Graham Fletcher on taking showjumping to the races and proud parentingASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 20: A common view as runners in The Britannia Stakes race in the direction of the end on day three throughout Royal Ascot 2024 at Ascot Racecourse on June 20, 2024 in Ascot, England. (Picture by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Photos for Ascot Racecourse)You realize you’re getting older whenever you begin saying issues like, “This yr’s simply flown by…” However with Horse of the Yr Present (HOYS) beginning the week after subsequent, it actually appears that means.
With two formidable sons, Will and Olli, eager to go to as many reveals as they will, we reside life to the complete, which actually retains this “old-timer” from becoming bored.
And it actually has been some yr, particularly with Olli successful the younger rider Europeans at Peelbergen within the Netherlands. Olli saved his nerve all through and, driving Girl Pauline Harris and Girl Pauline Kirkham’s Hi there William, was the one rider to leap 5 rounds with out having a fence down.
It actually was top-of-the-line highlights of my lengthy profession. As unashamedly proud dad and mom, Tina and I loved each second.
The championship programs have been effectively constructed, overseen by the technical delegate and Olympic course-designer Gregory Bodo who’s an absolute genius at his job.
We noticed him in motion once more when Olli was on the British crew for the current European Equestrian Federation (EEF) Nations Cup ultimate in Warsaw, Poland. The monitor right here wasn’t dramatically massive but it surely appeared robust – and so it proved with just one double clear throughout the 11 nations participating.
Olli had a transparent and 4 faults with Hi there William, a horse with excellent kind in Nations Cups this yr with six clear rounds out of eight jumped.
It’s been a really profitable yr for Olli’s different horses too, which has helped him achieve invaluable expertise and be taught his commerce. I’ve by no means seen a prime rider with out innate expertise and skill; however to succeed in the top of the game, you want prime horses. And which means discovering house owners who’re prepared to spend some huge cash on you.
Some individuals assume it is a trendy phenomenon, but it surely’s at all times been that means. David Broome didn’t win six King George V Gold Cups with out prime horses and the backing of Sir Phil Harris. And no one has received grands prix on as many various horses as Nick Skelton, who was masterful at discovering house owners to put money into him.
Then again, my son Will offered his finest horse Valento final yr. So this season he’s been working laborious to supply a very good string of up-and-coming horses, 4 of that are in a number of novice championships at HOYS.
“It’s like no different”
I went with Will to the current Gijon present in Spain the place he jumped his pretty mare Iwalinde within the 1.55m and 1.60m grands prix and was effectively positioned in each.
Gijon is a present like no different. Spectators can guess earlier than each 10 horses competing, so that they cease every class for quarter-hour for individuals to get their cash on. Does that make a distinction? You’ll be able to guess your life it does!
A morning class with no betting attracts very small crowds. However within the afternoon and night, it’s unbelievable how many individuals are watching. There are totaliser cubicles on each side of the stadium, all busy with lengthy queues of punters eager to get bets on.
On the weekend, not solely have been the stands full however each house across the advanced was packed. The environment and noise made it like being at a soccer match. And naturally, a giant crowd like this ensures good prize cash.
May it work in Britain? Possibly it may if an enterprising racecourse received concerned they usually jumped 10 in a category between races. The ring needn’t be massive and with the racecourse groundsmen’s experience, the situations can be proper. Add to that some first rate prize cash and invites to some good worldwide riders and it may work. The racecourse would get extra spectators and, if ClipMyHorse.TV coated it and there was a telephone app to have a guess, it will open it as much as a worldwide viewers.
We’ve got a fantastic, extremely watchable sport. However for the reason that demise of the city and metropolis reveals, we don’t showcase showjumping sufficient to most people. Executed effectively, this could possibly be a begin.
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