Home International Games
at Windsor - 14 to 18 May 2003

Two Eglinton members were selected to represent Scotland at the Home International held at the Royal Windsor Horse Show - Heather Ridland and Donald Evans. Donald was selected last year and along with Lauren Beattie of West Perth were the veterans in the team. The other new members were Lewis Jackson, West Perth, Amanda Hodge, lanark and Uperward and Chris Kerr, East Stirling. Chris and Lewis were riding ex Eglinton ponies - Pandora and Minstrel - and Danny Wilson was the team trainer so it was very much a team with Eglinton connectons.

The compertition starts on the Wednesday and we headed down to Windsor on the Monday. Stabling is at Ascot about six miles from Windsor and about 10 hours from Ayrshire. We arrived late afternoon and settled the ponies in their stables - normally reserved for top race horses - spacious and well kept. Tuesday was practice in the paddock behind the stable area and the Pony Club party and presentation of team sweatshirts.

Our first run was in the main arena just after lunch on the Wednesday and team ran well to take first place ahead of Wales. We did not do so well in the second session and this was to be the pattern over the week. We won 4 of the 8 sessions but the Welsh were more consistent and as the ground softened with the wet weather we struggled to keep up with them. In the end the Welsh were clear winners with Scotland second and England third.

The Show struggled to keep going as the weather worsened and a downpour late on Saturday was the final straw and Sunday was canceled.

The final two sessions were run back at Ascot. Whilst the cancellation of the Show was a disappointment, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh drove over from Windsor to watch the final session and then make the presentations. The lack of formality that we had was an unexpected bonus for the teams and parents who were allowed close photo opportunities. Once these are developed we shall publish some on the web site.

In no time it was the following Monday and time to drive home.

Heather says "It was a great experience and i am honoured to have competed at that level for my country. I made lots of friends from the other teams and look forward to meeting them again at Cheshire Show (Wales and England) and at our zone and area tetrathlon (Ireland)."

Gordon