Personal notes: Bicester and Finmere

Robert Whitaker and Cleopatra

This weekend I made my first ever visit to Bicester and Finmere to cover the show for Horse & Hound.

Saturday was a bit of a strange day. The show wasn't open to the public until the next morning, so trade stands were still being put up and the showground and car park were empty.

It's something I've not experienced for a long time. I'm more than used to being on a showground during the dismantling stages, but it is very unusual for me to go and cover a show like this without the crowds already making their way through the gates.

I must admit, when I asked Silk and Stem owner Angie Murray, who was doubling as collecting ring steward for the day, how many were in the seven- and eight-year-old qualifier and she told me 23, I was a little disappointed. However, when I got hold of a start list and looked at the entries it was obvious it would be a good class. The field was full of strong contenders who have all been performing well throughout the season.

Robert Whitaker won the class on Cleopatra (8), one of three horses he was riding for the Gredleys here. Tim Gredley is currently away from the circuit working with his father, so Robert and James Billington have taken over competing his horses for the time being.

Simon Crippen and his Horse & Hound Foxhunter finalist Wembley III (7) were runners-up, and David McPherson took the third ticket on Vandavid (8).

Simon Crippen and Jenny
Bingham's Wembley III

Even though he's actually going very well at the moment, I'm starting to feel really sorry for Simon Crippen. He's finished second in about the last seven major classes he's been in, so keeps missing out on getting a picture in Horse & Hound. So here you go Simon, I hope this makes up for it a bit!

While at the show, I heard that John Whitaker won the Shrewsbury Flower Show Grand Prix with Argento. Keeley Durham, Argento's owner, was completely thrilled with his performance.

Sunday was an entirely different experience, the public were in, the tradestands were bustling and, unlike the previous day, the sun was shining.

Michael Jones and Little Tinker

The area trial culminated in an excellent jump-off and was won by Michael Jones and Little Tinker II. He really deserved it, too. Little Tinker was like a little rubber ball, wasting no time in the air, just pinging quickly over each fence. He's not the biggest horse, but he certainly showed he more than has it in him here.

This show started in 1960 to raise money for Sally Haynes, a 17-year-old local girl who was paralysed in a point-to-pointing fall. Since then, the show has given nearly £600,000 to its chosen charities, this year they were Spinal Research and The Back Up Trust.

Mark Grant and Camp Freddy

One permanent feature to attract the public in and raise more money is the jockeys' high jump. This year, Mark Grant cleared 5ft 9in on a horse nicknamed Camp Freddy, supplied by John Whinnett, to take the trophy.

Mick Fitzgerald took over the commentator's microphone from Nick Brooks-Ward for this event, although I am sure Mick probably wished he hadn't for the first part of the class at least.

The loaned horses had all been "renamed" for the novelty class and titles like "Seaman Staines" and "Roger The Cabin Boy", references to the urban myths about charecters' names in Captain Pugwash (who was also in the field), had poor Mick struggling to control his laughter. However, he saw it through and kept the crowd laughing along with his hilarious comments.

The report on the classes at the show will be in Horse & Hound this Thursday, 19 August.