Jacky Green is kind enough to send us a full report on all things Team Canada as the Canadians leave training camp at Maizey Manor and head to Greenwich. I had to look up “NCP parking lot” and found the answer to Jacky’s latest poorly-travelled-American-flummoxing reference here. As always, thanks for writing this Jacky, and thank you for reading.
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Excellent Animal skills is why Canada pays Graeme Thom the big bucks, photo via Samantha
From Jacky:
Whilst the whole of the UK is in meltdown over our dismal lack of summer, Team Canada arrived from the 100 degree heatwave in America and they have been positively delighted with the low temps and the dreary skies. When their planned final outing at Gatcombe was cancelled, there were a few “Oh, so this is the downside of your lovely weather” comments but they have since rallied well and don their raincoats with pride each and every day. There is a rumour that the sun may come out this weekend so that might hopefully squash their unbounded enthusiasm for rainy cool days but it is a longshot…
When Team Canada rock in they ARRIVE. Avis hire cars must be seeing a sharp rise in their stockmarket value as I have never seen so many hire cars parked in the yard at the same time. Graeme Thom appears to think he has an off roader as he has been seen to park halfway up one of the steepest banks on the yard and clearly is contemplating some rally driving in the future. David O’Connor has taken much flack over his allocated car on arrival which just happens to be bright orange and even my dogs have given up barking at new arrivals as the yard resembles an NCP parking lot.
Of course, not everything has gone to plan….I did hear that the ship with all the horse feed was caught in a hurricane and Graeme has been doing dodgy deals in laybys with feed merchants ever since. After an epic 36 hour journey the horses arrived safely but the gear sped past our driveway and we had to track the driver down to Marlborough Golf Club and entice him back at 11.30 pm that night. An outing to a local dressage venue provided Henry Bullen with yet another opportunity to make some dosh as he got the transport contract and his driver made a spectacular parking decision in the yard which actually blocked in two other trucks and about 40 cars.
Maizey Manor Farm’s generous host, Catherine Burrell, has been cooking like a demon and has organized Golf, Clay Pigeon shooting and various other activities as well as giving over her entire barn of stables to the team. Her own horses have relocated to the fields and the wash bay and are clearly seething at the Canadian horses invasion. Huntin, Shootin and Fishin team farrier Randy has apparently sated his desire to go out and murder some wildlife in the English countryside and Peter Barry’s quest for the perfect steak has seen him visit some fabulous local eateries. Rebecca Howard has been job and base hunting as she is planning on staying on in the UK, and Hawley Bennett has been horseshopping and fitted in a trip to Hickstead for the Eventers Grand Prix amongst other things. The weather clearly suits her hair as her pony tail seems to grow as fast as the grass and she is in danger of taking out someone else’s eye at the team photo shoots at this rate. On the other hand, Shandiss seems to look smaller by the day on her huge and beautiful Rockfield Grant Juan (good old Irish name that!) and Michelle is strutting her stuff and wowing us all on the flashy chestnut Amistad in the arena every day.
Barn manager and general Godsend Deb Furnas has been her usual organized and efficient self and even has the trunks bedded on knee deep shavings. She is becoming known as Queen of the White Board although I personally wonder if she has an addiction to the funny smell of the white board pens as she is rarely seen without one. On a purely selfish note I welcome any smoker onto the yard with whom I can hang out with as it seems we are a dying breed. Probably literally but who wants to live forever anyway? It didn’t do Mephistopheles much good!
