Did you think I’d fallen off the back of the stadium at Greenwich Park or dissolved in the rain? Don’t worry – I’ve just been taking a side trip to Stamford, just over an hour north east of London. We shot off after the first showjumping session and got to the old stone town of Stamford just in time for afternoon tea at The George Hotel.
The next day we were very lucky to have a personal guided tour around Burghley House by a friend who has been a tour guide there for 11 years. Sandra Bailey knows every nook and cranny of this enormous house and took us through some of the main rooms pointing out the important works of art and adding all the details and stories that make a house like this come alive. I’ve been to Stamford many times but never had time to “do” Burghley House. We came away reeling with history and the Australians were full of questions about English history which I couldn’t really answer – luckily we happened across an expert on the subject in the bar that night who filled us in; thank you to Justin with the martini!
After lunch at Burghley House while we sheltered from a big downpour we headed over to Oakham for a polo match we’d seen advertised. Of course we got lost so it was quite late by the time we got there but managed to see the last match of the day
There was a 3 goal player from Argentina (sorry, can’t remember names) and the players seemed pretty good with some very nice ponies. They are quite chunky compared to the Australian polo ponies I’ve seen but still very nippy and sure can gallop flat out. It was a quiet affair (although they had a marquee that probably was full earlier – there were certainly lots of empty bottles), not dissimilar to our local Yarra Valley Club days and although we didn’t chat to anyone, we were given friendly waves and nods (they were probably wondering who the hell we were wandering in when everyone else was leaving. We asked if it was okay to park anywhere and were told “Anywhere as long as it’s not on the polo field” so we set up camp in the Member’s Reserved Parking!)
We had a big dinner in the formal dining room at The George to celebrate Rosemarie’s birthday (again) and this morning headed back to London. Paul and I will be going back up to Burghley for the Horse Trials from August 30th – September 2nd and really looking forward to be back at this great event again, especially as there were be plenty of Aussies competing with a fierce determination. I really wouldn’t be surprised if there are not some really impressive performances by Australian riders at Burghley this year who are out to prove a point.
So it was back to the stadium this afternoon for an amazing finish to the how jumping Teams final. We missed seeing Julia Hargreaves (who jumped really well and will be in the Individual competition) and James Paterson-Robinson but saw Edwina and Itot (above) who only had one fence down on a really tough course.
Nick Skelton and Carlo
For me it was really special to watch the British team win the gold medal in the very tense jump off against the Netherlands. The British crowd around me made me smile – when a Dutch rider knocked down a fence they were delighted then berated themselves for being unsporting!
There was no doubting the joy of the riders and Nick Skelton was so happy he jumped up on the podium as soon as he got there then was asked to step down as they had to do the bronze and silver medallists first! We were sitting just below the flags and the soldiers marched up the steps at the side of us with the flags and I must admit to feeling a bit of a lump in the throat as I sang along to God Save the Queen.
I bet those British boys will be having a few beers tonight and so they should.
