I woke up to rain it had been raining all night so this is the real England?

The media love the weather it is a convenient methiod of explaining English inadequaticies. Last week the trains were late,the chunnel didnt cope because of the extreme hot weather. Later in the weekend the trains were delayed due to power outages caused by No not hot weather but stormy weather.Then today power outages were due to flooding preventing repair crews getting to certain areas.

The rain wasnt going to stop my plans after traveling down some 200kms to the South of England to continue visiting events and places and my target today was Hickstead. It's not a well known tourist or historic area the hotel Manager had no idea that Hickstead contained a very special feature but he did know after a quick Goggle search.

Hickstead is the home to the All British Equestrian Centre (and also home to Hickstead show). Despite the rain it was estimated up to 5000 visitors would attend the final day of the Hickstead BHS International Horse Show.

The featured event today was the Longines fEI Jumping Nations Cup great Britain for the Gold Prince of Wales Trophy which had around $250000 prizemoney attached. This included an incentive of $65000 for the leading rider. No it wasnt opened to all comers but consisted of a team event from The Netherlands,Spain,France, Brazil,Ireland,Great Britain and Sweden. No Australian riders but yesterday The featured event the Queen Elizabeth II Cup was won by an Austral ian Rider number 1075 James Whitaker riding Glenavadra Brillianton a European owned horse.

We only watched the international Arena but 6 rings were in operation with the Supreme champion Horse of the show final judging in the International Arena. The actual judging was politely weird yes they bought in the various Champions eg Hunter,Hack,Pony etc and the respective judges but then gave each champion 60 seconds to impress the judge? No set routines eg canter,trot etc some just rode flat out (which the crowd loved) while others did a sedate canter. I guess the judges Mrs Nicky Coe,Mrs Jane Crofts & Mr Adrian Charley were suitably experienced to judge in this manner.

As we have become used to from visits to other International arenas such as Churchill Downs (US), Spruce Meadows (Canada),Sydney International Equestrian Centre there is the usual pomp and ceremony as the President of eFI is introduced, bands play Miitary music and Soldiers ride Escort to the International Teams on introduction.

Hickstead also had a childrens Funland, a mega shopping Village with over 200 shops selling every type of horse gear and clothing. In addition Trade displays sold horse floats,vehicles and farm machinery.

Food stalls abounded with literally hundreds offering a wide range of take away foods or there were permanent dining rooms that operate 7 days a week.

First impressions however were a typical English Fair as one drove off a side road into a paddock on dirt roads with a small hut selling tickets or checking on line sales. We were redirected to an upgrade office which was pretty pointless as we were in the grounds and no one checked the tickets as you entered the grandstands,plus only on insistence did I get a receipt to show I had even paid any admission fee.

Dogs were welcomed and like the County Fair attended in large numbers but unlike the Fair had no provided entertainment but plenty of stalls selling again every dog need from clothing to food and even memorial tablets made out of your dogs ashes after cremation.

The International Arena was immaculate and featured trees but we did wonder how many were permanent as we watched the course officials rearrange the small trees by pulling them out of the ground and with a crowbar punching a new hole to "replant that tree". We also saw them quickly trim a tree to suit a new location often cutting its height by half.

The crew included a full time pooper scooper ( they only used black scoops but stalls sold multicoloured ones and mucking out rakes). The Stompers were also very busy. These were young people who would race onto the course between riders and use their boots to level out any hoof marks or the head stomper had a pile driver for the "big effort".

the Actual Cup consisted of a team of 4 riders from each Nation completing two circuits of the course in order with the teams allowed to drop the highest (worst) score overall.

The Netherlands faced a hard luck story in Round 1 when after two attempts at the water jump their rider was eliminated from that round and elected not to compete in Round 2. When it came to Round 2 the team decided as they were last not to contest anymore. Confused? well in the finals both Great Britain and Ireland were tied. The Great Britain team had 4 penalty points in Round 2 so when the last Irish rider incured 4 penalty points he just stopped jumping and left the ring so as not to incur any additional points and as three riders points counted that was fair play (riding).

So we had a tie but ties are not permitted. The Great Britain Team and the Irish team were asked to select one rider each for a final sudden death jump off.

The course was stage managed and two previously unused jumps in the Sponsors logos were set up near the main grandstand while others were eliminated but not those of the sponsor.

Great Britain rider Holly Smith,riding Hearts Destiny went first and got a clear round ie no penalty points. The Irish rider,Anthony Condon , riding SFS Aristio went next and also had a clear round but we knew he had won as when he crossed the finish line he looked at the giant screen and threw his helmet into the air. That meant the team won 64714.28Euros. So what did he see causing this action. Well after almost 28 riders doing two rounds each the Great Britain Team were 6 seconds slower on time so took second place and prizemoney of 40714.50 Euro.

Please dont ask why the prize money is so precise even to cents (euro cents) but they have a formula and like the timing must be precise.

Brazillian rider Marion Modolo Zanotelli riding Birene Da La Motte took home the indivduals first place overall and was awared 50000Euro and has his name on the indivduals cups.

So this basically is a motorcycle blog so why a whole blog on horses well I now wish to draw an anology as to the degree of interest by spectators of bith sports.

The crowd stayed to the end and I thought like many motircycle fans when they jumped up and left the grandstand they were head home,. No they flocked to the ringside to clap and cheer then to watch the presentations and a lap of honour by the riders. Infact despite the cold wet conditions as we left, the car park was still quite full. So unlike motorcycle fans if their rider is out they dont pack up and go home.

When the event is over they dont go home but hang around until the presentations are made.

However it was highly evident that both lots of fans show disrespect but not removing head wear while the National Anthem of the winner is played.