiny suggested I try her – I knew how much she thought of her.
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
I have always suffered with nerves before competing so I don’t like to put too much pressure on an outcome but I do have one dream and maybe she is the mare to take me. When I was very little I dreamt of riding at Badminton. When I groomed there for Daisy Berkley in 2004 on her first trip round with Spring Along, I thought this was as close as I would come to my childhood dream. I have two qualifications for Regional Finals – therefore the aim must be to qualify for the Mitsubishi Grassroots Festival and ride on the halo’d turf if over the smaller fences.
Aside from that to have fun at every event and finish the season confident, more skilful than we started it and to make our partnership stronger.
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?
Little Downham is one of my favourites and is a local one for me. Tina and her team produce such a fabulous, friendly, slick experience it just makes you want to come back for more. My Mum (Lynne Corbin) and her terrier Widget fence judge every event here and my niece Emily Williams (13) is now part of the SJ arena party having moved back to the UK to school at Kings (Ely) from Hong Kong.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
There have been so many influences but I have to say Tiny (Clapham). We work well as a team and have done now for 3+ years, she has me completely sussed and is superb at identifying how best to achieve progression with me as an individual and the horse I’m riding. I’m very analytical and it’s great to find a trainer who can work with my need for knowledge and my high maintenance thinking! Tiny’s horsemanship, intuition and insight is so powerful – I like to say she has a little bit of magic about her. A finer trainer and now friend I couldn’t have wished for.
Tiny takes every horse and riders idiosyncrasies and works out how to use them to make them a strength. I have another very tricky mare at home that Tiny is helping me little by little unlock. This way the horses just love their job and you grow as a team.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My husband Seth Walpole. I don’t like to go to an event without him. He keeps me to time, fed, watered, organised, video’d and is a really calming influence while reminding me that this is all fun but challenging me to be the best I can. He is mine and my mares (as Tiny has nicknamed him) Superman.
Also my Farrier Nathan Salter. Without whom I would be lost. He’s passionate, dedicated and keeps my mares feet in tip top condition.
My horsey girlfriends, a network of strong, wilful, independent, fun loving ladies I am so proud to be a part of and have adventures with. They offer me so much support and encouragement, plenty of mickey taking and a boost whenever I see them.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
That I would never be able to give it up! I will be 40 next year and thought I would have grown out of it by now but I am more passionate and driven now than ever. You should get an “addictive” warning and “lifetime finanacial commitment” warning when you first become a BE member.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
It was actually at Little Downham October 2014. I was getting married in the December. It’s safe to say my head wasn’t really in it on the day as I found out. I trotted up the centre line and could not remember if I was turning left or right. I had a 50:50 chance but picked the wrong one. I went wrong 2 further times and to my horror eliminated myself. I was devasted feeling like I’d let myself down, my horse down, Tiny down, everyone down. Seth gave me the pep talk to go and talk the secretary or TA into letting me run. I walked into the secretary’s tent with begging speech rehersing in my head only to find Tina Ure there discussing with the TA that; “I really was a sensible intelligent lady I had clearly just got bride brain but I would definitely be more than capable of jumping round the SJ and XC”. I was so grateful to her and thanked her in the form of a double clear.
Which is your favourite event & why?
That’s a tricky one there are so many great ones – I would have to say Little Downham now!
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
We had steak and sweet potatoe fries, followed by a white chocolate Magnum washed down with a couple of glasses of champagne!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
It changes all the time but at the moment I’m loving Do Your Thing – Basement Jaxx but I also love a bit of Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
© Matt Nuttall Photography
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
I’m aiming that The Classic Composer has an intermediate under his belt and finish with a CCI 1* at Osberton.
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’m a regular to Aston events with horses at all levels whether affiliated or unaffiliated! I find it a very friendly event and the courses are always well built and inviting.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
I’ve had a lot of help from Andrew Fletcher with my dressage for the past 6 years and in the recent years I’ve been going to John Steels who has helped me and my horses so much with the show jumping
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
100% my mum, she holds the ship together when I’m out Eventing, helping me out when I take on far to much work and more importantly is the voice of reason, whenever I get worked up over something she seems to have a way of calming me down and helping me see past it….(happens a lot)
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
Finding that one horse!!!
Which is your favourite event & why?
I have a real soft spot for Rockingham as it’s very local to me and the XC is always big and bold.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Some form of cheese washed down with Diet Coke!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
God help who is in the lorry when I’m driving as I love to sing but sadly I can’t!! My favourite has to be Tina Turner, Simply the best!
© Matt Nuttall Photography
What are your aims for 2017 for this horse?
To gain more experience at CIC3* and qualify for CCI3*
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?
Aston is always a regular fixture, the team there work so hard on the ground and the courses are always superbly built. Plus the amount of events they run each year means that it always fits into our calendar!
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
Flora Harris, she’s been an amazing coach and mentor over the years and I spent six months based with her and learning invaluable experience.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
Definitely my parents! They are the glue that holds our team together.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
Hard work pays off and you always learn so much more from your mistakes.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
I forgot my riding boots once when we went to Ballindenisk international in Ireland, that was pretty embarrassing and I ended up borrowing some very posh ones which were so much nicer then mine from the rider stabled next door!
© Matt Nuttall Photography
Which is your favourite event & why?
Probably has to be Tattersalls in Ireland, it’s stunning and a super friendly and fun event with the most amazing xc courses.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Dinner definitely involved chicken and was washed down with a Pimms.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
Favourite lorry song at the moment is Paris by The Chainsmokers.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Part 18 
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JONTY EVANS: Every penny counts 
On The Wagon with Jonty Evans 
The Festival: Win an exclusive XC course walk with Zara Tindall 
Vanessa Binnie Ryle 
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