Lucy Jackson's Bosun appears fascinated
79 horses, gleaming in the late afternoon sun, were presented for the CCI3* class at the 2014 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials today. Four of them were sent to the holding box; Michele Moor’s Easy Lee, Antoinette McKeowe‘s Majestic Light, Camilla Speirs’ BT Border Bandit and Coral Keen’s Wellshead Fare Opposition but all passed on re-presenting. Australian Emma Dougall’s Belcam Bear, who did so well in the 8/9YO CIC3* here last year, was asked to trot a second time but was soon accepted by the Ground Jury of Christina Klingspor (Sweden), Andrew Bennie (New Zealand) and Ciska van Meggelen (Netherlands)
Emma Dougall is one of four Australian riders contesting the CCI3* at Blenheim this year; Andrew Hoy has both Lanfranco and Cheeky Calimbo, Paul Tapner is riding Sarah Hancox’s Up In The Air and Tim Boland has the very talented GV Billy Elliott over from Australia. They all looked in great shape, as did all the horses presented but it isn’t just the horses that get the once-over, as the riders too come under scrutiny from the sidelines
This year it looks as if there is no official ‘Best Dressed Rider’ prize but of course we always like to proffer those we consider to be our favourites, or just interesting, in the fashion stakes.
Today the lovely leggy Lucy Jackson certainly caught the eye with a black feathered fascinator jauntily topping the ensemble and both the horse and the hat were ‘accepted’ by the Ground Jury; Lucy also consistently gets top marks for being one hell of a runner. Melanie Wilder looked very chic in a cream and black top and the USA’s Katherine Coleman also went for quite a fetching cream ensemble (thank heavens these ladies have grooms – imagine what colour the cream would end up otherwise).
The most colourful were Rachel Robinson’s red jacket with matching red shoes and Kirsty Johnstone’s fluorescent pink trousers while Charlotte Agnew won the spangly headband award. Our top marks went to Julie Tew for her simple but stylish blue polka dot skirt with matching blue pumps
Great suit, Jacob
Amongst the men, Jock Paget’s black suit was a good contrast to his Shady Grey, Andrew Hoy looked very dapper and Ben Hobday looks more and more like Robbie Williams every day however it was the cut of young Jacob Fletcher’s blue suit that really impressed.
Some riders seemed to be dressed to a certain theme - Becky Woolven had a Captain Jack Sparrow influence happening with a ruffled shirt and dashing cut away jacket and we just wish that the British rider Michael Jackson would follow her example. Our suggestion for Michael would be a black fedora hat and red leather jacket –and what about some moon walking on the runway to impress the Ground Jury? In fact, could events hold the horse inspections in fancy dress as a way to attract more spectators and open up a whole new area of entertainment?
Margit Appelt and Space Jet representing Austria
Margit Appelt of Austria wore her country’s lovely traditional costume (if Michael Jackson had Thriller playing in the background then Margit should have been accompanied by the von Trapp family) which prompted the thought that this should be mandatory at Nations Cup events. While riders wear nationalistic outfits in the Opening Ceremony at WEG –think Bermuda and their shorts – so this could be extended to the horse inspection. How about the British dressed as Beefeaters, Australians in surfing gear, the French in berets (plus of course a string of onions) and the Germans in lederhosen? There is even the potential for an “It’s a Knockout” style competition if the German riders also carried a stein of lager during the actual trot and those that lost more than half the liquid were sent to the holding box.
It’s strange the thoughts that occur during the first horse inspection ............
Our full photo gallery from the first horse inspection here
