Australia’s Michelle Debenham was ‘quite surprised but absolutely delighted’ to be invited last month to officiate at one of the most prestigious eventing competitions in the world – the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
Michelle will be the CCI4* Assistant Technical Delegate at Badminton this year and will be working with the very experienced Technical Delegate and event organiser Alec Lochore
Michelle worked with Alec at Houghton International last year as part of the Global Education Programme, an FEI funded program that provides successful applicants with the opportunity to officiate at international events and further their education as an Eventing Official
Alec Lochore, as Event Director of the FEI European Championships at Blair Castle meets HM The Queen
“You learn something at every event you officiate at” says Michelle “Whether it’s a small event in Australia or one as big as Badminton. But the opportunity to work with Alec last year was fantastic and he certainly runs a great event. I’m really looking forward to officiating at Badminton – and my daughter is very jealous!”
Michelle’s daughter and AEL blogger Molly Barry was hoping to be riding at Badminton before her mother officiated there but it seems that Michelle has pipped her at the post! Molly competed at her first 4* event in Adelaide in November in the CCI2* but certainly has her heart set on competing at the quintessential English event one day and will be spending some time in the UK this year working with top riders to further her experience
However, before Michelle heads to Badminton, she has other officiating duties to perform closer to home. In April she heads to Kihikihi in New Zealand to work alongside famed Kiwi course designer John Nicholson; her stint here as the CCI1* Technical Delegate is part of a very well received Australian/New Zealand eventing officials exchange programme being run this year by Eventing Victoria
After a bit of globetrotting Michelle will be returning home to Victoria and straight back into local eventing, officiating at the Woady Yallock Horse Trials
“It’s very exciting and gratifying to be invited to officiate at Badminton” says Michelle “But it’s the years of officiating at smaller events, which are also really enjoyable, that get you there”
“Without officials the events could not run and it would be great if more people in Australia were interested in becoming TD’s or other officials – we need some new blood coming through. Maybe the thought that they too could be invited to work at Badminton in the years to come will inspire people to find out more!”
