Burghley X-Country Day

For quite a number of years I've watched the BBC TV coverage of the Burghley Horse Trials. The bravery and courage of riders and horses competing through the rolling countryside over impossibly sized obstacles, makes this a thrilling spectacle! So at last I was making the trip down to see all the action first hand..
One of the first riders to to finish the course comes home through fence 32 infront of Burghley House

This Summer's weather has again been trying its worst to spoil things. So after the the last few days rain, I wasn't sure if the cross country would go ahead. However almost miraculously Saturday was relatively bright and dry, as things go! We arrived in good time and spent little time queuing, and found ourselves parked quite close to the heart of things!
Belgian rider Karin Donkers jumps fence 30 The Flower Frame

There's a huge tented shopping area and I did have a small list of items to look for. But the crowds were busy and the place was so muddy that in reality I would be wasting my time. Plus I had that impatient anticipation of the event to come that shopping was really the last thing I could focus on! I did notice though, that there were several icecream vans with no custom...something which I remedied through the day!
After a fast down hill gallop it all went horribly wrong as Sparrow Hall takes off vertically and too early falling on the fence throwing Marie Ryan over onto her back!

Just before the start time of eleven, we met up, all too briefly with Debbie, a very good friend, who goes to Burghley every year for the whole four days. She showed us the scoreboard and the course secretaries tent, where we obtained a list of the running order and riders. By now it was time to start and the crowds were excitedly gathering at the course sides to see the competition unfold.
Sparrow Hall still panicked by the fall and having a leg trapped in his reins...

We watched the first couple of riders off from the start before beginning to walk round the course in reverse...as the majority seemed to be doing the opposite! This plan failed because the sheer numbers of people made every fence crowded..but it was always easy to get a view. What a tremendous feeling to be so close to the horses galloping by at a thumping speed, at barely arms length! Just as sobering, seeing a horse clip an obstacle and hear the resounding crack of hoof against wood and the inevitable topple and spill. We saw a couple of falls and plenty of near misses. We cheered as a crowd on valiant efforts and the feeling was ecstatic! What a brilliant place to be...what a fantastic competition!
Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz flying over the impossibly vast fence 19, the Cottesmore Leap..

Though the ground stayed in remarkably good condition, the heavy going obviously took its toll on many horses...some finishing..just, but plenty being retired. We managed to get round and see almost every fence. However just as I thought I had all day to continue enjoying the competition, the commentator announced only a handful of riders to run! The day finished with a heavy shower as we watched William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo almost stumble at the sharp drop of the Leaf Pit, before recovering to post the best time of the day! Eventual winners of the competition.