Welcome from the Chairman George Lane Fox HTSG

Newsletter 2_Layout 1 26/11/2012 10:58 Page 1
H ORSE T RIALS S UPPORT G ROUP
Welcome
from the
Chairman
Dear Support Group Member,
The year 2012 will go down as a
remarkable one for the history of horse
trials, from the high of the Olympics to
the nightmare of continual appalling
weather causing so many cancellations,
especially Badminton, to the wellsupported and high-quality autumn
events at Burghley and Blenheim.
When the Olympic Games finally arrived
on home turf, it did not disappoint. Tim
Hadaway, who directed the equestrian
events at Greenwich, and his team should
be congratulated for pulling off what
many people thought would be an
impossible task in such spectacular style.
The result exceeded all expectation and
provided an unforgettable fortnight, not
only for spectators, owners and riders, but
for the many of us directly involved as
volunteers who had such a great
experience. And it made it particularly
special that so many HTSG members
managed to get Olympic tickets and create
a fun atmosphere in the international
supporters’ pavilion, although I have to
admit that the celebrations did get louder
in the second week!
Britain’s senior eventers will, no doubt,
feel they didn’t come away with the right
colour medal on home ground, but it was
always going to be a tussle with the
currently all powerful Germans, and a
highly-pressured one at that, considering
the huge expectation in the media.
Kristina Cook, Mary King, Zara Phillips,
William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson did us
proud as the only team to have three
riders clear and inside the optimum
cross-country time at Greenwich (all five
went clear), and they then added three
clear show jumping rounds to that.
Mention must also be made of the fact
that Britain has won a senior team medal
every year since Yogi Breisner became
performance manager in 2000, a record
no other nation can boast.
Our under-21 teams have also done us
proud, especially the Juniors, who won
team gold in Strzegom, Poland, with
Sophie How taking the individual title and
Emily King the individual silver medal.
The Pony team won double silver at
Fontainebleau, individual honours going
to Louise Nesbitt, and although the Young
Riders had an unusual catalogue of
misfortune in Malmo, Dani Evans saved
the day with an individual bronze medal.
The HTSG sees its support of the next
generation as vital, and in 2013 we will be
increasing donations to £2,500 each for
winter training for the Young Rider and
Junior teams. We have also upped the 25
and under prizes to £500 (plus rug and
numnah) at Houghton, Bramham, Barbury,
Gatcombe and Blenheim and are currently
awaiting feedback from Yogi on other areas
that might need support, such as extra
training for the Pony squad or support for
riders bridging the gap between Young
Riders and the senior team.
British eventing clearly has much to look
forward to, and I hope to see as many of
you as possible on the circuit in 2013.
In the meantime, I wish you all a very
Happy Christmas and New Year
Rosemary Barlow - Chairman
Bramham put on another great weekend
this year, so it is with huge sadness that
we pay tribute to the man who started it
some 40 years ago: George Lane Fox, who
died recently. George was a tremendously
loyal and enthusiastic supporter of the
HTSG and was never seen at a horse trials
without his badge. He was also a
generous, charming and wise host, and
will be greatly missed within the sport.
HTSG
Committee Elections
As is traditional after every Olympiad,
there will be an election for the four
places on the HTSG committee for elected
members. We know there are many
members out there who could make an
excellent contribution and we would love
to hear from you. It is not particularly
onerous – we have around three meetings
a year – but committee members are
certainly expected to help with fundraising activities and member events and to have ideas!
If you feel you would like to stand for the
HTSG committee, please write, with a
short CV and the name of your proposer,
who must be an HTSG member, to the Hon
Sec, Kate Green, 39 Swan Street,
Kingsclere, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 5PR
by December 21.
Voting papers will be sent out in January.
Backing Britain’s Three-Day Event Teams
George
Lane Fox
Newsletter 2_Layout 1 26/11/2012 10:58 Page 2
H ORSE T RIALS S UPPORT G ROUP
Members are welcome to come and
watch the under-21 teams in training. If
you would like to attend, please contact
Karen Bartlett on 07780 688796.
Behind the scenes
at Greenwich
Date
Location
Team
27 Jan
Membury
Junior
31 Jan
Quainton
Young Rider
9 Feb
Aston Mullins
Junior
14 Feb
Hartpury
Young Rider
and Junior
21 Feb
Lyneham Grange
Young Rider
23 Feb
Somerford Park
Junior
24 Apr
West Wilts
Young Rider
2013
These are taking place from August 29September 1 on the showground at
Malmo, which is an unusual eventing
venue, being a charming, seaside town on
the southern tip of Sweden. Some of you
may be familiar with it from the World
Cup finals in 2005 and 2006; for those of
you who don’t know it, it is usually an
exciting cross-country course, which runs
right down to the sea, with good viewing,
a welcoming atmosphere and a few
interesting local quirks – the rabbitjumping is not to be missed!
Ultimate Travel is hoping to run a trip
there, probably flying to Copenhagen,
which is connected to Malmo by bridge. If
interested, please contact Richard
Appleby-Brown on 020 7386 4646
(www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk).
Unlike most major events &
championships, the Olympics has much
stricter designation for spectators and
even owners, which means that few
people get to experience what goes on
backstage in the stables and training
areas. Yogi Breisner has kindly agreed to
give a talk, with many excellent slides,
which should give a fascinating insight
into what it was really like at the Olympics.
This will take place at 4.30pm for 5pm on
Sunday, January 13 at Rosemary and Mark
Barlow’s Waldridge Manor, Stockwell Lane,
Meadle, near Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 9UH.
Admission is free and there will be a
simple supper with wine. Members are
welcome to bring guests. If you would like
to come, please let Margie Gibb know on:
Tel:
07780 688796
Email: mgibb@live.co.uk
Badminton
Subscriptions
The Mitsubishi Motors
Badminton Horse Trials
take place on FridayMonday, May 3th-6th
As 2012 was somewhat depleted, in terms
of the loss of Badminton, we have
decided it is only fair to keep the
subscription rates the same. These will,
therefore, remain at £225 (single) and
£275 (joint) and are due by January 31.
Badminton will, as usual, be writing to
members with details of how to apply for
a free season car pass (which includes all
occupants). Any other tickets, for instance
for arena seating, need to be paid for.
Please note:
Photos are not for reproduction & are the
property of the World Class Programme.
Members are asked not to apply for
Badminton passes before paying their HTSG
subscription. We will be writing to you in
the spring with details of guest badges.
(For information, Badminton will be
reverting back to Thurs-Sun in 2014)
If you are paying by cheque, please make
it payable to Horse Trials Support Group
and send it to:
HTSG Membership Secretary
Miss Jan Martin, 1 Field View Cottages,
The Green, Oaksey, Malmesbury,
Wiltshire SN16 9TP Tel: 01666 575304
or Email: htsgmembership@hotmail.com
If you would like to pay online, the details are:
A/C Name:
Sort Code:
Account no:
Reference:
Horse Trials Support Group
40 - 24 – 17
61892266
Please enter your initials
and surname so that we
can trace the payment.
Backing Britain’s Three-Day Event Teams
Winter
Training
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS