29-6-2010
Hi all For those of you who are not keeping up with the blog I thought I would give you a quick run down on Sandringham event. First of all we made it through sunny side up with no Elimination!.

The grounds were picturesque and I had the pleasure of working my horse whilst Prince Philip was also working his on the lawns in front of Sandringham Castle. The flag was up on the roof letting us know that the Queen was in residence for the weekend.

Prince Phillip was also time keeping on the last obstacle on marathon day and gave us a "Well Done" as we left. My horse was a delight, after many tense weeks of warm up we are finally starting to work together well and this shone through with a lovely dressage test putting us in fourth position close behind some of the best drivers in the World. This was a great thrill, I had some lovely encouraging comments from other coaches and competitors.

Marathon day was a lovely sunny day and we enjoyed going over the estate, through some lovely fields and forests. Vizier certainly knew he was ready at the start of section E - Leaping a little and pawing the ground as if to say let me at it!

We made it around smoothly, getting to know the horse, most obstacles went well although I was grateful for my grooms quick reaction when we went up on two wheels in the water obstacle. We had a break failure and only the front breaks were working so when I hit them up we went! We ended up 6th overall in the marathon which was still a pleasing effort considering the company, new horse, carriage, country, groom etc.

Cones day went well - this is always a difficult part of the competition for me and the standard of this course is very high in the UK. I had four cones down but was one of the few to make the time so I was rapt with this and came fourth in the cones. Overall I was 6th and just made it for a rosette and parade around the crowd so this was great. Now we practice, practice, practice and prepare for the long journey to Rome.

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" WOW ENGLAND!!!!! I can't believe after all the preparations. I'm finally here. My time here is already ticking away. We had a great flight, clear blue skys showing excellent views of the different countries we crossed.
We have settled in well, the people in the B and B have been very kind and welcoming to us and we like them a lot already.
Boyd's yard is a 10 minute walk across the field.
I think it is a different time in my life being in England once again. Perhaps now a mature mind and different circumstances and because of this I have a love of being here this time around.
I can honestly say I am in carriage driving heaven.
I am slowly getting a handle on driving the new horse and Boyd's plan of attack is working for me.
Today I was walking across the field to the yard and over the horizon came Boyd with his team to pick me up. I stood in the middle of the field, raised my arms in the air and told him he had just made my day!
This team will represent Australia with Boyd on the reins at the World Equestrian Games to be held in Kentucky, USA, later this year.
This afternoon we went on to the estate to watch the hazards being driven - Wow -World Class, Water Tunnels etc etc and only for private use!

I have gelled well with him as a trainer when he has coached me in Australia over the past 6 years, and the results have obviously been good. I will have a lead up event at Sandringham Castle in late July, which is where the Queen breeds her race horses and since Prince Philip started FEI Carriage Driving it seems only fitting they hold and international qualifying event on their property. The horse will need to qualify prior to going to Rome and if he hasn't done so upon my arrival, I will have to do this at Sandringham event, as this is the last chance prior in order to being eligible to compete at the World Championships - nothing like a bit of pressure!

I am taking my young 5yr old son Ned with me and we have booked our accommodation at a B&B in the village of Billesdon (about 2hrs North West of London). Ned is really only excited to be getting on a big plane and having a little boy to play with when we are there (Boyd has a young son James). I think this will be a great cure for my homesickness and I am looking forward to having this time together. My Groom and friend Tim Dwyer from NSW will fly over to the UK prior to heading to Italy and will be put to work doing all the manly things including packing the truck and then driving it, Ned and I to Italy and back again. Obviously I am grateful for this!