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Adam Heaton - Chef d'Equipe - British Reining.

Chef's Blog.

Manerbio – Sunday evening - 14th September

Just cappuchino with spoonfuls of memories.

Today started (as we expected) with payback from Team USA. The handcuffs had been turned against us and it was us who had to break into our own tack stall.

The individual competition started at three o'clock local time and, judging by the text messages, the phone calls, the emails and the carrier pigeons, everyone in Great Britain was watching.  So there is no need to go through the result other than to say all three riders were feeling very, very disappointed tonight.  I should be, but I'm not. I'm not because we got three riders through to the final and Germany only got two.  I'm not because Doug Allen - Speed Devil beat all the Americans. I'm not because we came fourth, and I am not because I am so damned proud of our team and all they have achieved out here. Not only have Team Great Britain have been promoted into the Premier League of Reining this week. We were scrapping for medals with the big three of Italy, USA and Germany.

Sure the wheels came off a little tonight, but these are horses that have shown hard all season and to expect two outstanding runs in one weekend was perhaps expecting too much. But we expected because we dared to dream. We dared to dream because, after Friday, we have a right to dream.

Our four riders excelled at the highest level our sport has to offer and nothing will or can detract from that wonderful result, not the rain, not the mosquitoes, not anything.

I'd like to thank so many people I will probably forget some, apologies if you should be on this list.

The riders, Doug, David, Tammy and Francesca, you have all been fantastic;
The owners, John Faulkener, Kaaren Brown and Pat Greaves, we couldn't have done this without your generosity;
The grooms, Katy Peters and John Greaves, if only we could clone you both so you could sleep at some point in a week like this;
The supporters, too numerous to mention but you know who are, and you were worth at least one point per rider on Friday;
British Reining Council and the selection committee, for giving me such a great team to work with;
Lita Pocock and Lee Rutter at Oakridge Quarter Horses for taking care of our horses whilst we were away;
John Dunford, for being such an understanding boss;
Everyone at Sovereign Quarter Horses and Sterling Quarter Horses;
Jane Muir for doing our laundry from the East Coast, that really is above and beyond the call of duty;
George and Tabitha, just for being brilliant; and
Especially my wife Dawn, she works tirelessly behind the scenes and takes so much pressure off me that I can appear calm and serene at all times.

Thank you all, and good night.

Adam.

Manerbio – Saturday late in the evening - 13th September

"Team G.B. World Reining Championships 2008"
i.e. Doug Allen , Francesca Sternberg, Adam Heaton (Chef d'Equipe),
Tammy Greaves, David Deptford.

Back on expresso interrupted by the occasional cappuchino.

Nothing much happened today really.

Apart from every member of Team Great Britain walking a good two inches taller than they did a week ago. And boy do they deserve it. The look on of our rivals’ faces ranged from respect, through fear, to sheer awe. Mr Allen - Speed Devil Doug as he is now known, has achieved celebrity status after his run last night. The whole British team is looked at through different eyes today; we are being seen as real and present danger to the status quo. Pushing for a bronze medal at a World Championships with a team of self-funded competitors. Just imagine what we could do with just a fraction of the funding currently shared amongst the Olympic disciplines.

Enough gloating about last night though, the truth is that preparations for tomorrow began almost immediately, so there is insufficient time for real celebration, we have three riders through to the individual final and with warm-up running from 11 pm to 1 am (I am writing this sat at the side of the arena at midnight) and paid warm ups running from 5:30 am, the riders spent as much of today resting as is humanly possibly with a continual downpour battering on the roofs of RV's and horse lorries. Finally this afternoon the rain stopped and the air is now fresher than before which suits all our riders, and their mounts down to a tee.

David Deptford, understandably disappointed about missing the cut for the final by just half a point, has been magnificent in the way in which he has rallied, his comment that he came here for the team, not for individual glory sums up his, and his fellow team members approach to this competition. In the wise words of John Greaves:

'Together,
Everybody
Achieves
More'

My wife, along with George and Tabitha, Doug and Francesca's children, has just returned to ringside having locked the Team USA tack stall with a pair of Anne Summers handcuffs. As an upstanding and responsible Chef d'Equipe this is behaviour that I neither agree with nor condone - but do find incredibly funny. (hmmm…whose cuffs were they ? ed.)

I would like to thank all of you who have sent messages of support through email and text and I apologise if I haven't responded, but we have been a bit busy. I can assure you though that every one of them is passed on to the team, and it means so much to all of them to know they have such a great band of supporters rooting for them back home.

Whatever the result tomorrow (or is that today?) I think we can head off home with a feeling of mission accomplished. But it would be even better if we could bring home a medal. Watch it live on the internet from 1 pm, Great Britain time, and if you shout loud enough, I'm sure we'll be able to hear you!

Check in tomorrow for the final instalment of my blog. Just don't expect too much!!!

Adam

download full results here! (PDF)

See Todays Draw List here!

Manerbio – Friday 12th September

Countdown to the FEI World reining Championships – coffee has been replaced by champagne.

It rained today, no it really, really rained. The water in the alley between the stables was eighteen inches deep. The hailstones were the size of grapefruit and the show was delayed by quarter of an hour to clear the water from outside. Still, it made the British feel at home.

For those of you who have never experienced a team event, and judging by the number of Brits here tonight there aren't many people who haven't, the tension is incredible. The feeling slowly switches from one of boredom to one of anticipation to one of electrification. And when you get an full-scale electric storm thrown in, it just adds to the whole event. Being British, being knee deep in water, it actually makes you feel like you really are at a horse show!!!

And that reminds me, you probably want to know about he horse show.

To go into full details would bore you rigid, and stretch my memory to the limit so I'll focus on the heroes of the night - Team GBR!!!

As we went through the opening ceremony, my thoughts were with David Deptford, warming up outside, preparing to follow Pete Kyle into the arena. When David had finished his run, scoring 216 with his usual modesty claimed he should have done better. For the record he rode Old Vaquero not just beautifully, but exceptionally well and I know that he gave us the best possible start. I'd also like to express my eternal gratitude to John Faulkener, the owner of Old Vaquero, for supplying such a wonderful horse.

The next British rider was Tammy. On Jack Wonders Who, a horse she has had less than a season to get acquainted with. No-one was sure what we would get. What we got was the ride of her young life. Scoring 217, our combined scores at the end of two rounds put us fourth position. Three ahead of target at this early stage, thing were looking good.

For Team GBR, Francesca ran next, a less than generous 217 maintained our strong position, and Doug was warming up. At this point, let me tell you, we were up to third place. Then disaster struck, not for any of the British rider but in the shape of Sylvia Rzepka. Scoring a 227, she catapulted Germany from sixth into bronze medal position.

That left the pressure on Doug to conjure up a score and a half. And an incredible ride, resulting in a career best of 223 put us back into medal contention. The result was now in the hands of the Belgians and the German team. Bernard Fonck's run didn't change the team order, it was down to Daniel Klein for Germany. Despite two early lead changes, a stumble and numerous other problems, Daniel somehow carded a 219, enough to take the bronze and put team Great Britain (yet again) in fourth place.

The result though, was almost irrelevant. I have spent the past week (and more) working with four of the finest reiners Great Britain has. At all times they have been wonderful to work with and it has, more than ever before, been a privilege to be Chef d'Equipe. We were beating the Germans for most of the competition, we beat the Belgians, we beat the Swiss, we beat Canada, we beat France and we beat the Netherlands. Hell Doug beat all the Americans!

I shouldn't feel disappointed, but I do.

David, Doug, Francesca and Tammy deserved a medal tonight. They should all be running in the final on Sunday. David sadly missed the cut by 1/2 a point but he was a major part of the Great British team who are in the words of the German Chef d'Equipe 'The best British Team ever'.

And I won't argue with that.

The individual is on Sunday – let’s look forward to that.

Adam.

Manerbio – Thursday  - 11th September

Countdown to the FEI World reining Championships – 24 hrs  3  cappuccinos and expresso whenever I can get it as I said  I like expresso !

There comes a time in everyone's life where something remarkable happens and that has happened to me here today. For the first time since I became Chef d'Equipe, all of Team Great Britain's horses have sailed through the vet inspection! The sense of relief is enormous. Even when you are sure that there is nothing wrong, as we have been this week, the fear of one or more of a team's horses failing the inspection is so real you can almost taste it. The tension created by this exercise is incredible but it serves a purpose and is actually quite a good spectator sport in it's own right.

After a few shaky moments for some of our fellow teams, it was great to see all of the horses pass. This is testament to the fact that the reining community is improving all the time and we now understand that, in the eyes of the FEI, a trot does not look like a shuffling, stumbling pleasure jog. The inspection is also a marvellous way of focussing the mind before the competition proper begins at 2pm tomorrow. Another bloody good way of doing that is to have the draw for team positions. We already knew our team order with David bravely accepting the challenge of being the first British rider into the arena. Tammy will follow, with Francesca and Doug completing our line up. But the draw still has to be made to find the finalised running order. All was going well when the psychologically important 1st position was drawn by the Czech Republic Chef d'Equipe. With the bogey number gone, I was feeling very relaxed when we drew number three. The team USA drew number two.

So we're following the Yanks. Not the greatest of positions but as long as each of our riders beats the score of the rider before them, we should be in good shape. Doug is the exception to this as, with individual riders slotted into the draw, he will be following Russia's sole rider.

Now I'm not one to name drop but there is a wonderful (and true) story about Michael Schumacher, who is here cheering on his wife Corinna in the non-pro classes. Mr Schumacher was standing in reception with a couple of his entourage when the wife of one of Team USA's riders (who will remain nameless) came in a state of some distress. Apparently the BMW that she had as a rental car wouldn't start as she had forgotten how the immobiliser worked. Running into reception she asked if anybody spoke English. Michael, seeing a damsel in distress gallantly spoke up and said he spoke a little English and asked how he could help.

'Do you know anything about cars?" she asked, sublimely oblivious to who Michael was, or why he was famous!

"Not as much as this guy." said Michael, pointing to his minder and he proceeded to interpret between his minder and the lady until a solution was found.

We had still more Brits arriving today with around a dozen more friendly faces appearing on the showground throughout the day. Rumour has it there are more on the way. The support is incredible, and very much appreciated. Today's piccy shows just some of the mass ranks of Team GBR.

Tomorrow's blog promises to be the hardest one I will have to write, through either bitter disappointment or a celebratory alcoholic fog. I fully expect it to be an almost totally incoherent ramble.

Whichever it is, I know I will be proud of the whole team, who have worked incredibly hard and shown a focus and determination to get this far.

More tomorrow.

Adam

PS I've had a question via the blog, which means at least one person has read it!

Kiki Maurey has asked me just how our FEI riders keep their mental focus at such an important event? How do they not let the pressure get to them?

Without wanting to speak for the riders, each of whom I'm sure will have a slightly different answer, I think when you reach this level of competition, you have a certain amount of self belief, and a belief in your horse. This allows you to then break down each and every run into it's components. The ability to ride a manoeuvre, and then forget about it, good or bad, and move on to the next manoeuvre is paramount and the ability to shut out the outside world and picture the run in your mind is also vital. In the run up to the competition, the focus is maintained in the training sessions and preparations necessary to compete at this level. Ask any of the top riders though and they will all tell you 'It's just another horse show'. Like hell it is!!!

The event starts here at 2p.m. local time

Manerbio – Wednesday  - mighty late at night - 10th September

Countdown to the FEI World reining Championships – 1 days and a bit 5  cappuccinos and 8 espresso’s to go.  I like expresso !

I am now a mighty happy Chef d'Equipe. I have four riders and five horses at the showground having picked up Francesca (and George and Tabitha) from the airport yesterday. Even better, they all (horses and riders) look in good shape. We had the luxury of an early practice session as the IRHA Maturity Open Go-round only had 135 entries (!) so they finished at six o'clock.

Tomorrow is the horse inspection, the dreaded trot-up, so I'm now mixing valium in with the espresso as it is the one part of this job that I really do dislike. The trot-up is at two. Someone obviously thought it would be a really good idea to get 50 horses and riders standing around outside at the hottest point of the day in a country where the temperature is averaging 35 degrees (I know I said I wouldn't mention the weather, but I'm not boasting about it this time, I'm complaining, so that doesn't count!!!).

We were joined out here in the blazing sunshine under a cloudless sky (damn, I've gone and mentioned it again) by Peter and Denise Lane who have flown out to cheer us on. If the British contingent keeps on growing, we will have to lend some supporters to the Americans. Only kidding, we've already 'lent' them a groom in the shape of Lauren Jolly who is working for Pete Kyle. More are due to arrive tomorrow, including Mark How, our reserve rider, and half of Cambridgeshire who are flying out to support David and the rest of the team.

Speaking of the Americans, the poor lambs only had two pallets onto which they could pack their tack and equipment, so they have been borrowing forks, wheelbarrows and brooms from the Brits all week. Feeling sorry for them, we bought them a little something to help out (see attached picture).

More tomorrow, or is that later today?

Manerbio – Wednesday morning  - 10th September

Countdown to the FEI World reining Championships – 2 days and 9 cappuccinos and 4 espresso’s to go.

First blood to Team Great Britain. We, well Dawn and Tammy if I'm being completely honest, got the stalls decorated with Union Jacks before the Germans, with whom we are sharing, managed to hoist a flag, Our other stable mates, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Poland also entered into the spirit of the event and our block is now known as carnival alley.

I promise faithfully that this is the last time I mention it, but today was beautifully hot, sunny and the sky was cloudless. I know from those Brits who arrived today that Britain was not quite so good so I'll skip the weather report from now on in as I don't want to make anyone jealous.

With the Italian Maturity starting today, the first class (the non-pro) started at eight o'clock in the morning, and is still going on as I write this at at twenty past nine at night, today has felt a little flat as far as the team competition is concerned, although the process of accreditation did take a large chunk out of the day, The riders Doug, David and Tammy, (Francesca arrives tomorrow) will have to work through the night tonight in order to work their horses so it was vital that everyone took it easy through the day.

This doesn't mean that the Team rivalry isn't building, with friendly(?) banter being exchanged on a regular basis with Teams USA, Canada et al. It's all a way of relieving some of the pressure that is now building as the competition draws ever nearer. Everyone in the British camp is upbeat and positive and there is an expectation growing that we can achieve a really good result out here. From my own point of view, success would mean a top seven team place, but we are setting our sights higher and everyone is determined to produce the best possible result on the day.

The first of the supporters arrived today, in the shape of the Dunford family, with more due to arrive over the next couple of days, there will be a healthy contingent of British support by Friday, it is wonderful to see friendly faces arrive at an event like this and really gives the whole team a boost whenever Team GBR acquires another member.

Anyway, I'll keep today's blog short and sweet as I'm off to bed now so I can watch the training session in a few hours.

Espresso coffee by the gallon will keep me going from this point forward. Thank God we're in Italy, the coffee is fabulous.

More tomorrow.

Adam

Manerbio – Tuesday 9th September

Countdown to the FEI World reining Championships – 3 days and 14 cappuccinos to go.

Welcome to my Blog.

Question -  what three letter word, beginning with S, is something that’s as good on the front as on the back , makes you feel great, is hot, is enjoyed by everyone ,  the answer is Sun  (I know what you were thinking) and there’s plenty of it here in Italy just 50 miles from beautiful Lake Garda. Dawn – my other half and I arrived yesterday. No wellies or waterproofs – just sun block, team shirt, nervous energy and hope.

Manerbio, one of Europe’s leading equestrian centres is in the process of gearing itself up for the arrival of the teams competing for the greatest and most significant reining team event since the World Equestrian Games in 2006. There’s a buzz, a bustle of activity and an air of expectancy that precedes a major International sporting event.

The British Team horses arrived yesterday - to join Tammy (Greaves) who arrived over the weekend and who has set up base camp. Horses, tack, the paraphernalia, vets, managers, grooms are all converging in a flurry of activity.

The all important trot up is on Thursday – The team event on Friday and the Individual competition on Sunday.

I’ll keep you updated with the to-ings and fro-ings, team news, showground chit-chat. How to access the livestream will be published in the next 48 hours so you can be part of the experience supporting the team from home.

If you have any questions on what's going on out here – email chefdequipe@britishreining.co.uk and I’ll try to answer a selection over the next few days.

Further information on the World Reining Championships can be found at http://feiworldreining.mdsmedia.it