Australian based Rosie Jenkins tries to return to Burghley each year to work as a fence steward and has just enjoyed another great event as part of an experienced jump stewarding team. In this article Rosie shares her time at this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials
The A-Team! L-R Rosie Jenkins, Rachel Banks, Robert Banks, Fiona Bayliss, Rosie Eacott
Photo courtesy Dave Murray/EWW
Fifteen years ago I was lucky enough to have been in the right place at the right time (and to have known the right people) and was invited to be a fence steward at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. What a fifteen years!!
During that time I’ve been very fortunate to have had Robert Banks as my fence judge, someone who is unflappable, fair and very knowledgeable. Robert has fence judged at Burghley since it first began over 50 years ago. He even remembers when the course wasn't fenced, something you can't imagine happening now as the crowds are so huge. Robert’s daughter Rachel is my closest, very good friend from college days, and Burghley is our special girly get together for shopping and socialising
Rachel and I at the Lion Bridge (Pre 2004)
Alongside Robert, Rachel and her sister Fiona I have dealt with just about had every scenario possible. Whilst on The Lion Bridge we had fallers, horses stuck in the water, refusals, run outs and loose horses. We’ve also, as a team, had to deal with a rider fatality, a very sad day.
In 2007 I moved to live in Australia and in the past six years I have managed to go back and steward four times at Burghley - not a bad ratio.
For the past few years we have been in charge of The Land Rover Dairy Farm. Again this has brought with it many different situations, fences that we thought virtually un-jumpable were tackled with ease and ones we thought weren't going to cause any issues were the ones that did!! I've learned never to take anything for granted as there is never an easy day.
This year we were again at The Dairy Farm and as usual attended the safety briefing on the Sunday before the main competition. The aim of the day is for any new rules, regulations and procedures to be explained and for us to get a chance to see our fences for the first time. This day, for me, is a real treat. We get to drive the course and look at all the cross country fences without any spectators being there.
Even the riders have yet to arrive and it's wonderful to see the beautiful park in all its glory. They even put on an amazing lunch for our benefit.
Our fence this year was a skinny at the top of a bank, followed by a sweeping left hand related distance to another skinny almost hidden behind a tree. They looked massive close up and we all thought you would need a very honest horse to take on the direct route. There were alternatives situated a little more kindly but obviously they would take longer.
The view from our 'office' - Burghley House seen from the Dairy Farm fence
One of the benefits of being a fence steward is the very generous membership package for the whole event. We all made full use of this and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the amazing shopping on the Thursday and Friday. I managed to see quite a few of the dressage tests and was lucky enough to have seen Kristina Cook get her two perfect 10's.
We also enjoyed the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse final which a friend, Sarah Cohen, was riding in. She had a fantastic result with the Preci Spark Ltd, Tretawn and was placed fourth which was certainly cause for celebration involving the annual picnic produced by Sarah's mum, Jane. She must have arrived at 4am to get the amazing picnic spot right next to the show ring!!
We also managed to get a photo in front of the London legacy fence of the horseshoe, which was very impressive close up.
L-R Rachel Banks, Vanessa Fisher-Featherstone, me, Louise Le Voi and Fiona Bayliss
Just as Rachel and I were leaving on the Friday evening we bumped into our area steward Peter Jonason, who said the riders had declared the direct route of our fence virtually impossible. They were asking for some of the brush to be cut down and shaped to make it a bit more horse friendly. This didn't help our nerves and we left that evening worrying about the following day. I then read an article which stated that Andrew Nicholson had said The Dairy Farm was going to be the most influential fence on the course. I did not get a good night's sleep!
We arrived bright and early on Saturday and collected all the equipment needed - tabards, radios, whistles, flags, stopwatch etc. then set up base camp next to the fence and discussed the many ways in which the fence could be jumped.
Robert's wife Joc and her sister Liz always put on a massive picnic and make sure we are looked after all day; they are what hold us together. Joining me, Rachel and Fiona was the fourth steward Rosie Eacott, who has been kind enough to stand in for me on the two years I haven't managed to make it back from Australia.
We were all given our tasks by Robert and I was responsible for timing the riders through our fence and also knew it was my job to stop any horses if the case arose. It is also my job to deal with the horses in case of any fallers. After 15 years of working together we all know our responsibilities, for example there is no point in all rushing in to deal with an incident if another horse is close behind.
Between the four stewards we managed to get head on to all the jumps so we could be confident the riders had passed through the flags. Luckily immediately after our fence was an official stopping point so I hoped I wouldn't be needed to wave any flags.
The crowds started to arrive in their masses, the nerves kicked in big style and the uncertainty of knowing what we will be required to deal with certainly makes the adrenalin pump.
The first three though the fence all took different routes and it became clear we would need to be on our toes. The TV cameraman said he would have to be quick to work out where to film without tying himself up in wires!
Andrew Nicholson went long, as he did with all three of his rides, and still managed to make the time.
I began to have doubts that the short route would be taken at all. Sarah Cohen on Treason (pictured above and below) then went through and took the direct route, she seemed to have all the time in the world and jumped it beautifully (but I am a bit biased!)
A few riders actually jumped the side of the fence but still managed to get through the flags. The only faults at the fence all day were by Paul Tapner and Oliver Townend who both attempted the short route and had unfortunate run outs at the second element.
Jock Paget, the eventual winner also went long but Sam Griffiths on Happy Times took the direct route and made it look easy, pure class. At the end of cross country day we were all relieved to have had a relatively incident free fence, I think elation is the feeling!! Once the fence judges were told there had been no objections, the celebration beers in the members pavilion were most welcome!
The weather even celebrated with us as the most stunning rainbow topped off an amazing day. Our duties were over for another year and we had survived!
Sunday was another beautiful day and the show jumping proved very influential. I even managed to get a photo of the legend Mark Todd, six times Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt and the winner Jock Paget jumping the last fence.
Bring on 2014, hopefully I can make the trip around the world, Burghley is calling!
Article by Rosie Jenkins
Rosie describes herself as a ‘very amateur rider and eventing enthusiast’ but we think she should definitely add ‘member of very essential and expert fence judging team’
