Post by gillybounce on Aug 17, 2009 16:36:41 GMT 1
I think I've mentioned before that I write a horsey column for the Cumberland News every month - and I've mentioned ScotNorth in it several times. Thought you might like to see this month's column - if you persevere long enough you'll eventually get to the relevant bit - honest!
If you read last month’s column, you’ll know I was psyching myself up
for a spot of commentating at the Cumwhinton Horse Trials – and having
the collywobbles at the very prospect. You might find that strange –
after all I’ve spent much of my working life in front of a camera, so
why should the prospect of chatting away into a microphone prove so
daunting? I’m not sure really – it wasn’t the fact that I’d have no
script that was scarey, since I’m no stranger to the ‘flying by the
seat of my pants’ school of journalism – and I’m also well accustomed
to the art (I use the term VERY loosely!) of not having a clue what
I’m about to say until I open my mouth and say it.
However – the commentating was a whole new ball game – or in this
case, equestrian event. I started off by doing a mini apprenticeship,
learning how to do the plotting. That meant keeping tabs on the
progress of the various riders as they made their way round the
cross-country by listening to the information coming in from the jump
judges and updating the chart in front of the Commentator. There was
a separate slip of paper for each rider with name, horse’s name and
any interesting snippets of information, plus their dressage and
showjumping score. Any refusals or run-outs or unscheduled dismounts
had to be noted on the paper – and that could prove tricky if the
information coming through the earpiece disintegrated into a crackle
of static as occasionally happened.
On the Sunday I made my debut on the microphone – I’d been told I’d be
doing a stint between 4pm and 4.30 but as it happened I was invited to
take the hot seat earlier and it was probably a good thing as the
nerves had only had time to build to a dull roar rather than a
crescendo.
It wasn’t easy – you have to concentrate really hard, which for a
butterfly mind like mine accustomed to flitting from one thought to
the next at random is hard work in itself. I was very much the new
girl in what felt like a well-established team, but they kept me right
and fortunately there were no tricky incidents – or tough
pronunciations – during my spell, so things were relatively
straightforward. I don’t think I made any major mistakes, but when I
emerged from the commentary box at the end of my shift, someone asked
me how I’d done and I could only say ‘I haven’t a clue!’ because it
had all been a bit of a blur. However Dear Reader – I did it, I loved
it, and I’m hoping they’ll let me do it all over again at the next
Hutton In The Forest event in September.
One thing that did make an impression on my slightly addled brain at
Cumwhinton was the number of competitors who were riding
ex-racehorses. I think it’s brilliant that so many are now leading
happy lives away from the track – and quite a few are proving very
successful in their new careers. I know I’ve mentioned the Scottish
and Northern Ex-Racers Club in this column before and I make no
apologies for blowing the group’s trumpet all over again, because it’s
well deserved. ScotNorth helps to find new homes for ex-racers when
they’re coming off the track for whatever reason – and gives their new
owners a bit of help, support and advice.
It also organises shows – and sponsors classes within shows, and runs
a points system with prizes at the end of every year, giving members
an added incentive to compete in their chosen disciplines. I spotted
two members acquitting themselves well on the Cumwhinton cross-country
course and clearly having a great day, so that’ll have boosted their
points tally nicely! The Club recently staged a Festival of ex-Racers
during the Hopetoun Horse Trials – the first ever event of its kind
and it was judged by leading Scottish Trainer Lucinda Russell and
former Champion Jockey Peter Scudamore. They were so impressed by the
whole day, they’ve now agreed to become Patrons for ScotNorth, which
is brilliant for the Club and really boosts its credibility.
The Club also led me to my new boy. Part of its online Forum is
dedicated to ex-racers looking for new homes – and I always have a
look out of curiousity and often think they sound lovely. But then
Barra Lad came up – and for some reason I just kept coming back to
look at his picture and his details again and again. I wasn’t looking
for another horse – I was and still am the very proud owner of Bounce
– aka Foxmeade Dancer - definitely one of the nicest horses I’ve ever
known, and a great ambassador for his breed. But what’s meant for you
won’t go past you as they say – and I just couldn’t go past Barra Lad!
I’ll tell you more about him next month.
If you read last month’s column, you’ll know I was psyching myself up
for a spot of commentating at the Cumwhinton Horse Trials – and having
the collywobbles at the very prospect. You might find that strange –
after all I’ve spent much of my working life in front of a camera, so
why should the prospect of chatting away into a microphone prove so
daunting? I’m not sure really – it wasn’t the fact that I’d have no
script that was scarey, since I’m no stranger to the ‘flying by the
seat of my pants’ school of journalism – and I’m also well accustomed
to the art (I use the term VERY loosely!) of not having a clue what
I’m about to say until I open my mouth and say it.
However – the commentating was a whole new ball game – or in this
case, equestrian event. I started off by doing a mini apprenticeship,
learning how to do the plotting. That meant keeping tabs on the
progress of the various riders as they made their way round the
cross-country by listening to the information coming in from the jump
judges and updating the chart in front of the Commentator. There was
a separate slip of paper for each rider with name, horse’s name and
any interesting snippets of information, plus their dressage and
showjumping score. Any refusals or run-outs or unscheduled dismounts
had to be noted on the paper – and that could prove tricky if the
information coming through the earpiece disintegrated into a crackle
of static as occasionally happened.
On the Sunday I made my debut on the microphone – I’d been told I’d be
doing a stint between 4pm and 4.30 but as it happened I was invited to
take the hot seat earlier and it was probably a good thing as the
nerves had only had time to build to a dull roar rather than a
crescendo.
It wasn’t easy – you have to concentrate really hard, which for a
butterfly mind like mine accustomed to flitting from one thought to
the next at random is hard work in itself. I was very much the new
girl in what felt like a well-established team, but they kept me right
and fortunately there were no tricky incidents – or tough
pronunciations – during my spell, so things were relatively
straightforward. I don’t think I made any major mistakes, but when I
emerged from the commentary box at the end of my shift, someone asked
me how I’d done and I could only say ‘I haven’t a clue!’ because it
had all been a bit of a blur. However Dear Reader – I did it, I loved
it, and I’m hoping they’ll let me do it all over again at the next
Hutton In The Forest event in September.
One thing that did make an impression on my slightly addled brain at
Cumwhinton was the number of competitors who were riding
ex-racehorses. I think it’s brilliant that so many are now leading
happy lives away from the track – and quite a few are proving very
successful in their new careers. I know I’ve mentioned the Scottish
and Northern Ex-Racers Club in this column before and I make no
apologies for blowing the group’s trumpet all over again, because it’s
well deserved. ScotNorth helps to find new homes for ex-racers when
they’re coming off the track for whatever reason – and gives their new
owners a bit of help, support and advice.
It also organises shows – and sponsors classes within shows, and runs
a points system with prizes at the end of every year, giving members
an added incentive to compete in their chosen disciplines. I spotted
two members acquitting themselves well on the Cumwhinton cross-country
course and clearly having a great day, so that’ll have boosted their
points tally nicely! The Club recently staged a Festival of ex-Racers
during the Hopetoun Horse Trials – the first ever event of its kind
and it was judged by leading Scottish Trainer Lucinda Russell and
former Champion Jockey Peter Scudamore. They were so impressed by the
whole day, they’ve now agreed to become Patrons for ScotNorth, which
is brilliant for the Club and really boosts its credibility.
The Club also led me to my new boy. Part of its online Forum is
dedicated to ex-racers looking for new homes – and I always have a
look out of curiousity and often think they sound lovely. But then
Barra Lad came up – and for some reason I just kept coming back to
look at his picture and his details again and again. I wasn’t looking
for another horse – I was and still am the very proud owner of Bounce
– aka Foxmeade Dancer - definitely one of the nicest horses I’ve ever
known, and a great ambassador for his breed. But what’s meant for you
won’t go past you as they say – and I just couldn’t go past Barra Lad!
I’ll tell you more about him next month.
weapons of grass destruction
