LindaW
Well-Known Member
Took a drive up to Ripon today to steward at B&B P2P with my friend. Arrived just in time Got sent to the hospitality tent and had some yummy salmon and cream cheese sarnies which got whipped away as they were for the sponsors apparently - Oops! and some of the most delicious home made coffee cake I have ever tasted
We had our names ticked off and picked up our "Official" Badges, walkie talkies, flags, fluros (inc one for my daughter who's 8yo and was todays unofficial apprentice photographer) and of course the race card! Had the steward briefing and friend and I were sent to the the open ditch. The course was lovely, 7 fences, (6 plain and the ditch) set on a rolling hill in glorious sunshine, going good to firm in places. Was lovely to get a real close up view of the horses going down to the start, without exception they were gleaming - all looked keen and well. We could see the whole course from where we were too
It's suprising how big the P2P fences are up close, and amazing to watch the field thundering down the hill - and how far they stand off a fence!!! Medic at our fence wasn't particularly chatty, but said he always ends up with the open ditch - something to do with the blood and gore suddenly I'm glad he's not so chatty....
Thoroughly enjoyed the racing, some super finishes and not a single faller at our fence all day. The only faller of the day was a horse having his first outing over fences in the last race, he went past us looking and jumping well with 4 to go, then fell 2 fences after ours. Worringly he stayed down for ages and the screens were still up when we got back and returned the flags and stuff. I kept thinking this was hopeful because they have shot him pretty quickly if it was hopeless. We waited to find out knowing we'd always wonder, and what a great end to the day to watch him walk back to the lorry area, jogging a little and none the worse for wear
Kid took some pics
http://i51.tinypic.com/oz0xu.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/124bsi8.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/2j4zvc7.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/358swlk.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/166hfdj.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/2eezwba.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2iqbg2o.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/21dey4w.jpg
We had our names ticked off and picked up our "Official" Badges, walkie talkies, flags, fluros (inc one for my daughter who's 8yo and was todays unofficial apprentice photographer) and of course the race card! Had the steward briefing and friend and I were sent to the the open ditch. The course was lovely, 7 fences, (6 plain and the ditch) set on a rolling hill in glorious sunshine, going good to firm in places. Was lovely to get a real close up view of the horses going down to the start, without exception they were gleaming - all looked keen and well. We could see the whole course from where we were too
It's suprising how big the P2P fences are up close, and amazing to watch the field thundering down the hill - and how far they stand off a fence!!! Medic at our fence wasn't particularly chatty, but said he always ends up with the open ditch - something to do with the blood and gore suddenly I'm glad he's not so chatty....
Thoroughly enjoyed the racing, some super finishes and not a single faller at our fence all day. The only faller of the day was a horse having his first outing over fences in the last race, he went past us looking and jumping well with 4 to go, then fell 2 fences after ours. Worringly he stayed down for ages and the screens were still up when we got back and returned the flags and stuff. I kept thinking this was hopeful because they have shot him pretty quickly if it was hopeless. We waited to find out knowing we'd always wonder, and what a great end to the day to watch him walk back to the lorry area, jogging a little and none the worse for wear
Kid took some pics
http://i51.tinypic.com/oz0xu.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/124bsi8.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/2j4zvc7.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/358swlk.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/166hfdj.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/2eezwba.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2iqbg2o.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/21dey4w.jpg
