I was going to do as my first intro last year, but the donkey went lame
. But I stewarded instead, was really nice lots of inviting fences; ground wasnt great though (it was june, but still v.hard), and the show jumping was quite big (but I am A1 sj wimp, so that could just be my view on it!) In hind-sight I am still miffed as it wasnt my horses first event (as it would have been perfect for him)!
Last time I rode it was 2004 and they have changed it since then. Do remember the dressage warm up was bit crowded but the arenas where not too bad, have certainly ridden on worse. Lorry park is on setaside field and was a bit rough, Mr P stepped out of the lorry and ripped a shoe off. SJ arena had a very very slight incline but was large and course not particularly technical, plenty of space with reasonable warm up.
XC didnt cause me any problems, the sheep feeder coming down the hill (not a steep one) caused a few uncomfortable looking jumps. XC did seem to sort them out though and a few were eliminated.
Is one I would consider for a first time, but not this year as going off on hols on the Monday and want to be in one piece!
Yes did manage a placing so am probably a little bias towards Marchington!
Will see how things go but very much doubt will compete there as also that weekend have a houseful of guests, my brother is bringing his rally team to stay as he is competing in the Rally of the Midlands.
Hi, I did the schooling day last year after the event. The pic on the left is the first jump, but that was the novice fence. I think it was Novice as there are 2 side by side and it was the bigger one.
It then went onto a seat in the hedge (surrounded by hedge), then a trailer type thing with wheels, then a barrel/keg jump, it was a double for the pre-novice, then there was a fence that was I think was a big log but I can`t remember, then pole with honey pots and with bees in them underneath, then a hedge jump, then it took you to the water, then to a hayrack then to another couple of easy looking fences including tyres, then a double of telegraph poles on the hill, then a table then a ditch, (trakehner for the bigger classes-and it was big), then onto a funny looking jump with square holes in, then the one on the hill as mentioned above, then a small drop fence, then a bench in the open. It all went round in a big left rein circle.
And I think that was it.
It will probably be different this year tho as some of them were mobile jumps.
I hope that I have been of some help for you. If I have missed any out, then someone will let us know.
I was there with a friend who was competing the day before and the show jumping arena is on a slight slope as someone said, and there was a lot of travelling inbetween fences as it was a huge arena.
Have fun.