Andrew Nicholson on the course-designer and riders who’ve impressed him just lately

My eventing outings in England to date encompass Tweseldown, twice. The second fixture was placed on with simply a few days’ discover to switch Cirencester, which was misplaced to the climate. Rachael Faulkner and her group deserve a standing ovation for coming to the rescue once more – full credit score to British Eventing for saying, “Go for it” and to Tweseldown for with the ability to put it on.

Final 12 months I used to be impressed with course-designer Andrew Heffernan’s lower-level tracks, and he did an ideal job this 12 months, largely altering the course from the primary occasion two weeks earlier and producing one other good observe.

Andrew has his personal concepts, and has obtained the hold of extra open distances now to encourage ahead driving. I like what he does, and I used to be impressed that he was driving on the first occasion too. He enjoys what he’s doing, which is necessary, and his expertise as coach to the Dutch group and as a championship rider will assist, for positive. I hope he will get extra designing alternatives.

Rising requirements

In between Tweseldowns, I went to Montelibretti in Italy in my position as cross-country coach to the Swiss group. The occasion was a lot improved from final 12 months.

I believed the CCI4*-L observe was a correct one for the extent; there have been solely eight opponents, and I’m guessing that many of the riders wanted their Olympic qualification, however they made it look fairly simple. None of them made the time however they have been going quick sufficient to leap massive fences simply.

When you’d appeared on the naked outcomes on the paperwork afterwards, you may need thought the course was too simple, however the fences have been as much as dimension, the combos have been critical sufficient, and so they jumped them properly.

To me, this reveals how the usual of cross-country driving is rising. Just a few years in the past it was the dressage that was getting higher and now it’s the cross-country. These nations concentrating on the Olympics have upped their sport.

There have been solely 5 groups within the CCI4*-S Nations Cup, most of them not from nations we usually think about to be the premier-league eventing nations, however
they, too, made the tracks look simple.

Then, within the “regular” CCI4*-S class, it started to look harder, which proves my level concerning the squads with actual Olympic goals positively elevating their video games. To seem like they do it very easily in March, with no prep competitions beforehand, is encouraging.

I’m happy that Invoice Levett received the CCI4*-L – he’s nonetheless residing the Olympic dream! And provided that Shane Rose has had such a nasty accident, locations on the Australian squad for Paris could also be extra up for grabs, though Shane says he’s nonetheless concentrating on the Video games.

Journey the road

Mark Phillips’ current column concerning the proposed new Olympic format and modifications to the flag rule was very properly put.

Making skinny fences much less slender is constructive, and opponents will begin to journey between the flags higher. At current too a lot of them reduce the nook to what they’re leaping, figuring out they will push the flag out. As soon as they’re penalised for knocking the flag down, they must journey a line higher and be extra disciplined.

The one factor officers must give you is a approach of fixing the flag persistently, however I’m positive they may.

How will riders put together?

The lack of Gatcombe is a good disgrace. I at all times used to like going there with my Burghley horses in preparation, and I used to be a giant fan of going there earlier than a championship, not essentially together with your prime horse, however to sharpen you up as a rider.

The following era aren’t going to get the schooling that the likes of Gatcombe, Blair Fortress and Barbury gave you, and I feel it should make a distinction. How are you aware how a horse feels when it’s drained if you compete on the extent on a regular basis?

● Who do you suppose are the subsequent nice cross-country course-designers? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your title, nearest city and nation, for the prospect in your letter to look in a forthcoming concern of the journal

• This unique column may also be out there to learn in Horse & Hound journal, on sale Thursday 4 April

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