Burghley irritation

S

Sallyfinn

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 November 2012
Messages
196
Location
colchester
Visit site
Can anyone help please? I am seriously hot and grumpy after walking the XC course all day. I feel as if I have missed all of the action and am gutted I didn’t just stay at home and watch it on TV. How can I now see it?
 
It takes a lot longer for live programmes to make it onto the iPlayer, because they have to re-format it after they've recorded it. With prepared programmes (dramas etc) they can format it before it airs, and just pop it up for viewing within an hour.

IIRC the longer the programme, the longer it takes to format, so the longer you have to wait. And I would imagine that 6 hours is probably at the upper limits of what they do. So I would expect it to be available at some point over the weekend.

It will either be here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/equestrian/45176648 or

here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p06jr7gp/equestrian-burghley-horse-trials-2018-cross-country
 
I'm sorry you feel like that OP. I usually always go to Xc day, but couldn't this year. While I've seen al the action on tv and it's been lovely, it doesn't compare to actually being there and seeing each fence actually jumped.
 
Have now watched some on iplayer and feel a bit better, but I definitely won’t come on XC day again. It’s so frustrating battling crowds to try to get a rubbish view of one fence and then arriving at the next, hot and sweaty, having just missed a horse go past, to then stand a wait interminably for another to turn up, only for the course to be held or the rider to retire one fence before the one you are watching. I honestly felt completely frustrated not being able to see what was going on across the course properly.
 
Sallyfinn said:
Have now watched some on iplayer and feel a bit better, but I definitely won’t come on XC day again. It’s so frustrating battling crowds to try to get a rubbish view of one fence and then arriving at the next, hot and sweaty, having just missed a horse go past, to then stand a wait interminably for another to turn up, only for the course to be held or the rider to retire one fence before the one you are watching. I honestly felt completely frustrated not being able to see what was going on across the course properly.
Click to expand...
Walk the course backwards, you see more horses that way.
 
Honey08 said:
I'm sorry you feel like that OP. I usually always go to Xc day, but couldn't this year. While I've seen al the action on tv and it's been lovely, it doesn't compare to actually being there and seeing each fence actually jumped.
Click to expand...

We were there yesterday, and can completely sympathise with the OP, it was busier than I've ever seen before, and what you don't see on the television is how much time there was between horses as so many retired or were eliminated early in the course. We walked it in reverse but sometimes we were waiting 15 minutes between seeing horses, and there was little info either on the radio or tannoy. I also slightly regretted not staying at home and watching it on the red button, although in balance I'd rather be there.
 
I sympathise with you Sallyfin. I have done XC day and I found it too hectic and sweaty to enjoy when it is bright and warm. I now either go on the dressage days or show jumping, much more civilised for shopping and watch XC at home!
 
I'm with you on this, OP. It's just too busy on XC day to be enjoyable. It could work if you get there early and are happy to bag a good spot at a particular fence and stay there all day, but not if you want to walk the course and see a horses or two over each jump.

This year we went just on the Thursday, and it was great. We walked the course first, and we had the middle part of the course to ourselves, so plenty of time and space to examine each fence in detail. Back to the arena in time to watch the later morning dressage, do the trade stands in the lunch break and then watch the afternoon dressage. Then home, with some more dressage to view on Friday and 11-5 Saturday cleared for the XC red button coverage :D.

Watching the coverage on the TV is IMHO a much better experience when you have already seen the course in person. We last went on XC day 2 years ago when it was wet, and it was still busy and we couldn't get a good view of the fences because of all the selfish townie muppets with their giant umbrellas who blocked out the view for everyone else, grrr.

Our view of the trout hatchery 2016.
kE3wJla.jpg


Glad you were able to catch up with the red button coverage later.
 
Sorry you guys didn’t have a great time. I had a wonderful day. Yes it was busy but I had a great view for each fence (although I’m a crazy person who sits on the floor by the string and risks getting run over, but I figure it allows more people to see if the ones at the front crouch down). After going every year for the last 30 years I know the course inside out so am pretty good at knowing where to go to get a good view of each fence and I tend to wait behind the crowd for one horse to go and then as the crowd moves on I get to the front, watch a couple and move on.

Umbrellas are definitely the worst, I love rainy Burghleys but hate the umbrellas.

Usually I steward for half the day but I was done by 11 yesterday so got to watch the whole thing. Yes it’s great to watch on TV and you do get to see more, but I really don’t think you get the same appreciation for how incredible these horses are until you feel them thunder past, hear their breathing, and see the look in their eye as they lock onto a massive fence. It’s magic for me, no matter how big the crowds. I am looking forwards to the highlights this afternoon though.
 
That's the way it goes though sometimes, people do fall off and there are holds. The worst one was the Badminton three or four years ago when 2/3 of the competitors fell off or retired. We actually sat down, had a full picnic and bottle of wine, packed it up and walked to the next fence without anything goi g past!

I think we have a good system perhaps, we wait up at the Trout Hatchery for a good hour before it starts (there are coffee stands, a bar and the Burghley/joules shop, plus a big screen, so it's good place to wait, and thus get front row seats. We watch a few there then walk it backwards. A few fences you have to wait at for a space until the next rider comes, but I'm ok with that. I just like the atmosphere of being there and walking round the park. I go on the Thursday, which is usually quieter (although was busier this year, so I can believe the Saturday was too), so have no need to go near the shopping village. I usually record the red button coverage, so get to see everything that I missed when I get home, but I agree with BBP that being there is special. I'm a bit weird in that I like watching the warm ups etc too - I was the fifth car in on Thursday at 7.45am, I love seeing competitors school by the river in the early morning mist and seeing the stalls unveiled. It's rare I go on a Sunday, I get bored of show jumping, but I used to enjoy watching the warm up arena outside the main ring, and seeing the tv interviews and stewards check them over afterwards (plus the shops are at their most quiet when everyone is watching the last 20 and start dropping prices!)
 
Honey08 said:
That's the way it goes though sometimes, people do fall off and there are holds. The worst one was the Badminton three or four years ago when 2/3 of the competitors fell off or retired. We actually sat down, had a full picnic and bottle of wine, packed it up and walked to the next fence without anything goi g past!

I think we have a good system perhaps, we wait up at the Trout Hatchery for a good hour before it starts (there are coffee stands, a bar and the Burghley/joules shop, plus a big screen, so it's good place to wait, and thus get front row seats. We watch a few there then walk it backwards. A few fences you have to wait at for a space until the next rider comes, but I'm ok with that. I just like the atmosphere of being there and walking round the park. I go on the Thursday, which is usually quieter (although was busier this year, so I can believe the Saturday was too), so have no need to go near the shopping village. I usually record the red button coverage, so get to see everything that I missed when I get home, but I agree with BBP that being there is special. I'm a bit weird in that I like watching the warm ups etc too - I was the fifth car in on Thursday at 7.45am, I love seeing competitors school by the river in the early morning mist and seeing the stalls unveiled. It's rare I go on a Sunday, I get bored of show jumping, but I used to enjoy watching the warm up arena outside the main ring, and seeing the tv interviews and stewards check them over afterwards (plus the shops are at their most quiet when everyone is watching the last 20 and start dropping prices!)
Click to expand...

I’m the same, love watching the warm ups! Didn’t watch a single dressage test but watched loads warm up, including young eventers and pony club. I did have words with winners of PC SJ after one of their riders tried to remove his horses back teeth after hitting the final rail. Their response was great though so I was really impressed by them.
 
BBP did you have 2 dogs with you? I saw a puppy that looked just like yours yesterday but had a brain freeze and couldn't remember his name so didn't want to stop the owners.
 
JennBags said:
BBP did you have 2 dogs with you? I saw a puppy that looked just like yours yesterday but had a brain freeze and couldn't remember his name so didn't want to stop the owners.
Click to expand...

Haha good call as it wasn’t me! I decided an adolescent collie with a tendency to want to chases horses and cars probably wouldn’t be a good fit for Burghley so persuaded my partner to stay at home with him. I didn’t want to be one of those owners who’s dog is off after a horse. I didn’t think it would be fair, plus it’s a long day and he isn’t great in the heat. I also steward so couldn’t have him with me during my stint. Lots of reasons! Some lovely dogs there and so well behaved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top