The road to a CCI5* is rarely smooth and full of stories - here are some that will make you laugh and cry as we talk to Padraig McCarthy, Mike Winter, David Doel and Francis Whittington
Most CCI5* events have 11 months to get ready but, as Andrew Fell, Manager of Bicton Arena, the equestrian side of the Bicton Estate in Devon, points out, they have had only 11 weeks
“I know I’m not a Chris Burton or Kevin McNab, but I love to event on an amateur level and just have a really great time doing it” Australian rider Alice Hirst is living the dream in the UK
Video Interview: Captain Mark Phillips talks about building a CCI5* course from scratch, the ‘double edge weapon’ of frangible devices, his trademark course design and what we can expect to see at Bicton where ‘We’ve got more terrain than Badminton or Burghley”
“Every major championship I’ve participated in as a coach, I’ve come away learning something more. The process is never ending” Chris Bartle talks about Tokyo 2020, the challenges of selection, the new Olympic format and the styles of riding that lead to success
“Try not to aim for something that is completely out of your reach" Harriet Ford has already kicked some goals in 2021 and made an impressive start in the new Novice Masters Series
“I think that coaching is probably my future" says William Fox-Pitt as he talks about his horses at Hartpury, MIM clips ('a big issue'), the coming European Championships and his role as a coach
Video Interview: The CEO of British Eventing, Helen West, discusses her new role and how preparations and entries for the CCI5* at Bicton are coming along
Gill Watson, one of the world's most successful trainers of young eventing riders, talks about the CCI4* dressage test, what makes a strong competitor and the cross country at Hartpury International
"Too many people run fast and hard the whole time now" British Olympian Jeanette Brakewell may currently have a gap at the top of her string (she's open to opportunities!) but her focus on producing youngsters is a job she loves
