Badminton 2013 - tips?

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Chopandchips

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Planning on booking for the Sunday for the xc, I've ever been to Badminton before, any tips? do you park yourself at a fence and stay there for the afternoon? planning on staying at a hotel nearby but will still drive there, whats the parking like?

Very excited :D:D Anyone else going?

xx
 
No you don't park at a fence. Park in car park (field) and then walk!!! It's a brilliant day and I'm hoping to go again this year.
 
Christmas Camel said:
Planning on booking for the Sunday for the xc, I've ever been to Badminton before, any tips? do you park yourself at a fence and stay there for the afternoon? planning on staying at a hotel nearby but will still drive there, whats the parking like?

Very excited :D:D Anyone else going?

xx
Click to expand...

Depends what you want to do really, but what I usually do is start at the end of the course and work my way backwards.

I tend to watch a couple of riders over each fence (a few more at bigger complexes like the Lake, the Quarry, Huntman's Close etc) and then move on. It's good to watch more than one rider over each fence as you'll find that a lot of people move on after a rider goes, meaning you can then get closer to the ropes for a better view as others move on.

Plenty of people will get there early and set up at the Lake, and camp out there all day watching the action on the screens. Personally I prefer to walk round the course to see a bit of everything - but that's just my preference.

Give yourself plenty of time to get there - traffic can be really busy on the way there, and if you're early then you can have a good nosey round the shops before the XC starts anyway.
 
First thing to do is a sun dance, now. I hope things start drying up soon, my mare is pulling shoes off left right and centre in the park at the moment, it is rather wet at the moment :cool:

Give your self lots of time from leaving the hotel to when you plan to arrive, if you get stuck in queues it can take ages. Its worth the wait though if you do get stuck in queues, it is a lovely day out :)

Parking people are very efficient and get you parked nice and quickly.
 
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Park in the car parks offered which are all on grass (lake carpark is more expensive but shorter walk) and then walk the 4 mile odd course. Best to walk it the opposite way to the way it's numbered - fewer people walk from finish to start than start to finish.

Get to a fence, wait for a rider, stay at fence as most people will move on and thus you get a closer better view of the same fence ;)

If you want to sit by the lake all day - get there early

Don't go shopping on xc day - it's pointless but if you fancy seeing all the coverage and a chair and a picnic, there is a big screen

Don't drive the way the AA or signs recommend as they get uber busy. I went one year and came in the back way and barely queued.
 
Some ace tips, thanks for taking the time to reply ... I didn't realise the course was 4 miles long! (I'm not that au fait with Badminton full stop, only just started taking a proper interest in eventing fairly recently)

I'm going for a jolly day out (and to ogle Oli Townend I know, I know :o) and a weekend away with OH and no children :D

xx
 
Book your accomodation early, and if at all possible try for two days. I expect the box office is already open - good SJ seats go very quickly! If you're staying locally the night before the XC get up early and aim to be on site as the gates open, will save you queueing for the car parks. Not many places to sit down - the main (SJ and dressage) arena is free to sit in on XC day, and the first and last fences are in there. I also use my Horseware rucksack, which has an attached seat, an absolute Godsend! Food and drink are expensive, factor this into your spending, or be more organised than me and take a big picnic with you!

It is fabulous, persoanlly I don't enjoy it as much as I did in the 80's and early 90's, Burghley isn't so busy, and I enjoyed Blenheim a coujple of years ago a lot, have fun!
 
You will do well to get a hotel for just the one night..I've done 16/17 yrs on the trot & many hotels just offer a 3 night package...you may be lucky tho..credit crunch & all that. You'll have a fab time...I'm doubly excited having missed last year!
 
Food is expensive, but if you're savvy (an a little shameless) you can find yourself well fed and a little drunk after a circuit of the food tent on a sampling mission ;)

My friend is horrendous for this, she just stands at the stall and eats the samplers - I on the other hand find I have to show genuine interest in the product and talk to the stallholder!

It's a great day out but echo the others, get there early and be prepared for it to be busy...oh, and hope that things start drying out in soggy south glos :D
 
I've just booked a hotel through laterooms.com about 12 miles away (on the side reccomended as better for traffic ;))

No problem booking for just one night (although ll the Badminton reccommended ones were a minumin 3night stay) and got a £200 room for £95 - result

Happy Birthday for the 9th Mythical - I hope you don't spend all day on the phone trying to book tickets ike I probably will! lol


xx
 
I have to say that I'm a bit of a bint and hate xc day. I prefer to watch people ride the whole course rather than see them jump one fence, and it's soooooo busy on xc day!

I go for the SJ usually, and go on dressage day to watch a few tests and then spend the day shopping.

Go early as you'll get stuck in traffic - I live twenty minutes away and when the horse trials are on it can take up to an hour and a half to get there!
 
XC day is great as long as you have a plan and go with a like minded person.

Plan for all weathers, hat, sun cream, water, water proofs, picnic, take it in your car, you never know! The grass is usually long and wet, so good waterproof foot ware.

Parking: Avoid the main front car parks. The world and his dog will try and drive into them, there will be massive queues and if its wet it will be hell getting out. I always go for Luckington lane car par on xc day as can drive in and out quickly and go the back routes away from most of the traffic. Its well signposted so you can find your way if you're not local. If you are getting your tickets in advance they will send you a little map with the routes and car parks marked out. It's also a handy spot if you are taking a picnic as there are some good jumps down that end around the vicarage ditch to sit around without the millions of people you get near the main site, and also usually some good action.

Get there early! Ideally for breakfast! It's a nice walk from LL Car Park to the main site you can have a good look at some of the jumps on your way up. I recommend the food hall tent for their giant sausages, the stall at the far end. Decent coffee in there too so you don't need to drink the rubbish from the greasy chip vans.

Pick up a running order sheet from the secretary's (?) Office. Its down and to the left of when facing the main score board. Very useful to know when people are running so you can make sure you don't miss people you want to see while walking between jumps. Also will give you first person on course time and last person. Last person is key if you don't want to hang around after the event ...

Following breakfast take a look round the shops, if you are there when they open you have about an hour or so before it becomes horrid. By 10.30-11.00 you do not want to be looking around the shops unless you don't mind being squished, and constantly falling over someones dog on an extendable lead.

First on course in recent years has been about 11.30/12 I think so pretty late, with last going around 4.30 The top riders with two rides will ride early and late in the day.

Walk around the course - at least once and backwards as someone suggested, less foot traffic going with you. See a few jump then go to the next. Use the holds on course to walk the long distances if you can. It's a long way between huntsman close and the pheasant feeders/quarry for instance. Also a long walk between the steps and the lake with only one dullish jump in between. And long walk from lake to the lane crossing or shogun hollow. You will find the spots where you want to stay for longer depending on the kinds of jump you like to see. If the going is not good you might find a lot retiring on course so you might see more hanging around towards the front of the course. The course alternates its direction each year.

If you don't like walking then sit in the main arena or around the pubs to the right of the score board to see the big screens.

If you hate queues pace your course walk so that you are near to your car park at the end of the running order so that you see the last person go, can get to your car and get out asap. Listen to radio badminton on your way out (signal goes approx about 5 mile-ish outside park).

If you Hotel is on the Bath side how about popping down there in the evening for a soak in the spa to relax those worn out legs ... closes around 10.00pm and for the two hour sessions you don't have to book and its around £25.

Then think about coming back for the festival of eventing at Gatcombe Park in August, a lot less people and usually (!) much better weather!

Enjoy!
 
My friend and I booked our tickets yesterday morning :D Very excited. I just hope it doesn't rain again this year as we are camping at badminton. Should be a good weekend :)

We went two years ago, for XC its best as other said to walk it finish to start as there are less people and don't shop until the end of the day if you have to as it is so busy.
 
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