Report from Burgie RC 3 Day event

Thanks to Kerrie for a report on how the Burgie RC 3 day event went for Ayr RC members:

I heard about the 3 day event at Burgie in jan this year and decided that if Bonnie and I went on a serious diet and training plan we could just about do it.

So at the start of May Bonnie moved to Kara Craigs farm for some serious work. Gill Rosebury was kind enough to let me use her fields and jumps too. Apart from a couple of days off due to injury my training plan worked pretty well and we set off for Burgie feeling nervous but excited. After a 5 hour journey we arrived at Burgie and got settled in for the evening. I took Bonnie a walk while Elana and Fiona Alexander walked their courses. We then had a BBQ for tea and a wee glass of wine.

On Thursday there was a roads and tracks briefing, then a conducted tour of the route. Myself, Pat Sommerville and Elaine Reilly were chauffeured around the course by Lorna Alexander. We also got time to watch Fiona show jump. She had a very unfortunate 4 faults over a course that was causing a lot of problems.

Friday was dressage day. It was very hot. It all started pretty badly when Bonnie wouldn’t walk past an old tyre jump at the side of the arena (cross country horse!!) But the judges were very kind and gave me a couple of minutes to get her used to it! My test wasn’t the best but certainly could have been worse and we were sitting 6th with a score of 37.4. Elana had finished her competing, coming 7th in the novice one day.

On Saturday it was cold and rainy, but the ground was still very good. Fiona had very kindly helped me work out my times for each marker. So we set off on phase A 3500m at trot and canter, arriving at the steeplechase. Bonnie had a bit of a nap wanting to follow the previous horse but settled in fairly quickly and we flew round the 1km 6 fence track with 9.6 time penalties. Phase C was slower 4950m of walk and trot, and arrived at the 10 min box with plenty time to spare. Lorna+ Fiona Alexander, Kara and Elana all mucked in and sorted Bonnie out while Eric fed me water and chocolate. At 3 mins to go I got back in my very wet saddle, and went to the start box. The cross country course was longer than I’m used to 2780m with 19 fences of around 2’ 9”. There were a couple of fences that I was nervous about, but Bonnie went great. I had a sticky moment at the wall number 16, where we nearly parted company, but managed to finish clear. The commentator was obviously not quite as impressed as I was when I came over the ditch, announcing that there were no prizes for style in the class :o) As I came through the finish I was over the moon. The vet took her heart rate and said she was fine.  Again Lorna took over with her bucket and sponge cooling Bonnie down. Then Kara took her for a walk while I stayed in the 10 min box to help Pat and Elaine.  The rest of Saturday was spent watching the 2* cross country with Kirstine and Kara. 

Sunday, show jumping day, was a lovely sunny day. However they laid on a trot up for us in the morning, so we had to get all dolled up. The trot up was very formal, taking place in front of the big house, with a panel of 2 judges, a vet and a commentator. Then it was time to watch the last 10 2* jump. David Gatherer was sitting in 2nd place, but a beautiful clear round won him the class. Our show jumping was jumped in reverse order. Sitting in 10th place (rather a lot of xc time penalties I’m afraid!) I went into the arena not knowing what to expect. Bonnie has tended to embarrass me recently in front of crowds! But she was a star, jumping clear within the time. I finished in 9th place. During the lap of honour, I felt like I had come 9th at Badminton!!  

I had a fantastic time at Burgie. It was a great opportunity for a too old, too novice rider who’ll never get the chance to do a “big” 3 day. I really hope that next year they will run the class again. If they do, I hope to see you all there. 

Kerrie Chalmers