My Time at Bolesworth International CSI****

I was very excited a few months back when my mum finally agreed to come with me to Bolesworth International. Having found out about it last year but it being too late to get time off work we weren't able to go. So this year I made sure to book the time off work well in advance, well as soon as april came and we were allowed. Next up was ordering the tickets, I'd missed the 2 for 1 deal they had around Christmas and New year so the next best deal was 40% on the presale. The hardest part for us was choosing the day, there was parts of each day that we both wanted to see. This would be great if it was a day long event. After much discussion we chose to go on the Saturday 18th June. 

Trying to find the venue was complete mayhem when you listen to a satnav the whole way. It got us to about 10 minutes away perfectly then started to take us down some back roads that had signs for 'no event traffic', 'no horse boxes this way' and 'horse box parking 100 yards away'. We were on a wild goose chase turning around where we could for about 30 minutes until I ended up with Google Maps searching for Bolesworth castle, this took us the correct way. Tip for Bolesworth when you can no event traffic, please put another sign saying which way for us to go! 

Once there we had a look at a few stands then we went to watch the Show jumping on the grass, having never been before we were walking around finding out where everything was. Then finding the main arena we were just in time to see Scott Brash in the young horses class Jump off. He had a clear round on Cademuir but didn't quite get around quick enough at ended up with 7th. It was great seeing Michael Whitaker in this class to, placing in the top 6.  

After this class we had another walk around to get a coffee, hot chocolate & a danish pastry. Throughout the afternoon we had a look through the stalls, found some stuff we both wish we had the money to kit out the horses with and then we were back on the search for the ex-racehorse display, which in the end we ended up missing due to not remembering which arena it was in. One great thing I feel Bolesworth should add is a board outside each arena to say what's on and the times, I know they are probably in the programmes but not everyone want's a programme for this purpose. It was a shame because we spent most of the day not knowing which class was which, what time they started and what was on next. This was one of the main reasons we left at 2:30pm as we didn't know what was left of the day. 

Although it turned out very well as through all our walking around we were able to see Michael Whitaker on his horse waiting to go into the main ring for the young horse class presentation, Ben Maher & Scott Brash, who I really wanted a picture with and one of my aims of the day was to see him but I was too nervous to ask, silly me and that is a big regret of mine. Definitely next time there's no holding back haha. 

After having a few ups and downs of the day it turned out to be a great day, the weather held out for us although it was muddy from the past days the sky was dry and it was warm but not too hot. I'm definitely wanting to go back next year, after the traveling my mum isn't too keen so I've either got some convincing to do, find someone else to go with or have a day out to myself. 

Did you go to Bolesworth International this year? What day did you go on & are you going back again?

Credit to Events Through a Lens for the Scott Brash Picture

& the other image was from Bolesworth International Facebook.

More images can be seen from the event on both pages.