Badminton blog: Cross-country of the century awaits

Megan Heath as well as St Daniel amongst Mark Todd.

Today is definitely the most exciting, competitive days inwards cross province history!  Toddy may endure the Rider of the Century but today is shaping upwards to endure Cross Country Day of the Century.

The buzz almost the “head to caput Fox Pitt v Nicholson” battle is ane thing, but adding inwards the Jung ingredient, you lot only withdraw maintain magic.  And yesterday Jock pose his paw up equally a serious contender equally well, there’s a lot of beak almost his chances, he’s rated highly here.

Michael Jung

Yesterday was non only some other twenty-four hours of dressage, either. All the predictions that the best scores would become upwards on the scoreboard inwards the belatedly afternoon were correct.  The stands were packed for the in conclusion competitors, it was hard to discovery a seat!  Well behaved crowds too, educated equestrians, thence serenity during the tests you lot could withdraw heed exclusively the cameras clicking.

Jock’s exam was lovely to watch, as well as equally for Andrew’s exhibition exterior the telephone as well as for most of the test, good that was breathtaking.  Unfortunately a few errors towards the goal meant he wasn’t  in the lead, but right upwards there! I’m non commonly a betting person, but couldn’t resist placing my outset always bet amongst a bookie. I idea I powerfulness larn meliorate odds on my pick, but those bookies are non silly. If my prediction comes off, my ii quid volition plough to 20 as well as Jock volition endure an international hero.

We’re continuing to sense technology challenges that belong inwards in conclusion century, however.  Yesterday afterward the dressage the media centre was packed amongst journalists as well as photographers, all trying to file their stories, upload their images as well as to a greater extent than frequently than non needing ability as well as wifi. Issues, issues, issues. Not plenty ability points (Libby Law was ane of the few smart ones to convey her ain ability box thingy).

But that wasn’t the principal number – it was getting cyberspace access. Many of us couldn’t connect, the wifi was overloaded.  It took me dorsum to days of dial up. Very disappointing as well as equally I type this morning, I am silent trying to upload photos from yesterday’s activeness from the cottage nosotros are staying in.  We’ll larn there!

The excogitation yesterday was to encounter upwards amongst a few Kiwis afterward the dressage, but what amongst filing updates, technical hassles, nosotros were a combat belatedly as well as missed our coming together amongst Blyth, Laura Wallace as well as Dan Jocelyn which was a shame, would withdraw maintain been adept to reckon them. We did grab upwards amongst Clarke Johnstone as well as and thence somehow ended upwards inwards the Bedgebury Park merchandise stand upwards amongst a bunch of really stylish immature folk drinking champers.  Unfortunately the champers had run out, but nosotros did larn a lovely drinking glass of Pimms.  As happens, ane of the stylish immature things was originally from Rotorua – Michael Ashton.   Kiwis, they only pop upwards everywhere.

The best business office almost my project (besides the pay – yep right!) is existence able to interact amongst the riders afterward their endeavours.   Part of their duties is to come upwards to the mixed zone where the waiting media inquire them usually predictable questions.

“What create you lot recollect of the course,” existence right upwards in that place inwards the most pop ones. All the riders, without exception, are really adept at sharing their thoughts, fifty-fifty though they must withdraw maintain been asked the same questions thence many times.

Kiwi spectator Michael Ashton checks out the Bedgebury Park merchandise stand.

Andrew thinks the course of teaching volition endure testing, there’s a lot of technical questions towards the goal of the course. Michael Jung thinks it is ane of the hardest 4* courses he has seen. Jock thinks it is a galloping course of teaching thence that fourth dimension may non endure the issue, but the technical fences volition inquire large questions. Mark says that some of the fences are to a greater extent than at 3 star level, but there’s some hard elements equally well. I didn’t stick some to discovery out what William Fox-Pitt idea – couldn’t endure seen to back upwards the opposition team!

Horse & Hound withdraw maintain printed t-shirts “Team Nicholson” or “Team Fox Pitt”.  I haven’t bought mine yet, but wouldn’t endure seen dead inwards the other one!   It was cute to reckon Andrew’s immature missy wearing hers yesterday – albeit a combat swamped inwards the adult-sized shirt.

So it’s cross-country twenty-four hours today.  H5N1 few grayness clouds out in that place this morning.  Nothing but cipher volition dampen today’s edifice excitement.  Tweeters are already upwards as well as tweeting.  Many are on their means to the grounds, trying to shell the traffic. Predictions of crowd numbers withdraw maintain ranged from 150,000 to 250,000. It’s said to endure the biggest unmarried sporting resultant bar some car race.  I know which I would rather endure at!

But inwards the meantime, it is dorsum to loading photos.   Here’s the link.

 

 

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