The attention to detail here at Red Hills is second to none – the sponsors’s signs are out everywhere, the flowers decorating the cross country are stunning and as for these teddy bears, and some of the other jump “embellishments” – I’ll try and bring you a different photo each day, the chickens are incredibe, I think they are real, just stuffed! I just had a quick whiz around the cross country this afternoon upon arrival, and although there’s plenty to remind one of last year, it is a little kinder, and as course designer Hugh Lochore told EN a couple of weeks ago, a little less technical. The footing is superb, and there’s plenty of places to make up time here by taking economical tracks between the trees, and knowing exactly where you’re going, and as the time is so hard to make, every second saved will count. I’m hoping to have another walk around in between dressage, and hopefully get some of the riders to share their views, and also some pictures of the other courses, but in the meantime, here’s the CIC***
Coming quite early on, I remember this combination causing some trouble last year
The Galloping Vet – Dr Kevin Keane checks out the CIC*** course
The Armadillo Coffin is largely unchanged from last year – a wide ditch, and on forward striding. I’ll try and get a rider to “walk” it with us on video.
Although there’s no jump in the teepee this year, and 11 and 12 are separately numbered, (you can just see number 12 in the first picture), you really have no choice but to ride through it.
The Big Bend is back, with a B element
I will try and get a picture of these chickens for you – amazeballs!
Sorry about the terrible lighting, this is basically the same fence as last year except this time the CIC*** only have half as much width to jump, you can just about see the flags! I was walking around at about 6pm so the sun like this will, thankfully, NOT be a factor when the horses and riders go round.
Although Hugh Lochore had told EN he had made the flower pergola corner combination kinder this year, just a single corner instead of the double last year, it is still a corner to a skinny at the top of steep hill!
The water modeled on the one we’ll see at Greenwich later this summer
Rushing to get to dressage, rushing to get pictures up, videos up, find everyone, talk to everyone, story of my life at events but that’s why I love it! I’ll be tweeting all day, and trying to do as much as possible in between. Good luck and stay safe if you’re competing. Enjoy your horses and stay close to EN if you’re not – the weekend is practically upon us. Congratulations to Zenyatta on her baby boy born thursday night. Go Eventing!
