Welcome to the 2012 edition of The Fork CIC*** Cross country, designed by Captain Mark Phillips, and built by Travers Schick. Although this year’s course follows roughly the same path as last year, there are some changes, although a few of the combinations are identical, especially at the beginning. The footing, as of wednesday, is wonderful, and the presentation and attention to detail outstanding. I caught up with Travers at the end of the day for a few words,
and here are some photos of the course.
2 and 3: Much the same as last year
Last year I think these were narrow, or at least a table to a skinny
5a and b: Looks the same as last year
This replaces the big ditch and brush at 6
This has been moved forward from last year to fence 7, then the course swings left handed across the road, and instead of going straight into the first water, there are two massive offset tables first at 8a and b,
before riders have to negotiate a switchback to the water at 9a and b
This ditch and brush in turn replaces the trakhener that used to be here at 10, after crossing back over the road, and heading towards the turtle pond at 11
A straight gallop to the edge of the property, before turning left, crossing the same road and rising gently to fence 12, the same as last year,
The sunken road, at 13, also looks very similar, if not exactly the same
The oxer at the first part of 14 is the same, but there’s an imposing corner at B, and the skinny that was the B element last year, has now been moved to C on a curving line, making it a much more complicated question altogether.
The horses then gallop back down the lane to the same hay feeder as last year at 15,
and then swing right-handed up the hill.
I’m pretty sure 16, 17a and b, and 18 are much the same as last year
and actually the brush coming back down the hill towards the water complex looks very familiar, perhaps tweaked a tiny bit, but very familiar!
Like last year, the CCI*** competitors don’t actually go into the water on their way home, but instead, hopefully, jump the two corners with the water complex on their left and the V.I.P tents o their right.
Then, back across the road for a final time and two plain fences before galloping through the finish flags.
The CIC*** is stacked, as are both advanced sections and I’ll be interested to talk to some of the riders over the next few days and get their thoughts as to why they decided to enter each division. There’s also a CIC**, two intermediate divisions, four preliminary divisions, and two trainings – phew! I’m excited to see everyone go, but especially some of the combinations I haven’t yet seen this season. My only concern will be how to see everything, if only I had eyes in the back of my head like my mother used to tell me she had! Lots more to come from The Fork, thanks for being a part of Eventing Nation and Go Eventing!
