We started the month with a big one: up in Yorkshire at Bramham International Horse Trials. Basil and I were competing in the 4* U25 British National Championships – which is, let’s just say, a beefy one! We competed in the same class last year, but as it was our first attempt at 4* together back then, we didn’t really know what to expect. For anyone who remembers, Basil was actually pretty epic and jumped a mega double clear to finish 7th, setting us up for a really fun summer campaigning at 4*.
This year was a little different, though. Not only were the stakes a little higher with the inaugural U25 World Championships on the horizon, but we also know each other better, we’re so much more of a team, and – with the help of William and the training from the Howden Way Talent Pathway – we were feeling readier than ever. No pressure!
Bramham is one of those really special events on the international calendar. It has such an exciting yet friendly atmosphere: a buzzy main arena (with a bar, most importantly), a close-knit stable block and a fabulously massive cross-country track!
I was really looking forward to returning, although – strange as it sounds now, off the back of one of the hottest Junes on record – at the beginning of the month it had pretty much not stopped raining. That definitely felt like a bit of a dark cloud hanging over my head (excuse the pun). The only peace of mind I could give myself was that there was absolutely nothing we could do about it.
Bramham party tricks
Our dressage took place on Thursday, and the weather was totally, utterly rubbish! On an ordinary occasion, I would have been quite pleased to be sitting behind the ears of Irish-born-and-bred Basil, who would usually be trusted to put his best hoof forward and plug away whatever the conditions. And, for the most part, he did just that.
However … he is also the fittest he has ever been, and he managed to find a couple of extra movements throughout his test to show off some “party tricks” – huge fun for him, less so for me!
It was a little disappointing to be sitting lower down the leaderboard than I had hoped, but having walked the cross-country track numerous times, I was very much aware it wasn’t going to be a dressage competition! The ground was so much better than I expected after all the worrying, too, and I was really looking forward to getting stuck in. Although not literally, I hoped.
Saturday morning came around rather quickly, and I woke up with a hundred butterflies in my stomach. I just about managed a mouthful of breakfast before heading down to the stables to get Basil ready for his big day.
It’s funny – I wouldn’t say the butterflies are nerves so much as excitement, but the second I have one foot in the stirrup they all disappear, replaced solely by fierce determination.
Although we had plenty to face out there, Basil and I felt readier than ever. Let’s do this!
Of course, he was as brilliant as always. We jumped a super double clear, climbing up the influential leaderboard to finish an impressive FOURTH in the U25 Championship class. Hooray!
A pair of seconds
We didn’t have much time to dwell on the result: we had to immediately hit the road and get home to Dorset to be back in time for an 8am dressage at West Wilts the following day with the “young guns”. The home team had been working hard while we’d been away, exercising the horses and getting them all plaited up and ready for a quick turnaround.
We pulled back into the yard at a measly 1.30am, and by the time Mum, Sas and I had unpacked and repacked for the following day, I think we hit the pillow at around 2.30am. My alarm was set for 3.30am. Yuck.
Bleary-eyed but buzzing from the first half of our weekend, we pulled into West Wilts in time to scavenge a mocha or two from the café before our busy morning. The young guns performed really well (and I remembered ALL my dressage tests!), with Cleo and Ted finishing second in their respective sections. I wish I could take all the credit for their performances that day, but it really was hugely down to the guys at home for preparing them so beautifully.
Thankfully, following West Wilts, we had a rare weekend off from eventing (I spent it in a reunion of Eventers On Tour up in Sheffield), which allowed us some valuable time to regroup. The heatwave then presented us with a week of 4am starts, but I’ll admit these were made a whole lot easier by the exciting news that Basil and I had made the long list for the GB squad for the inaugural FEI Eventing U25 World Championship, taking place in Ireland in July. Each federation may send up to six athletes to compete at the CCI4*-S level. And I was in the longlist for selection for Team GB! Yippee!
It all hangs on Farley
The final trial was held at Farley Hall in the Advanced-Intermediate U25 class (4* dressage and showjumping, Intermediate cross-country) the following weekend. Although it was a hotly contested section, it was also made up of mostly good friends, and the atmosphere was one of genuine support and friendship, with everyone cheering each other on. How lucky are we to compete in a sport where, although technically we are competitors, we all have each other’s backs?
Our dressage at Farley was significantly improved from Bramham, and I was feeling positive heading into the showjumping phase. I was really disappointed to have two poles down. Basil, cross-country machine that he is, gave me an effortless clear across country, making it all feel ridiculously easy. I walked away feeling we had given it our all, but with Team GB selection in the balance, the real question was did we do enough?
I don’t mean to leave you all hanging, but team selections will be released shortly after this is published … and if that’s not an incentive for you to check back in a month, I don’t know what is!
PS. I forgot to mention Jimmy! The absolute legend that he is – he WON his Intermediate section at Farley! He led on an impressive 21 dressage, and jumped two brilliant rounds to hold on to the top spot. Clever Jimmy. Sorry for giving Basil all the limelight this time, pal!
