Exactly a year ago since I had spinal surgery, I was tacking up the

superstar that is Classy Touch for my first ride in a CCI1*. We had done

our dressage on Thursday - worn a tailcoat (early birthday present with a

hint of orange!) -  and had finished on a better score thanks did at

Floors in the CIC1*.

For anyone new to eventing the CIC and CCI are the international eventing

classes. CIC is just like our normal one day events where the three

phases are completed on one day with showjumping coming before cross

country. CCI is a more technical class running over three days with trot

up on the first day, followed by dressage then cross country runs on the

second day and a final trot on the last day is carried out before the

show jumping phase. The three day event is much more taxing as the cross

country is longer and as showjumping comes on the last day it can be

difficult for a horse to stay careful if they are a bit weary so fitness

is very important and trots must be passed or you are eliminated.

Classy was feeling fabulous in the dressage and showed me his enthusiasm

for being there by throwing out some flying changes (which weren't in the

test) but we both came out grinning as it was just so much fun to be

there despite the pouring rain!! Our score left us well down the

leaderboard but who cares! Classy, myself, the eventadors (aka the labs)

and my husband were all settled in the lorry with the gazebo out and The

West Wing on DVD to watch in the evening. The rain really didn't spoil

things at all as we were well prepared (years of doing showjumping shows

I guess!).

The first half of my dressage, it doesn’t show how bad the weather was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VSgCmwxa1Y

We walked the cross country course with pro rider Rosalind Canter and I

felt like the course was big, twisty and nowhere to really catch up the

time so inwardly I was a bit nervous! Outwardly I was surprisingly calm!

Friday was a rest day and I took classy for a ride - well tried to! - he

was wild and full of spring being there! Our hack around the park was

fairly short but I was confident he felt really well and raring to go.

The event is quite spread out but there is plenty of room to hold horses

out to grass or places to ride. The stable area was quiet and peaceful

especially before 6am in the morning (picture!). The dogs had a ball -

esp my young lab who met a friend to chase (video of chasing dogs to go

here)

Walking the Xc a couple more times, it began to feel a bit smaller. I

could see my lines and where the minute markers were and felt very useful

when I was asked my opinion on the markers after a short rider briefing!

I used the Cross Country App and have found it to be worth every penny!

The rider briefings were useful. They introduced the tech team and what

their roles were plus if any schooling sessions were planned (you are not

allowed to jump out with schooling sessions). They also gave an

opportunity to ask about fences on the course and introduce everyone to

their rider reps in case of queries.

The venue was calm, and well run.  It was a fair trek to walk to the SJ

rings, so we didn’t really see very much of anything else going on.  I

briefly saw the arena eventing, and spoke to a few trade stands as well as

bought water buckets at short notice due to my mistake at the end of XC

(see below!).

Then the fun day arrived!  I have to say I did think I would manage it on

my own, but as I found out you really do need helpers following XC! And a

huge thank you to my helpers who very kindly volunteered for me and took

Classy off me after the finish and washed him down (extra buckets and

sponges bought to cope with this!).  I am pleased to say we had a storming

round, and even when writing this several weeks later I’m super chuffed

with it!  I took an extra pull at the last double and it meant we were one

second over time, but it was fabulous to finish clear at my first CCI1*.  

Despite several parts of the course that were causing problems I felt that

I rode the course well.  It helps when you are on an expert horse, but I

do feel like I played a part in our round and saw mostly good strides,

collected when I needed to and let him run when I didn’t. We finished

strong and Classy soon cooled down and recovered so we were signed off to

leave the finish box - this was my mistake - I didn’t realise that you are

not allowed to leave a finish box after XC and your horse must be

recovered enough to leave.  I was just expecting it to be like a CIC or a

one-day and be able to return to the lorry to wash down (hence my

mistake!), so it was a bit of a mad rush to pack away the power washer I

have, and get buckets of water filled ready for XC finish! Thank goodness

for a wheelbarrow to carry all the stuff!

Some videos -

corner to water jump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHdPAfwgt5U

Water jump second visit to owl hole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xNG4c_3K4A

Anyway all was grand, Classy didn’t look like he’d run a XC and I took him

for a wander around in the evening.  He was looking super so I was hopeful

that our trot up on Sunday would be fine.  And I was right!  The heavens

opened on the Sunday but Classy pinged through his trot up for a pass. He

pulled my arms out all the way back to the lorry and felt really fresh.  

Went to walk the show jumping, it was miles away from the lorry park but

the ground was nice and the course looked lovely.  I normally ride related

lines ok, and felt that it was a fair show jumping course.  Sadly I was on

a day of muppet show jumping so fluffed my related distances so we

finished on 12 faults.  It didn’t really affect our final placing (a SJ

clear would have put us up two placings) and we completed in 19th place.

Show jumping video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a0Az19I-vQ

Photo credit to my husband and Advanced Roller doors (XC pic)