Tag: Burnham Market

Two down, eight to go

Posted on | by admin

With the premature demise of Burnham Market International, what better way to cheer up than lunch with the Jacksons. Is it possible to adopt an entire family? I must look in to it. I also decided that I had ‘earnt’ a visit from the magic fingered Annette – what’s not to love about a near-two hour massage all in the comfort of home.

Life still revolved around writing features for impending events, but I got a couple of flights in and Growler came to stay. The weather was mostly pretty grim still, though it meant that we had Holkham beach (left) almost to ourselves. Having said that, a trip to Holme beach (right) with Henry & Jenny a couple of weeks later, when spring had finally sprung, was hardly a scrum.

Belton International was the next ‘big’ thing on my calendar, with the added advantage of spending the two nights away with two different sets of old friends. The sun came out to play and it was a thoroughly enjoyable 3 days – although I was a little surprised when a BBC Sports Online ‘camera woman’ turned up to get some footage of Piggy French, and used an iPhone to do so. Call me old fashioned…

We got Oliver Townend‘s new website up and running, just in time for him to head to the States and win the 4* in Kentucky. Seriously classy riding on both Cooley Master Class (the winner) and MHS King Joules (who finished 8th). Two legs of the Grand Slam in the bag – and my nerves shot to pieces!

And that’s about it for April… Next stop Badminton – oh and I have a lodger for the summer. No having to live in the porch for the cats when I’m away!

I do love a camel

Posted on | by admin

I’m happy to say, April was good. It kicked off with a 9 hour round trip to Hampshire on the hottest weekend of the year so far. Deeply frustrating to be stuck in a car for so long, but 24 hours with Katie made it all worthwhile. On the Sunday she had invited some of my best friends from college days (yes, back in the 1980s, I’m that old!) for lunch – I couldn’t ask for a better day.

Then on to Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International. Not many people know but I have a real ‘thing’ about camels… it started when I rode one around the age of 6, the first time I ever went abroad (which reminds me, at the time I was attending a convent in East Grinstead, St Agnes & St Michael’s, and my biggest concern after arriving on foreign shores was: ‘Mum, what am I going to tell the nuns when I go back to school?’ Perplexed, she asked me to explain. ‘I’ve been above the clouds…. and there is NO heaven.’)

I can’t remember how I got around that one.

It was almost 20 years later when I was next back in the (camel) saddle, in Egypt with the White Rabbit interloper (for those that haven’t read my previous blogs, simply ignore). I even inflicted my ‘passion’ on said interloper by adopting a camel in his name.

Then, another 10 years or so later, with my ex-husband in Petra, Jordan, I spent a wedding anniversary astride a grumpy, swearing, hilarious dromedary. Given my marital status it’s not rocket science to work out which bit of that holiday made me most happy 😉

You will be forgiven for thinking I have gone off on a tangent, but no – we had camel racing, courtesy of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Musketeer’s official charity this year, at Burnham Market. With Mitsubishi Motors Badminton, Rockingham and Saracen Feeds Houghton looming I did not step forward this time in case I fell off and bent myself, but I did take the opportunity to have a sneaky ‘bonding session’ with Bertie (pictured – isn’t he handsome?), on whom I have been promised the ride in 3 weeks time when I am a jockey at Houghton…. shameless plug: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Hilary-Manners.

It’s love. What more can I say?

Aside from that, Burnham Market was also a great weekend because a) client of almost 15 years, Oliver Townend (have I said, British number 1 for the last 3 years? Probably…) won the headline 3* class for the 10th time since 2007 b) it’s a rare feeling for an equestrian press officer to get your event mentioned in the Daily Mail, Sunday Express… and even the Daily Star (thanks to the camel/Zara Tindall combo – and to Rhiannon Rix for starring, despite wearing a jacket zipped to the neck – that must be a first for the Daily Star) c) we had fantastic spectator numbers and d) I survived the late night chat/eat/drink sessions with Lorna and my top photographer, Trevor Holt.

Post Burnham I was remarkably sociable – totally out of character for me, but it seems my Norfolk friends have sussed how to get me out of my cave. I even found myself having a ‘make-over’ with Fiona Reddick, bizarrely planned while she was checking the fit of George’s saddle during Burnham – I love a woman who multi-tasks!

So now I am packing for the ‘big one’, Badminton… I can’t wait. I leave at sparrow’s fart in the morning. Will Herr Jung do it again? After his performance in Kentucky last weekend no one can doubt he’s on form and I will never bet against the magic Sam. Time will tell… the really good news is that another client, Piggy French, is back on the Radio Badminton team for the second year… sorry Pigs, but I think it’s time we all heard this again:

Piggy’s post-cross country interview with Michael Jung at Badminton 2016 – classic Piggy!

Easing in gently

Posted on | by admin

March got off to an unusual start for me – for the first time since 2003 I didn’t go to Isleham Horse Trials on the opening weekend of the season. No Oasby, no Great Witchingham. In fact I didn’t go to my first event until 31st… I rather like this new regime.

So what have I been doing? Primarily writing press releases and copy for magazines, plus the redesign for Piggy French‘s website went live. I’m somewhat mystified as to how the month passed so quickly when, on paper at least, it doesn’t look like I was that busy. It ended at full speed, however, with Belton International Horse Trials. It was my first year there as press officer, and back where I lived before moving to Norfolk.

It’s a great event, with so much going on aside from the eventing. Fortunately the sun shone (most of the time) and we had record crowds. The media all behaved themselves, I caught up with my web guru, Neil, and clients Piggy, Oliver and Ros all did well. I also took the opportunity to stay one night with my ex-neighbours and one with a friend who worked with me when I ran Eventing Worldwide. Two very entertaining evenings, although it was surreal to look out of my bedroom window on Friday night and see the house that I lived in for 10 years across ‘my’ paddock!

A major highlight in March was the opportunity to have a play in a 1938 Hornet Moth. It was a huge privilege to take to the skies in this beauty, such a contrast to the RV7 that I usually fly. Charlotte, one of my oldest friends – we were in the Pony Club together, shared houses at college etc – came to stay, and whilst I couldn’t entice her into the air (she works for a safari company and has, I think, had her fair share of alarming moments in small planes) we did do a lot of beach walking and even more talking.

So, time to switch focus to Burnham Market International and Badminton – blogs to sort, copy to write, and I am determined to keep on top of the garden this year. One thing I didn’t know until today was that if you catch a mouse that has been ‘released’ in the house by a devilish cat, you have to swing it round by its tail as you return it to the outside world. Otherwise it will climb back up its tail and bite you. And no, of course I didn’t do the swinging – my thanks to Gavin Howling, not very ably assisted by James and Zoe 😉

All aboard the runaway train

Posted on | by admin

PigAs April turns in to May I always feel as though I am on a runaway train, there are nowhere near enough hours in the day and June seems a long way off.

Back to the start of the month and Barefoot Estates Burnham Market was a great success. The sun shone, there were no untoward dramas (although Andrew Nicholson hitting the deck was a heart in mouth moment), and the crowds came – we even had a future king who was spotted rolling down the side of ‘The Mound’ out on the cross country course. For the avoidance of doubt, I refer to the youngest generation here, not the helicopter pilot!

Oliver Townend yet again won the big class. He has a truly remarkable record at Burnham Market, having now won the CIC3* class an astonishing nine times: in 2007 and 2009 on Flint Curtis; 2008 Coup de Coeur; 2010 Ashdale Cruise Master; 2012 Pepper Anne; 2 x 2014 when two sections were held, Black Tie and Armada; 2015 Mr Hiho – with Armada 0.2 of a penalty behind in second place; and this year he posted another 1-2 riding Cooley Master Class and Note Worthy. Mighty impressive in anyone’s book.

Work for Blaston, Houghton and Rockingham is increasing and I head off to Mitsubishi Motors Badminton on Wednesday – with Michael Jung having won two legs of the Rolex Grand Slam, this week is going to be exciting. Both Ros Canter and Kathryn Robinson are taking on the ‘big one’ for the first time, and Manners Media is very chuffed to have a total of seven clients competing (Oliver Townend, Jeanette Brakewell, Giovanni Ugolotti, Harry Dzenis & Bill Levett). Trevor Holt is going to have his work cut out photographing that lot, on top of his other work!

My domestic arrangements have changed a little so I’m also trying to ‘sort’ stuff, get the garden under control and fit in some riding. I seem to have a new skill to add to my CV – mole catcher. The cats have become very adept at catching the critters and bringing them in for a party, but they then lose interest; a large funnel and table mat seems to be the optimum ‘release kit’.

I’ve finally got airborne again, after a six month break – it’s always a relief to discover you can still land successfully (not least for the poor person sitting beside me)! I’ve even been seen at ‘Action Dave’ work out classes – I’m astonished that I pay for the privilege of enduring such torture. Let’s hope it becomes less painful in time.