For Bramham coverage throughout the weekend tune into SamanthaLClark.com and Eventing Nation. [Bramham Results]
It made my day to bump into Olivia Loiacono this afternoon at Bramham; of course I was sort of on the look-out for her, but what with one thing and another I’d forgotten to actively go and seek her out. We caught up briefly before watching her boss William execute a stunning test on Avoca Alibi to take the CCI*** lead, and then she had to run.
To all her family and fans who can’t be here, I promise to try and bring you lots more Olivia, and of course some Subway, despite her telling me English people are “so weird”! We’re going to try and walk the course together too; Olivia has walked it once on her own, and will walk it with William too. Her initial thoughts are that it’s big and bold, big and doesn’t let up, but although it’s yes, big, she says she likes Ian’s courses and thinks it will ride well for her and Subs. We talked briefly about the owl hole, and then the coffin, # 13 & 14 on the CCI*** course; I don’t think my photo really did justice to how steep that incline up and down is – as Olivia says she hopes to come in as quiet as she dares so as not to land too far down, and then ride with everything she’s got to get out. There used to be a very similar coffin at Badminton, just as steep but with perhaps even less room in the middle. Olivia said she loved her tent, even when I worried about all the rain that was tipping down, and the winds that are forecast to arrive later tonight. Did you notice she slipped in a couple of very English words in the video? She also told me the tent was ‘massive’ and that she was plenty warm enough because she has two ‘duvets’ both in a bit of a Brit accent – we’ll have her speaking properly before we send her back! Olivia has generously agreed to do monthly updates on her life, and give us some insights into training with William on The Eventing Radio Show, so I’m looking forward to the first instalment. In the meantime, go Subway and the USA in a very hot and very international (Alex Hua Tian CHN, Lizzie Brown NZ, and Nina Ligon THAI as well as plenty of Europeans, Tom McEwan, Laura Collett and several other Burghley 2011 entrants) Bishop Burton College Under 25 Division here at Bramham, and Go Eventing!
