Checking out the Stade d'Ornano in Caen last year - no doubt it will have changed a bit by now
Well the long awaited World Equestrian Games is nearly here.
The build up to it is pretty intense – and I’m not just talking about for the horses and riders. If you work in equestrian media the build up starts happening a long time beforehand – we made the decision two years ago to visit Normandy and check out the venue at Le Haras du Pin when Le Grand Complet CIC was on and returned last year for the WEG test event. Now I’m heading back for the real thing and, by the time you read this, I’ll be winging my way to London via Dubai
In the many years I’ve been living in Australia I’ve done this flight about once a year. I used to be very impatient for the flight to be over and to get there but now, and I know this is showing my age, I just want the flight to last as long as possible. There is a palpable feeling of relief as I enter the big steel bird and switch off my phone, email, Twitter or any other electronic communication with the rest of the world. At the other end there will be a flutter of activity to get re-connected for UK and French internet but until then I’m free to snooze, eat too much food, muse on life and watch movies
So what’s the itinerary?
I arrive in London on the 20th August and hop on the Eurostar to Paris/Caen the next day. Hopefully by the evening of the 21st I’ll be comfortably installed in the little French farmhouse close to Le Haras du Pin, having picked up my car, some shopping and cheap red wine (last year I discovered a ripping little red for about 5 euros in the local supermarket). My partner in crime on so many of these occasions Libby Law, who so brilliantly provides the images for when words fail me, doesn’t suffer from sea sickness and will be tootling across the Channel by ferry in the aptly named Turtle on the 22nd.
Although the eventing competition doesn’t start until Thursday 28th Libby and I will be covering the Opening Ceremony on the 23rd and providing our 4* members with reports from the dressage and generally what is happening around and about the various competitions and venues, the Games Village, the shopping and Caen. If you can’t be there it’s the next best thing (actually sometimes even if you are there, you can miss a lot!)
I’ll be heading to the eventing venue and start to fill you in on what’s happening there as soon as I’ve had a good night’s sleep. The Australian eventing squad, who are in training camp in the UK from 19th – 24th (and hopefully we’ll bring you some little snippets from there), take the overnight ferry to Normandy to arrive on the 25th at Le Pin but there will be plenty happening before that so make sure you login regularly to get the latest updates. Although there will be plenty of emphasis on the Australian riders we will of course be catching up with other riders, coaches, owners, grooms, officials and visitors from around the world at the biggest equestrian event of them all
I'm really looking forward to it all but must admit I'll miss this little ritual each morning while feeding the horses ..........
