Clarke and Balmoral Sensation (Ritchie) finish sixth at the Rio Olympic Games
It just shows that, when you’re with an eventing star, you can get away with all sorts of stuff.
At Puhinui International Horse Trials I was determined to have the water jump backdrop for this interview with Clarke Johnstone and the lower centre of the big arena also provided some protection from the howling wind (but not all as you’ll hear in the video - sorry!)
As it was show jumping day, we nipped in to the arena between classes and presentations but mistimed it slightly with the first of the CCI1* Junior riders starting around us as we finished the interview. No doubt if it had just been me, I would have been chased out of the arena much earlier but with Clarke by my side the organisers allowed to happily chat away then we beat a hasty retreat as the rider headed over to the other side of the arena
As always, it was a huge pleasure to catch up with Clarke and look back on a very good year for him starting with a fifth place at Badminton and sixth individually at the Rio Olympic Games but finishing with a few injuries at his first event back after Rio.
Now back on his feet and with Ritchie safely home in New Zealand, there is hopefully another good one coming up in 2017.......
