‘Everyone seems to be upping their recreation’

Andrew Nicholson on the course-designer and riders who’ve impressed him lately

My eventing outings in England up to now encompass Tweseldown, twice. The second fixture was placed on with simply a few days’ discover to interchange Cirencester, which was misplaced to the climate. Rachael Faulkner and her crew deserve a standing ovation for coming to the rescue once more – full credit score to British Eventing for saying, “Go for it” and to Tweseldown for with the ability to put it on.

Final yr I used to be impressed with course-designer Andrew Heffernan’s lower-level tracks, and he did an important job this yr, largely altering the course from the primary occasion two weeks earlier and producing one other good observe.

Andrew has his personal concepts, and has acquired the grasp of extra open distances now to encourage ahead using. I like what he does, and I used to be impressed that he was using on the first occasion too. He enjoys what he’s doing, which is essential, and his expertise as coach to the Dutch crew and as a championship rider will assist, for positive. I hope he will get extra designing alternatives.

Rising requirements

In between Tweseldowns, I went to Montelibretti in Italy in my function as cross-country coach to the Swiss crew. The occasion was a lot improved from final yr.

I believed the CCI4*-L observe was a correct one for the extent; there have been solely eight rivals, and I’m guessing that a lot of the riders wanted their Olympic qualification, however they made it look fairly straightforward. None of them made the time however they had been going quick sufficient to leap large fences simply.

When you’d seemed on the naked outcomes on the paperwork afterwards, you may need thought the course was too straightforward, however the fences had been as much as dimension, the combos had been severe sufficient, they usually jumped them properly.

To me, this reveals how the usual of cross-country using is rising. Just a few years in the past it was the dressage that was getting higher and now it’s the cross-country. These nations concentrating on the Olympics have upped their recreation.

There have been solely 5 groups within the CCI4*-S Nations Cup, most of them not from nations we usually contemplate to be the premier-league eventing nations, however
they, too, made the tracks look straightforward.

Then, within the “regular” CCI4*-S class, it started to look tougher, which proves my level in regards to the squads with actual Olympic goals undoubtedly elevating their video games. To appear to be they do it very easily in March, with no prep competitions beforehand, is encouraging.

I’m happy that Invoice Levett gained the CCI4*-L – he’s nonetheless residing the Olympic dream! And provided that Shane Rose has had such a foul accident, locations on the Australian squad for Paris could also be extra up for grabs, though Shane says he’s nonetheless concentrating on the Video games.

Journey the road

Mark Phillips’ current column in regards to the proposed new Olympic format and modifications to the flag rule was very properly put.

Making skinny fences much less slim is constructive, and rivals will begin to experience between the flags higher. At current too a lot of them minimize the nook to what they’re leaping, understanding they will push the flag out. As soon as they’re penalised for knocking the flag down, they should experience a line higher and be extra disciplined.

The one factor officers should provide you with is a manner of fixing the flag persistently, however I’m positive they’ll.

How will riders put together?

The lack of Gatcombe is a superb disgrace. I all the time used to like going there with my Burghley horses in preparation, and I used to be an enormous fan of going there earlier than a championship, not essentially together with your high horse, however to sharpen you up as a rider.

The subsequent technology aren’t going to get the schooling that the likes of Gatcombe, Blair Fortress and Barbury gave you, and I believe it’s going to make a distinction. How have you learnt how a horse feels when it’s drained whenever you compete on the extent on a regular basis?

● Who do you suppose are the following nice cross-country course-designers? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and nation, for the prospect in your letter to look in a forthcoming difficulty of the journal

• This unique column will even be obtainable to learn in Horse & Hound journal, on sale Thursday 4 April

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