BEu18 2018 Team - Where are they now?
It’s scary how much time flies to think that this time last year we were packing the lorry, getting ready to head down to Frickley Park u18 Championships 2018 - a true whirlwind of a week that my wonder horse and I will never forget.
The 12 months since then are honestly a bit of a blur - a horrible winter and a late start to the season - but that’s just the norm for most Scottish eventers.
After finishing school last June I chose to take a gap year before starting at Edinburgh Uni this September. I’ve sacrificed a few months in the saddle to travel and have made memories more amazing than I could’ve imagined. I was apprehensive about taking time away from it all and watching my friends out there on the Eventing scene, but after being home a week, having been in the islands of Madagascar, I feel refreshed and ready to return. I am so lucky to come home to two healthy and happy, although maybe a little chubby, supposed event ponies, who I know are just excited as I am to get back out and do some Cross-Country!
My young mare Aqua is heading to the Scottish BE100 Championships at Blair Castle in a few weeks after a couple of preparation runs. While King Caz will be working back up to run at the CCI2*S at Alnwick Ford and then the CCI2*L at Osberton at the end of the season.
Looking back to my time in u18s it really couldn’t have been better. In 2017 Casper and I won all three of the qualifying classes and then continued to defend our titles last year. We ended our journey in the programme with individual 9th place at Frickley and Captaining our team to 3rd - Scotland’s first time on the podium!!
Frickley 2018 holds some of the best eventing memories for me; from finishing that cross country, galloping into a huge sea of hugs and congratulations, to the cheers from some of my best friends when Daisy and I cantered around the lap of honour in the prize-giving, to the simplest of things like sitting in the stable at the end of the week with my hero of a horse reflecting on our journey together and everything he has helped me to achieve.
It’s such an amazing feeling to be surrounded by some of the best friends you could ask for as your teammates and to collectively produce results that can make yourself and those around you indescribably proud. The u18 scene really was just like a big family for me and I am so lucky to have shared such good memories with such good friends.
For those heading to Frickley this week, I hope that it is one of, if not the highlight of your eventing season. Keep your cool after day one because no matter how your test goes it will definitely not be a dressage competition and ENJOY EVERY SECOND!! There definitely will be endless smiles laughter and probably some tears - happy ones I hope (I think I cried with happiness after every single phase last year.)
Most importantly just take a couple of seconds across the few days to give your horse a massive cuddle. They’re going to spend the next few days trying their hearts out for you and that’s all we can ask of them, they really are amazing!
And Lastly - GOOD LUCK EVERYONE - go out and smash it!!!
Eilidh x
Photos of Frickley U18 Championships 2018 by Dave Cameron Photography and Stevie Purves Photography
