CVI** Stadl Paura, Austria. May 2005
Julie and Becca left with the lorry at 5am on Tuesday the 24th of May to travel to the CVI** in Austria. They took Bowler, Tiny, Go Fast and Guinness in the Wiltshire International Horsebox that Julie guessed correctly as weighing in at 17.3ton! We trundled through England, France, Belguim and Germany to arrive in Stadl Paura at 5pm Wednesday the 25th. The EVS squad appeared at 7pm and duly sorted out putting up the tent and our home for the next few days.
The weather was cool that first night but that was the last time we were cool! The sun shone the next morning and it got hotter and hotter.
The horses all had a canter through the woods on Thursday morning ( Sarah with no saddle! ) and we set about plaiting and smartening up for the Vet Check. All four British horses sailed through and Go Fast was introduced to an International Competition for the first time !
We trained on Thursday with Go Fast and Tiny and were ready for an early start Friday morning. Compulsories all went well considering we had to use our reserve but Charlotte Walker went very well for an old one ! and we were lying in 5th place ready for Saturday. Individually Ricky managed well with his injured thumb and Lucy performed well. Ararat was lying in 3rd place.
Saturday morning was even hotter and we were glad we were at either end of the day competing. Ararat messed up his freestyle, Ricky made some mistakes but managed to get his 6 and Lucy went well finishing on 6.5. Ann went in on Guinness but Guinness looked very sore and got spun. Becca took him out to the carpark and found a huge stone in his foot. No wonder he was sore. He unfortunately didn't get better for the SEVT Juniors and they couldn't finish competing.
The EVS squad with their other reserve Steph performed their freestyle quite well and we were very pleased to just drop one place, so finished the day in 6th. We enjoyed Pizza and ice cream with the Spanish and the support crew on Saturday night.
Sunday morning Ararat did the second best technical test and his freestyle much better, but dropped to 4th so we were a little dissapointed, the team however really got their act together and the freestyle went well. Bowler was an absolute star and got much better horse marks , we were all thrilled to learn we regained 5th place - not at all bad out of 17 teams !
We celebrated on Sunday night, some of us more than others, but all got to bed some how. The support squad of Bill and Liz Phillips and Debbie Hunter ( at her first CVI** ) were wonderful. Debbie enjoyed some riding around the lovely Austrian site on Go Fast as did Liz, Sarah and Lucy - and Julie ! The lorry drivers Andy and Jan from Wilshire International were stars and Julie was very glad of Becca's company on the long drive there and back !
The EVS are extremely grateful for the sponsorship from David Smith and Wiltshire International Horsetransport , the lorry was great and it was very pleasing not to have to drive.
Thanks also to Silvie and her support and all the good wishes we had from the Scots, Swiss, Spanish, Dutch, oh and I think a few French ! Thanks also to all the good wishes from home - one of these days we will all get out to a competition together!!!!
Well done all of you.
