It is years since I last went to Badminton and when the subject came up earlier in the year it was decided that there would be a big family gathering there on Cross Country day. I was so excited that as soon as online booking opened I was on there booking our tickets and sorting out the campsite. The Devizes site we use is only about half an hour away and a perfect spot to stay so on Saturday we left home and drove up arriving at our normal time of 5pm. Bearing in mind this is Easter weekend we arrived to find only one hard standing pitch left which had been saved for us and it was right at the top end of the site. The campsite was heaving! It was a lovely spot though and really close to a dog-walk which I never knew existed! I took Hamish for a stroll and found myself in a pretty area of trees which were full of blossom …
Jamie and Phill were coming to collect us about 8am on the Sunday morning and so we walked down to the entrance to meet them and loaded up our bag of food and fleeces. We drove up towards the M4 but very soon saw signs to the Trials, followed them and were guided into the car park – all very easy! It was now breakfast time for the boys as they’d been up and on the road since about 6am! Being good campers that they are the table and gas burner were soon out, kettle on for coffees and then the bacon was sizzling in the pan …
The aroma was wonderful and people were passing with envy on their faces! After breks we began the walk over to where the action was and while the boys wandered through the shopping village Mike and I made for the Results notice board where we’d arranged to meet Debbie. It was very busy there …
but eventually we made contact and when the boys arrived we all went back to her car which was parked really close by. We stayed with her until Simon, Vikki and Sara appeared and also the boys’ friend Michael then we began the walk around the course. Here are a selection of photos from the morning walk …
We’d decided to go back to the car for lunch and so leaving Simon and co picnicking at a fence, we reached the buggies which were offering a service back to the field …
It was driven by a ‘mad’ woman!! She was obviously bored of just driving backwards and forwards so made the journey eventful by weaving through all the ruts on the grass and we spent the whole time hanging on for our lives and in fits of laughter! We gave our donations which was for Cancer Research and walked the last bit. Whilst we lunched we heard on the radio that there’d been a nasty fall at a fence and we saw the helicopter in action …
When we got back to the course Simon told us that it had happened at the fence where he’d been having his lunch! We now began the afternoon walk to see some more of the fences and here are the photos …
Simon, Vikki and Sara enjoy a sit down while we watch the last fence before the water …
The lake is always the most popular place to be and so it takes a bit of time to make your way forward to the front of the crowd. While waiting Hamish made friends with something a little larger than himself …
The next thing we know is that there’s been a horrible fall and the screens were erected around the rider – not a good sign. Jamie was using our camcorder and he had it all on there! Then an ambulance came to take the girl away to the helicopter and once again it took to the skies …
By now we were at the front and could see all the action along with loads of professional photographers who were hoping for someone to go splash and fall in the water!
We were now making our way towards Badminton House …
and then on into the wooded section …
ending the day at the quarry where we watched the last few riders go through including Ollie Townend who had a fall and this gorgeous puppy who was sleeping through it all!
It was then time to say farewells to Michael, Simon, Vikki and Sara and the rest of us made our way back to the other side of the course. The boys had one last look at the shops on the way and we met them at the Mark Todd scoreboard which was at this time showing Mark in second place although this was corrected later to make him in first place with the show jumping to come the next day …
As we walked past the House there were grooms out with their charges who were enjoying a relaxing end to the day eating grass …
There was one very thirsty boy when we got back to the car …
Back at the site we all enjoyed a cuppa before saying our goodbyes and the boys set off for Luton.
Today we’d planned as a lazy time at the campsite generally recovering from all the walking done yesterday. Next door were packing up as were loads of other campers as for most people it was back to work tomorrow. Ebony, our neighbours’ elderly dog, was enjoying the sunshine and wearing her master’s hat to keep the sun off her eyes!
What a brilliant weekend – roll on next year!
