Draycott - A Funny Old Day

Gamebird

Gamebird

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2007
Messages
8,805
Visit site
I can't believe that I'm first back as I had the longest journey, but unless someone is a super-quick typer it seems that I get the prize
wink.gif
so here goes...

Preparations haven't been great (I may have forgotten to mention that I got knocked out on Monday. Twice
crazy.gif
. Non-horse related at least
smirk.gif
) but it would appear that Carthorse is off the transfer list, for the time being, anyways
cool.gif
.

Our dressage took place in driving horizontal hail that magically appeared for my test and abated for those after me
mad.gif
. I went and had a word with the judge and asked her not to bother blowing her horn as I wouldn't hear it. Set sail down the centre line and had to rapidly retreat as the boards blew across the arena and spooky old Carthorse nearly ended up in Nottingham
smirk.gif
. The judge reluctantly got out of her car and into the maelstrom and set the arena up again. Couldn't see for most of the test as I had to keep my head down to avoid being blinded by the hail. Can only suppose that the judge couldn't see either as we got 35
confused.gif
. Words cannot describe quite how wet I was. Suffice to say that socks required wringing out.

SJ was an organisational catastrophe. Picture 20 angry riders, connections, cold wet horses all haranging the steward who INSISTED that everyone went in time order, despite the fact that half the people whose time it was weren't there and there were plenty of people who were there, warmed up and ready to jump but she wouldn't let them in, despite the judges desperately calling for someone to jump, because it 'wasn't their time'. Eventually got sick of it and went in against orders. Carthorse hated the ground (concrete with a layer of grease on top) and jumped well for 1 down, just getting a bit close to an oxer (OK, I tried to bury him
crazy.gif
).

Much tack swapping for the XC - Baydale had kindly lent me a controller noseband and we had French blinkers - you'd have thought I was sitting on a lunatic judging by the tack he had on
blush.gif
. It was a funny old course, lots of turning, fences in odd places and many, many skinnies. Started off a bit steady and show-jumped the first 3 then found his stride and went really, really well round the rest. Was disappointed with 11 time faults but you can't put a price on a clear really and now the steering *seems* to be fixed we can kick on a bit.

It was lovely to meet what seemed like most of HHO. In no particular order: Hairyhatman (who is neither hairy nor a man
confused.gif
), TalaveraII, Peony and Beatle, Tabledancer, Hannahbanana, Baydale (who is now an intermediate-level crutch user), SW123 and probably some that I've forgotten.

I'm having a Balvenie as we're out of wine (novice error
blush.gif
) but you're welcome to a dram
grin.gif
.
 
Well done! Thats the reason I wont go to Draycott now cos of their specialist "greasy concrete" ground
tongue.gif
But sounds like you're on the way to being back on form
grin.gif
And hey, finishing on a nice round 50 aint bad at all
tongue.gif
The time is always difficult there
smirk.gif
 
Thanks all. The plan was originally Kelsall Nov then Belton Int, but after the steering issues I decided than Belton Nov would probably be safer (although it is definitely a Carthorse sort of course and we'd probably have been OK).

Then Chatsworth IN and Floors IN I think and a nice, kind Int after that. Unless we're flying in which case Floors Int....
confused.gif
.

The problem is entering so far in advance you don't really know quite what you'll be ready for but better safe than sorry.
 
well done...obviously did him some good having two runs in quick succession!
i hate Draycotts ground, i did the Pc champs there last year and for the showjumping the ground was awful it was so greasy on top.
well done though..are you going to do novice or intermediate at Belton?
 
[ QUOTE ]


The problem is entering so far in advance you don't really know quite what you'll be ready for but better safe than sorry.

[/ QUOTE ]

i have the same issue,,,
do i eneter chatsworth IN or N....
i will only have done one event by the time the entires open,,,,gah
 
Superb, well done a clear XC was just what the Doctor ordered. Although I fear that the Doctor may have died of heart failure about the being knocked out twice bit 3 days ago.

Not sure if I am jealous of you having got 2 events under your belt for this season or relieved that I wasnt battling with the elements like you were today.

Switched my laptop on especially to see if you had posted a report, thanks for not letting me down.
x
 
[ QUOTE ]
i have the same issue,,,
do i eneter chatsworth IN or N....
i will only have done one event by the time the entires open,,,,gah

[/ QUOTE ]

If you enter the IN make sure your SJing is up to scratch. The courses are big enough, not enormous, but it's the whole 'main arena' atmosphere that can be a spanner in the works. Lovely old-fashioned Ian Stark XC though. Makes it all worthwhile
grin.gif
.

Oh, and use your super-ballot (not sure I should be telling you this
tongue.gif
).
 
Full credit to you matey for carrying on in that weather, I took shelter in the caravan for most of the afternoon!

Pity about the rain though as the ground would have been pretty good without it (mind you the stoooooppid arena party who had no self-preservation and insisted on getting in the way of everyone trying to jump simply to put a pole up, how they came out alive I don't know)

Carthorse is simply wonderful though
blush.gif


I missed meeting Beatle though (but Baydale, once met never forgotten....)

Also missed out on the Millionaire's shortbread, humph
mad.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

Switched my laptop on especially to see if you had posted a report, thanks for not letting me down.
x

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm nothing if not reliable...
smile.gif


Hope we're still on for Party-Time Floors?
 
i will be using my super ballot,
and SJ isnt up to scratch,,,well it is in terms of rhythm, parternship and striding, hes just clumsy. well to be fair,,,i generally had 2 down at nov last year,,,but hopefully, over winter,,its improved...we will see!!!
big arena wont affect him whatsoever. lol
 
Glad the brakes worked xc. I HATE sj stewards like that. It is so stupid and makes everyone cross. Do not know why they do it!
 
[ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ]Hope we're still on for Party-Time Floors?

Too right we are - looking forward to it already, please try not to do yourself any lasting harm between now & then
tongue.gif
 
Any idea what the SJ steward does if you show up late. We are there tomorrow and may be late after walking the XC.
 
Ewww, I can just feel how soggy you must have been
crazy.gif


A good day though really, so well done.
smile.gif
But what an ar5e the bl00dy SJ steward was being, honestly, give someone a bit of responsibilty and they take it to the limit!
smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Any idea what the SJ steward does if you show up late. We are there tomorrow and may be late after walking the XC.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ummm, no
crazy.gif
. Cross your fingers it's a different person and hope they're running half an hour late like they were today (and whose fault was that?
mad.gif
).

Honestly I sooooo wanted to be sorry for her as she's a volunteer. I was very nice and didn't say anthing nasty, but a little bit of common sense......
 
Oh dear, I shall have to do my best I am so sorry and stupid act if we are late.
When volunteers are being dreadful control / power mad just remeber you have paid to be there so deserve some respect!
 
Ah ha I now have a plan to get a sub 35 dressage
tongue.gif
grin.gif

Sounds like a good day all in all, and now you have the fun of asking to go faster xc
wink.gif
 
Sounds like a pretty soggy day to me, but still good!

I thought that BE had advised all organisers that all SJ stewards need a white board?!

I seriously hate it when they do that, same happens at Broadway, drives me nuts - last time I was there I was ready to go in and the steward wandered off, leaving an empty ring, to find the person whose number was 'next on the list' - said person was not even in the warm up!!

It works so much better to do SJ and XC in a 'put your number down' way - and is easy for competitors as I always check with stewards which way they are doing it when I walk the courses (or in the case of SJ hover at the side of the ring trying to learn the course!) - if you do that then no excuse for being annoyed if you can't go at your time.
 
They did have a white board SC but only put half the numbers on it.... guess which half I was in
mad.gif
.

I did check, and knew they were running by time order but they were running over half an hour late and some people weren't there/ready and others were ready but not allowed to go in.... Arrrggggh.

I did feel sorry for the girl being a volunteer and all that but she did make a rod for her own back and there's no excuse for having an empty SJ ring when you're running behind because you're waiting for someone to jump who isn't even there. When she started swearing at people I had to walk away
crazy.gif
.
 
sounds horrible wet - hope you enjoyed that glass of wine!

pah they needed a SJ steward by the name of Jules!
wink.gif
haha!

Well done, sounds like he was super today, even with lunatic style tack on!
laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top