BRC National Horse Trials Championship
by Alex Erskine

Back in June I competed in the 80 Horse trials Area Qualifier at Moreton. Sadly I was the only Meon representative so rode as an individual, but it was a beautiful day with perfect going and having bought a ‘big beast’ of a lorry at the end of last year with the hope of doing some stay away shows, my aim was very much to try and qualify for the eventing national champs, which run as a ‘two day event’ so would be an opportunity for my first stay away show with my feisty little chestnut Charlie in the big beast! We had a great day and were really pleased to come 2nd in a big class, achieving the aim of getting our spot at National Champs.

Fast forward to the beginning of August, and with my big lorry packed to the brim, chestnut Charlie and I were off to Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire for our first National champs and Charlie’s first ever ‘pony sleepover’! With a very early start for the drive up on the Saturday morning we arrived at the venue and got straight on with the task of warming up for our dressage. Charlie did an accurate test but it perhaps felt a bit safe rather than ‘wow’ (!) for a fair score of 32 (68%) to leave us mid section. We then had a long wait to show jump at the end of the day; a good opportunity to unpack and to walk the course and watch some other competitors show jump. Being a championship event the SJ was up to height and technical and there was quite a big atmosphere with all the trade stands around the SJ ring, so I had plenty of time to see how many issues the SJ was causing and for my nerves to really build!!! Clear rounds were few and far between and I was definitely feeling the pressure by the time the bell rang for my round but I was so thrilled with Charlie who jumped a foot perfect clear round, leaving us in 9th place going into the second day.

Charlie was more settled than I could have hoped for in Swalcliffe’s temporary stables (I was very pleased that I had seen a recommendation to bring a bike, as it was indeed a very long way from my lorry to the stables!!) and with a late XC time on the Sunday I once again had plenty of time to walk the xc course, watch some early competitors and take Charlie for plenty of hand grazing and a nice hack round the venue to keep us both calm whilst we waited for our turn. The XC would definitely be both mine and Charlie’s favourite phase (let’s be honest – it’s the bit we all go eventing for!!) and the Swalcliffe championship course didn’t disappoint! There were 2 water complexes, plenty of hills and some technical combinations to jump; the ground was great and the course was beautifully presented and Charlie absolutely flew round to go clear easily inside the time (we actually had to put the brakes on towards the end as we were so far up on the time I was worried we would get ‘speeding penalties’!!); what a thrill to finish our first National Champs and to complete on our dressage score with nothing to add SJ or XC! To really top it off we finished individual 8th overall, so got to attend prize giving and collect a frilly whilst representing Meon! Overall it was such a brilliant weekend; despite going alone everyone was so friendly and there was such a lovely atmosphere, and the whole thing felt really special. I would absolutely love to do it again in the future (come on fellow XC enthusiasts – let’s get a team together next year!!) and I would wholeheartedly recommend giving the area qualifiers a crack! Thank you so much to MRC for such a great opportunity and the chance to represent the club!’