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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.
© Grossick Photography
© Stevie Purves Photography
What are your aims for 2018 for this horse?
Clann Cavalux aka Cleo is in her first season and this was only her 4th event but she has been pretty consistent with 2 wins (BCA and Moreton Morrell) and a 9th. So the aim will be to keep her confidence up this season do some 100s and maybe an easy novice at the end of the season but we want to produce her for the future so won’t rush her if she isn’t ready.
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?
Yes first time. Yes I’m sure we will be, it was a nice calm inviting event for the younger horses and with the hard ground it was nice to have the showjumping on a surface and the XC course treated.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
Lucy Jackson! I met Lucy about 2 years ago when my partner was point to point racing with her partner Harry and she has trained me ever since. She has transformed my riding and the horses way of going. As well as being good fun to be around!
Also Beanie Sturgis for loaning me Wiz (Wizard From Aus) who has taken me to 1star and intermediate. Beanie is always so friendly and happy to give advice.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
We are very much a family team with Nick and I running the yard and Dad doing the maintenance, hay making etc. but Mum has to be the unsung hero she has only missed one event since I started eventing 12 years ago and that was only because we were in the middle of moving house and yard so couldn’t be everywhere! She also helps out with the day to day jobs on the yard.
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
How expensive it was going to become! Membership and entry prices increase each year so it becomes less and less viable hence why we have to sell some nice horses to fund the running cost of the others. My parents were pushing for me to showjump but I love the challenge of eventing!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
Realising I had learnt the wrong dressage test at Mattingley Horse Trials a few years ago, 2 minutes before I was due to enter the arena. Luckily mum had the rule book in hand and I quickly learnt the new test. I did remember it but needless to say it wasn’t our best test! When I got home I found I had looked at the schedule in the previous years BE magazine instead of the current year, I always check the website now.
Which is your favourite event & why?
Blair Castle, we made our first trip there last year and are totally hooked! The cross country is incredible to ride, a real test of stamina, bravery and accuracy as well as being an extremely friendly event with the most stunning scenery.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Anything that involves Halloumi! I love it! Washed down with Raspberry Gin!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
My favourite film is Coyote Ugly so quite often the sound track to that or if we are being slightly more grown up Adele or Ed Sheeran!
What are your aims for 2018 for this horse?
Srilanka Sky Graff will one step up to novice level and aim for Osberton International.
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?
Yes first time at this event very well run, lovely arena to jump on and a lovely test for young horses XC, the ground was good will definitely be back .
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
My biggest influences would have to be Oliver Townend and Andrew Nicholson.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
Definitely Camilla Stanton super groom she is part of the family now, she has to put up with me on a daily basis, the horses are always turned out to perfection. It wouldn’t work without her!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
In 2010 at my very first BE I got 13 time penalty’s for going too fast, I thought the fastest one won.
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
I was at Cholmondeley Horse Trials in Cheshire doing the Novice, I managed to jump Novice element A Intermediate B and then got back to Novice C somehow ..very interesting line.
Which is your favourite event & why?
Chatsworth Horse Trials, it has the best atmosphere.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
A bit of spice a few G & Ts and some Fizz!
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
I only sing in the shower.
What are your aims for 2018 for this horse?
My aim for Iris this season is to be selected to compete on the South West CCI1* U18 team at the Frickley U18’s 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?
It was my first time competing at West Wilts and I greatly enjoyed competing there. I hope to return to other events there in the future.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
My trainer Emily Lee has helped me a lot over the last couple of years, she has helped me to improve hugely, overall influencing my success at events.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My mum! I wouldn’t be eventing if it wasn’t for her input; from driving the lorry each weekend, to grooming at events and riding my horses if I’m busy with school work and exams!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
The fact that not all events will go to plan or go well! Obviously there are lots of highs which is great, but there are also not so great days too, and to not dwell on them too much – it’s not always the end of the world!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
I haven’t really had any bloopers that are particularly amusing, however I have got off horses after cross-country before and forgotten to unclip my air jacket, luckily I was right on the end of the chord, so luckily it didn’t go off!
Which is your favourite event & why?
My favourite event is Aldon, this is because it is fairly local to me, and I have competed there several times and usually fairly successfully. Also the cross-country course there is great fun to ride!
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
It would have to be stopping in the lorry on the way back at a McDonalds, I’d get a large full fat coke too, just to ensure it’s a nice healthy meal.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
I’m no great singer, but anything recent and popular I probably know the lyrics too and could easily join in too!
What are your aims for 2018 for this horse?
He is just a young horse so he will do a few more 100’s then aim to do a Novice 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?
We have been to BCA before but not for a couple of years. The XC was really educational for young horses and we will definitely be going back!
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
I love the way Izzy Taylor rides XC.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
Too many to name!! Our staff, owners, supporters, family and friends!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
How expensive it is!!!!! And I’m pretty rubbish with early starts and there is a lot of them!!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing
We got a bit confused with the sat nav at Grantham and went to Belton instead of Oasby!!!
Which is your favourite event & why?
Chatsworth I love it, big atmosphere and lovely XC.
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?
Not sure that there is one but we have Adele and Rhianna in the lorry!!
© Grossick Photography
I’ve just finished second year at Heriot Watt University where I’m studying Urban Planning and Property Development. I fit looking after our four horses and eventing around that and my part-time job. I work every second weekend so have to plan everything carefully. There’s never enough hours in the day!!
We had a delayed start to the season when Pinky started suffering multiple colics and was diagnosed with a displaced colon. It resulted in a very stressful two week period where we had multiple attempts at trying to get her colon back to where it should be but thankfully it was eventually a success and we averted surgery. We only went to Warwick Hall to have a school round but she had had other ideas, we lead from the start and she pulled my arms out all the way round the XC!
What are your aims for 2018 for this horse?
The plan is to do Pinky’s first Novice back at Warwick Hall next weekend, she will then continue to compete at Novice for the rest of the season with plans to go 1*.
© Anne Thomson Photography
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 Eglinton previously on my mum’s horse Uni Star (Bailey) who I did U18’s to 1* with. It sadly didn’t run for a few years because of our lovely Scottish weather but it’s a super old fashioned friendly event so I had hoped that it would run this year and it’s most definitely on my list of events every year.
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
My Mum is my first thought, she dragged me round to all the events when I was younger and that’s where the passion for eventing came from but I think that Michael Jung is just an incredible talent. He is such a dedicated professional and is a master of his art. I love watching him compete and he clearly adores his horses.
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
I would have to say my Mum who has been my unpaid groom since it all started. She has given her everything to allow me to compete and I am forever grateful for everything she does for me.
A special mention must also go to my Papa (Papa Jock) he is 76 and loves to come and watch me compete no matter where. He “turned up” at Badminton when I competed at the Grassroots Champs in 2015 having driven all the way down through the night. He also came to watch at Frickley at the U18 Champs and still wears the cocktail party wristband two years on and loves it when people ask what it is. He is also very competitive and spends the entire day checking the scores, I sometimes think he may be more competitive than I am!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
Horses break your heart and your bank balance!!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing.
I was riding my Mum’s new horse Jasper at a XC schooling session at Hendersyde Park, he is a show-jumper to trade so it was one of his first outings XC. He wasn’t keen on the ditch but we eventually leapt over it only for him to spook at the water jump, spin and I came out the side door. I landed on my feet but slid into full sideways splits. My Mum caught the whole thing on camera and could hardly speak for laughing every time she watched. I can’t do the splits so didn’t find the whole thing very funny!! It was a real “You’ve Been Framed” moment.
Which is your favourite event & why?
It probably has to be Weston Park, I competed as part of the Scottish 1* team at the U18 Champs there the first time I was selected. It was a proper championship course and the whole atmosphere was just amazing. Bailey flew round the XC inside the time and was in the top 10 going into the SJ. Unfortunately it wasn’t our day but it still holds a very special place in my memory.
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
Before I nod off in the lorry on the way home my mum and I normally munch our way through all the unhealthy snacks. I do love an Edinburgh Rhubarb and Ginger Gin with Fever Tree Tonic though.
© Anne Thomson Photography
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
I can’t sing and neither can my Mum and I am normally sound asleep all the way home!!
© Stevie Purves Photography
The U18 classes are so supportive and are always great fun! For Player to perform so well is always very special; he is homebred and part of the family, he is a real credit to my Mum who has trained us both from the start! I was really pleased with his performance at Eglinton he finished on a dressage of 23 and we were delighted to have won. He is a wonderful horse to have a partnership with.
What are your aims for 2018 with this horse?
My main aim with Player this season is to be selected and successfully represent team Scotland at the BE100u18 Championships at Frickley Park.
© Stevie Purves Photography
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?
The last time we were at this event was when I was helping mum when she was eventing Player! It was fantastic to be back and the courses were great. It is a super venue and the organisers and volunteers working there really did make the event a special one for its 50th anniversary!
Who is the biggest influence in your eventing career to date?
There are so many people to thank that have influenced me in different ways! I have to say that my Mum has definitely had one of the biggest influences on me, I have been lucky enough to have grown up with horses and have been hooked since day 1 watching and learning from Mum! Apparently I could ride and teach before I could walk…
© Stevie Purves Photography
Who is the unsung hero of your team and why?
My unsung hero has to be my little sister. At only 9 years old she shares the same dedication to the sport as we do. She is amazing and such a super help when we are competing. She knows exactly what to do, when to do it and gives me great advice; I always appreciate her very honest opinion too! Gabrielle can been seen at events handing over money for our start fees and collecting our numbers, she is our super-groom and everyone loves her!!
What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you started eventing?
You have to experience and learn from the days that don’t go as planned to appreciate the good days!
Describe the funniest “blooper” you have experienced eventing.
Getting a 1 in a dressage test on Player when he thought that walking on his hind legs was more interesting than free walk on a long rein.
Which is your favourite event and why?
My favourite event is Floors Castle Horse Trials. It is such a super event with a fantastic atmosphere. There is lots going on for everyone to enjoy and a lot of top riders in the sport come to compete in the international classes. Floors was my first BE on my pony in 2014 and it was also my first ever event on Player in 2015!
What will be in your “Chicken Dinner” and what will you wash it down with?
We were late home but I have to admit we did end up having chicken for dinner.
What is your current favourite lorry karaoke song?
There are many however Player’s eventing song is “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, this is the song that mum used to play before every event with Player’s Mum Penny – the legacy still lives on!
© Stevie Purves Photography
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