Scottish Games Team 2002
15-19th May at Royal Windsor Horse Show
Described by Yvonne Wilson
Having been told that “This was the year to win” in the Jubilee Year, and that we’ll “Never see the likes of this again” the Scottish Games team went down the road to Ascot.
The Scottish Games team competed in the DAKS PC Home International Competition, along with teams from England, Wales, N. Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Eglinton’s own Donald Evans was a member of the team, with Lauren Beattie - West Perth, Andrew Lightboby - West Perth, Fraser Potter - Strathearn, Kelly Quinn - Edinburgh and Carol Scott from Edinburgh.
Donald was not the only Eglinton link as the Team Manager was Danny Wilson - one of our Committee members and Yvonne Wilson chaperoned. Danny had recieved a letter from the Pony Club asking him to train the team... actually Danny recieved two letters - the first asking him to train the English team, then the second to train the Scottish team (believed the first was an administrative mistake!).
The competition was run over 6 sessions and a final. We came into the final having won 3 sessions, come second in 2 and third in one - giving us a 14 point lead over Wales going into the final, with England only a point behind Wales.
If we were superstitious - we saw some pretty good and bad signs in the run-up to the final: Danny and Yvonne were in room 13 of the jockies accomodation and just before the team went into the final two planes in an flyover created a cross in the night sky - looking distinctly like a saltire!
The final session ran in the huge arena for the Queens Pagent of the Horse - in front of the Queen and Prince Philip. Where the team discovered they were wearing the same colours as the Queen (blue) - another little superstition.
It didn’t quite go right in the final though - we lost the lead from previous sessions, ending up level with Wales going into the last race - the Big Sack.
The Big Sack was invented by a local man - Billy Stirling - and we had not lost the race all week. Needless to say a champagne toast to Billy was made - as we won the race taking the cup!
It was only the third time Scotland have won in the last 20 years!
Many thanks must go to all of the parents who were excellent all week, and a mention for Mr Evans who was wonderful; getting up in the mornings to muck out etc (not what I’ve been told he’s like at home!!).
We’re already looking forward to next year!
ps - trivia learned while down at the show - apparently the Lion Rampant flag should not be flown outside Scotland since it is the war flag.
Click here to go to the Royal Windsor Horse Show website