Windsor competition

Well getting ready was interesting, but managed it without me or Chally attracting too much mud.

Walked down to the arena and tucked in behind around 30 of the Oman cavalry, now this is the first time I have ever seen riders with bagpipes!! Very impressive, but I missed their demo due to pegging.

The warm up was interesting, worse than any hunting field with ankle deep mud, I felt really sorry for the organizers as this couldn't be avoided!

We did a practise run, then on to the real runs. In the two prelim rounds I picked up both pegs, but scored 11 for both (max mark is 12, with 3 marks for style and pace), I know where I dropped the first mark as I bumped into myself which made the recovery messy. The second one is a mystery

This is one problem with the BTA system as it becomes a bit subjective like dressage.

I made it to the final and we swapped running partners, unforunately on the first run I needed to correct Chally as she wasn't run straight which made the drill a fraction late and I missed my peg, which is came over for placing! The next run picked up for another 11 (still not sure where I dropped the mark), but was still out of the running.

The team event was next and I was running with the Frontiersmen, on the first run one team member just missed their peg, but was a full house on the next run we got a full house. Another team managed the same, and we just got pipped into second again due to style points. The winners were the royal logisitic core, but with a borrowed Frontiersmen too!

Finally SLR was next, this is sword lance revolver, the ultimate test. We were allowed to jump round the course with no weapons and Chally felt great and was jumping well.

On our run jumped the first jump attacked the dummy, jumped the second fence and attacked the final dummy releasing my sword, all going well.

Pulled out my gun and headed towards the next jump and we ground to a halt miles away from it. Chally had obviously clocked the gun and fence with balloons and just threw in the towel. Even squeezing hard with spurs just resulted in reverse, so at that point there was no consoling her and even putting the gun away didn't help, so I retired rather than embarass myself further.

Clearly more training required at home!

So a mixed day, and lots to work on, but did come home with my first Windsor pegging rosette!!

Windsor arrival

Well we are parked in mud and managed about 1m off the track before the lorry got stuck

Towed by a nice polish guy in a big tractor!

A friend is 3 lorries down and not parked in mud, so clearly I should have arrived 5 minutes earlier!!

Melton - cold and wet!

In the light of cancellations it was dubious whether this competition would go ahead.

However the stalwart peggers turned up the evening before and we were all rocked to sleep with gales and driving rain!

More rain on Sunday, but we were told that the SLR class would happen indoors, but without the final peg.

Putting the majority of clothes I had brought, I then had to strip down to new Frontiersmen kit for the competition. Frankly it was freezing and I could have done with more thermals!!!

I was drawn 3rd to go which was a relief as not too long to wait in the driving rain. I opted to use a small 9mm short nitro blank, as the indoor meant the guns were noisey.

Chally was kitted out with zilco ear plugs, plus extra sheepskin and a fly veil

I felt my round was a bit sloppy, especially as I fumbled to put the gun away and dropped one rein on the final lance run.

However it cannot have been that bad as I ended up 3rd and qualified for Royal Windsor!