Issue 14 April 2017

Love it NEWSLETTERSECOND ISSUE 2017Get involved for this ‘Spring Spectacular’

Image courtesy of FRW photography

In this issue . . .

The countdown is progressing“Hello, and welcome to the second issue of our new-look LOVE IT newsletter. These are exciting times and preparations are in full-swing for what promises to be a spectacular horse trials! We’re here to keep you up to date with the usual mix of features and interviews – plus, don’t miss our amazing LIKE & SHARE Hospitality Competition!”

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Volunteers We need you!Did you know that it takes 120 volunteers a day to run our horse trials? If you could spare some time between 21-23 April then we’d love to hear from you.

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WIN IT!Don’t miss our fantastic LIKE & SHARE Hospitality Competition for the chance to win some incredible prizes.

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A Day in the LifeIn this issue, we’re honoured to catch up with Cross Country Course Designer, Captain Mark Phillips.

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What’s on?We look at some of the trade stands, food concessions and other activities on offer at our spring event.

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Course Developments Find out what happened when Cross Country Course Designer Captain Mark Phillips paid us a visit to put our fences into position!

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Course DevelopmentsCourse developments: Find out what happened when Cross Country Course Designer Captain Mark Phillips paid us a visit to put our fences into position!

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More reasons to love it! We welcome onboard the support of new our sponsors The British Horse Society and Equine and Pet Feeds.

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VOLUNTEERSWe Need You!

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Would you like to be part of our team? If you could spare some time between 21-23 April then Jane Whitaker would love to hear from you on britisheventing@kelsallhill.co.uk

Every week of the British Eventing season, volunteers give up their time to become an essential cog in the running of events across the country. These people range in age, background and experience, but fulfil numerous roles to assist event organisers in the smooth running of their fixtures.

At Kelsall Hill, we appreciate the generosity of all our volunteers, many of whom have become regular members of the team. We try our very best to look after them by providing a packed lunch, hot drinks, plenty of cake and a facility voucher or a bottle of wine as a token of our appreciation.

If you want to find out more about

volunteering then join Fiona

Saxby, British Eventing’s Regional

Development Officer for North

Wales and the West Midlands, for an

‘Access All Areas’ tour of our event

on Saturday 22nd April,

11 am – 1 pm. What’s more, this

event is absolutely FREE!

Said Fiona: “Access All Areas will

be of interest to anyone who is

considering getting involved in

BE horse trials for the first time,

whether that be as a volunteer or

as a rider.”

DID YOUKNOW ?

Booking details:

www.britisheventing.com/

training/courses/4533/detail

From thehorse’s mouth

I love the buzz of volunteering and would recommend it to anyone. Just being involved and meeting fantastic, dedicated people both on the ground and in the saddle, is a great experience.

Sharon Webb, BE Volunteer, XC Steward

““Joint- Organiser of Kelsall Hill Horse Trials Jane Whitaker, commented: “I cannot express enough how grateful I am to all the volunteers who give up their time to help at our events. They are an essential part of the team and it would not be possible without them.” It’s Jane who has the daunting task of sourcing over 120 volunteers a day – that’s a staggering 360 roles to fill at each of our horse trials. So, how on earth does she do it?

1 Jane makes a start by emailing existing volunteers a couple of months before each event.

2 Our marketing team then run ‘call to action’ posts on social media and in our email newsletters to attract the attention of new volunteers.

3 As the big day approaches, Jane is busy following up any volunteer enquiries by phone or text message.

4 If you’re an event rider, Jane says it’s worth remembering that volunteers aren’t usually balloted out of our horse trials.

5 On the day, Jane organises the volunteers into their sections where they are briefed by officials or team leaders.

Jane Whitaker BE organiser, David Holmes Chief Executive of British Eventing and Phil Latham Co BE organiser

WIN We do love a good competition and this one’s a BIGGY!

We’re offering you and a guest the chance to enjoy a 3-course lunch in our Hospitality Marquee on Saturday 22nd April and, if that wasn’t enough, we’re providing some other incredible prizes:

4 Free entry to the showground and VIP car parking.

4 An Access All Areas tour of the event site with British Eventing Regional Development Officer Fiona Saxby (11 am start).

4 Watch the thrilling climax of our Advanced Intermediate class from the comfort of your seats and our podium prize-giving ceremony.

4 We’ll give you a photograph to help you remember your day courtesy of our official event photographer Matt Nuttall Photography . . .

4 And provide you with a bag of goodies!

Terms and ConditionsThe winner will receive a lunch voucher for two people which can be redeemed in the Hospitality Marquee on Saturday 22nd April between 12 noon and 2 pm. One winner will be chosen at random and announced

on our Facebook and Twitter pages on Thursday 20th April 2O16.

For a chance to win these fantastic prizes, just head over to our Facebook page to LIKE & SHARE our hospitality competition post.

Captain Mark Phillips is renowned as a cross country course designer both in the UK and internationally.He has evented to the highest level and represented Britain as a member of our British 3-Day Event teams claiming a world title in 1970, a European title in 1971 and an Olympic Gold medal in 1972. Individually, Mark has won Badminton Horse Trials on four occasions between 1971 – 1981. Mark has been the cross country course designer at Kelsall Hill Horse Trials since 2010.

“My visits to Kelsall Hill begin around 6 am when I leave my home in Gloucestershire. My time of arrival will wholly depend on when the M6 allows and, as I’m travelling during peak times, it’s often quite a long day!

I visit the venue about a month before each event and, when time allows, I like to attend the event itself. I tend to draw up my course plans during my last visit, so on arrival, my main task is to position the cross country fences using ‘telescopic handlers’.

Kelsall Hill is a great venue to design as it’s got varied terrain, good footing and excellent viewing opportunities for spectators on the cross country course. There’s no major new build

this Spring but there are plenty of variations on a

theme.

As a course designer, I

must cater for every level. My aim when designing any course is to be as fair

as possible to the horses -

fences must be up to height - but

the course should be educational for both horse

and rider. I try to ask progressive questions throughout the levels that encourage horses and riders and enable them to maintain a good flow. In my opinion, that’s what good course design is all about.”

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Captain Mark Phillips

My aim when designing any course is to be a fair as possible to the horses - fences must be up to height - but the course should be educational for both horse and rider.

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WHAT’S

ONTake a look at some of the

trade stands, food concessions and activities on offer at our

spring event.

Along with all the top-class sporting action at our British Eventing Horse Trials, there’ll be a mix of trade stands providing opportunities for retail therapy.

Retail therapy

NEW for 2017

We look forward to welcoming several new stall holders this year including Michelle Woolrich from

‘The Animal Therapy Hub Limited’.

As the retail sector of Michelle’s business ‘ Cheshire Equine Therapy’, The Animal Therapy Hub will offer owners advice and drug-free products to

help with musculoskeletal issues, physio and rehab, pain relief, performance, and the overall well-being

of their animals. 

Said Michelle: “As a local company, I thought where better to launch my business than at one of the best events in the region. I’m looking forward to

introducing a range of quality products with scientific and therapeutic benefits from across the globe.”

www.theanimaltherapyhub.com

It’s just for K ids (honest)! We’re delighted to welcome back face painting sensation Angie Hill from ‘Colours Kids’ who will be offering FREE face painting at our event on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd April. Angie, from Stoke on Trent, has been a professional face painter for the last 9-years and has a passion for art and making children of all ages happy! Angie commented: “Developing my

hobby into a business has been a journey and one which has introduced me to such fabulous people, opportunities and activities over the years. I’m looking forward to returning to Kelsall Hill after being so warmly welcomed last year.”More: www.colourskids.co.ukPs … Don’t miss the return of our ‘selfie board’ for great photo opportunities!

Grazingoptions and watering holes

For those of you who like to graze while taking in our stunning scenery, there’s a delicious range of food concessions available. From fabulous fudges and awfully good waffles, to fragrant Thai cuisine and crepes while you wait, there’ll be something cooking to please most palates.

What’s behindthe name?

Sophie Beever worked for a pub company before deciding to ‘go solo’ with the launch of her own mobile pop-up bar, ‘The Drunken Pug’. This decision meant that Sophie could spend more quality time with ‘Sylvia’ her increasingly famous Pug.

Sophie explained: “It seemed apt that my bar was named after Sylvia as she comes to every event and doesn’t leave my side! She’s also partial to a sneaky dog beer when no-one is watching – yes, that’s correct - beer for dogs! Visitors to Kelsall Hill are very welcome to call in for a photo or a cuddle (with Sylvia of course!)”

Since 2015, Sophie has added 2 more bars to her enterprise and is soon to launch a third. ‘The Gin Tin’, will be a gin-lover’s paradise, housing 40 different varieties of the spirit and a large selection of premium mixers.

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More information: drunkenpugmobilebars.co.uk

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2We’re delighted to announce that Equine and Pet Feeds will be sponsoring a brand-new Arena Eventing competition on grass, with 20 purpose-built fences, as part of our British Eventing Horse Trials on Sunday 23 April 2017. Classes will run from BE80 to Novice level with prizes up for grabs courtesy of Equine and Pet Feeds and British Eventing. Equine & Pet Feeds are a family business based in Knutsford, who offer a full range of horse feeds including natural products from ‘Thunderbrook Equestrian’ and ‘Agrobs’. They provide

a free delivery service within a 50-mile radius and can offer feeding advice from a trained nutritionist. “Our daughter Kirsty has enjoyed Kelsall Hill’s Arena Eventing series for the past few years and we feel her performance has benefited from being able to compete over the winter months,” explained Jane Clarkson, who runs Equine and Pet Feeds along with her husband Phil. “Kirsty and her horse ‘Oliedunit’, have been BE100 Arena Eventing champions for the last two years and we wanted to give something back by supporting this new competition,” added Jane.

For all your horse and pet needs contact Jane 07894733668.

1Equine & Pet Feeds

It’s great news that The British Horse Society - the UK’s largest

equine charity - are kindly sponsoring a show jumping fence at

our spring horse trials.

The BHS strives to ensure that every horse is respected,

protected and enjoyed by knowledgeable, caring people. As

the guardians of this country’s horses, their heritage and their

future, the charity relies on the support of others through

fundraising initiatives and membership. Together we can help

secure a brighter future for all horses.

Hannah Carrick, Regional Manager for the North West

commented: “We are thrilled to sponsor a brand-new show

jumping fence at Kelsall Hill Horse Trials to raise awareness

of our charitable work. This involves Welfare, Safety,

Bridleways, Education and Accredited Professional Coaches

who can support you with quality tuition. Whether you’re a

‘Wobbleberry’ or moving up through the levels, rest assured

you’re in safe hands.”

To find out what’s going on in your area visit:

www.bhs.org.uk

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More reasons to . . .

LOVE