This year’s St. James’s Place Barbury International Eventing and Show was much more than a simple Horse Trials in the English country side. With over 100 trade stands, a festival of food and drink, demonstrations and rides as well as world class equestrian competitions, there was something for everyone. The weather was stunning for the final two days of competition, attracting large crowds to the beautiful venue just outside of Marlborough in Wiltshire.
Feast your eyes on this! The Fish Society was just one stand offering great products in the trade village
The CGA Festival of Food and Drink took place on Saturday and Sunday and had some of Eventing’s biggest names joining forces with the UK’s top chefs in some very entertaining cooking demonstrations. Whilst Mark Todd showed off his culinary skills on Saturday, Mary King and her daughter Emily (and a very successful up and coming young rider in her own right) took to the stage on the Sunday. They joined Brian Turner; one of Britain’s most well known chefs from both his regular appearances on television and his chain of restaurants across the country.
Brian Turner joins forces with Mary and Emily King
The trio prepared three meals in front of a very entertained crowd. There was Roasted Salmon with Salsa Verde and sweet and sour peppers, Roasted Monkfish tails on a brown shrimp and mustard sauce and finally Port Fillet with cinnamon apples. All three dishes were rather complex but Brian explained them with ease whilst joking with Mary and instructing Emily to stir and chop different ingredients.
Brian asked Mary if she would be heading toward the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. “Well I’ll be getting quite old,” Mary began. Brian quickly cut the British sensation off. “There isn’t one person in this room who doesn’t get older every day,” he said to a laughing audience. Mary certainly agreed and whilst she would not give a definitive answer she admitted that she would love to go. “I’ve managed to go to six and if I go to seven, I’ll set a record in this country.”
Whilst there is no sign of Mary slowing down at the moment, there is no telling what the future holds. “Emily seems to be following in my footsteps so that may be my incentive to step down,” she admitted. In fact, Mary explained that she could see herself doing what her mother does now and getting plenty of enjoyment out of it – driving the lorry around the country and making the sandwiches. Emily certainly seems to be taking the same path as her decorated mother but as the trio finished preparing the meals, Brian had other plans. “Well you’ll have a career in cooking if all goes wrong,” he said.
Irish eventing rider Jonty Evans also caught up with Emily and Mary at Barbury to find out more about how the mother/daughter eventing team work together
The Wiltshire Liqueur Company had to be one of the most popular stands
As well as some very informative demonstrations, there were plenty of trade stands in the Festival of Food & Drink marquee. With each stand offering free tasters, it was quite easy to fill up on samples alone. The Wiltshire Liqueur Company and Circle Cider stands were very dangerous indeed. If it wasn’t for the need to drive home that evening, I could have quite easily have spent the afternoon trying all the samples in pursuit of an ‘essential’ AEL report.
The Amazing Bike Show impressed a large audience, both young and old
Outside the marquee of temptation there was still plenty to see. Record temperatures on Sunday provided the perfect setting for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance ‘It’s a Knockout Challenge’. Local companies competed across an obstacle course of giant inflatables, including a large swimming pool. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was Barbury Horse Trials’ charity of the year and this challenge was intended to raise money for the critical service. In the past 18 months, the Air Ambulance has flown to 338 call-outs involving horse riders across the county of Wiltshire alone.
Competitors got very wet in the Wiltshire Air Ambulance ‘It’s a Knockout Challenge’
The shopping village provided rows upon rows of stands filled with clothes, jewellery, horse gear and even a place to buy a new range rover (or two!). Family entertainment was always available in the T H White Arena. The Amazing Bike Show, The Lamb National and the Gun Dogs of Hamptworth Estate were all demonstrations that took place here. With fantastic views of the world class cross country course, strawberries and cream being handed out around the crowds, bars offering large jugs of Pimm's and the Rugby and Tennis being screened live, there truly was something for everyone at Barbury International Eventing & Show.
