CVI** Saumur - Easter 2005

We set off with a little bit of dread as the ferrys were threatening to strike , we played a blinder and rolled in to Dover the "back way", the Police read Horses on Wendy's lorry and waved us through and we got straight on the boat ! We had Jon, David, Pip and Lucy with us and had an eventful night travelling through Paris, Lucy was very disappointed not to see the Eiffel Tower - I promised her that on her next trip.

Thursday was a lovely warm day, we managed to let the horses have a nice roll and we went for a walk up to the Castle, it was beautiful. David and I took B and T for a gentle walk round early evening and B managed to find a stone to stand on. That's me up all night with the precious Animalintex ! We turned the horses out for the trot up and as usual Lucy did a super job. They looked great.

We even had time for lunch before we had to do hair for the compulsories, Sarah did a wonderful job training my hair and I nearly managed to look respectable - the Team and Tiny looked great. Compulsories didn't go as well as they should so we were a little low on Friday night.

We picked ourselves up for Saturday and the girls performed well on B, they gained in confidence in the afternoon and put together lovely freestyles, they finished the day with Pippa 16th, Sarah 15th and Lucy 14th ! well done ! Jon didn't go as well as usual and was a little disappointed. Ararat was lying second.

The team finished the day with a few mistakes in the freestyle but all things considered we were pleased.

Saturday night we went out for a Pizza with David and Liz Fellows - Go Fast's rider who had come to support us. Wendy and David had a huge pudding - I was very good! It was a very civilized end to the day.

On Sunday the support squad really turned out, my Mum, Dad , Sister and Daughter Emma all came to watch. Sarah and Lucy got through to the TECHNICAL TEST - "what technical test " they said. It was fun and made a big change from the old compulsories, we're going to have to practice though girls, if you do silly things like getting through to the next day !! They fininshed 15th and 13th and I was very proud of them.

Jon finished 10th, Ararat came 2nd and won me a beautiful double bridle. The team went back in and performed a little better and came 5th, not bad for our first International out of 12 Teams, I was very pleased. They won me a lovely bridle too ! yet again I came home with armfuls of prizes and lovely rosettes.

Jenny did a sterling job trying to look after 3 Teams, Lungers, 6 Individuals and various supporters. Thanks for your help.

Thanks also to David for his support, all my family for turning out, the families at home who couldn't get to go, the Philips's for their support and 7 hours of Video tape plus some beautiful photos. To Wendy and her super lorry, for driving, coffee making, cooking and keeping me sane. To all my squad for behaving, vaulting and in Sarah's case being a chauffeur and last not not least my wonderful horses, thats Tiny's fourth Saumur but Bowler's sixth ! Bless you both you were great.

Here's looking forward to Austria.