RAF Equestrian Team go to Royal Windsor 2012
Each year in May The Royal Air Force Equestrian team have the honour of competing in the
Services Team show jumping class at The Royal Windsor Horse Show, (RWHS). The show
is run over four days in the grounds of Windsor Castle. There are many spectacular displays
of horsemanship ranging from the Shetland Pony Grand National to International Show
Jumping. An entire morning is devoted to the Services Team Show Jumping where teams
from the Royal Navy, Army, RAF, Police and school CCFs compete for Her Majesty’s Cup
that is presented by none other than Her Majesty, Her Majesty.
Each team consists of three members who all jump one round gaining penalties for each
pole down, refusal, circle and seconds over the allowed time. The first rider from each team
competes followed by the second and finally the third. The twelve teams with the lowest
number of penalties go forward to a second round, where one rider is chosen to complete a
round against the clock in front of Her Majesty. Penalties are again awarded for any
mistakes made and the team with the lowest total penalties from the two rounds is crowned
the winner. There is also a trophy for the highest place non-mounted unit.
Prior to the second round of jumping, a parade of all the teams in full uniform is performed in
front of Her Majesty. This is a great honour for all the competitors chosen to compete at this
prestigious event.
For the RAF, team selection takes place at a training camp held 2 weeks prior to the RWHS.
This training and selection is held by ex-Army instructor, show jumper, eventer and Equine
Dentist James Arkley. He has an exceptional amount of experience in the show jumping
world both as a rider and as a trainer, he is an amazing horse man and every year he
conducts the training you see small changes in people very quickly. This year Sqn Ldr
Fieldhouse arranged for the training to be at Vale View EC near Melton Mowbray, owing to
Op Olympic and people struggling for time away from work we had one day of training.
James definitely had his work cut out to decide the final selection in just one day of training
especially when seeing some riders and their horses for the first time! 2012 saw ten lucky
members making it to the training with nine riders then going forward as 3 teams to the
RWHS.
It was a very bright and warm start to the day, which is always good when competing in full
uniform outside! With the class starting at 07.30 an early start was required to ensure that
horses were fed, groomed, manes plaited, course walked, and riders ready.
The ‘C’ team got off to an unfortunate start with Sqn Ldr Field House riding her own Antrim’s
Shadow who chose to sit down and refusing at the ‘bogey’ oxer that had been causing many
problems for other riders all morning so far meaning elimination for this combination. Next to
go in the C team was Sqn Ldr McCreary on the coloured Colorado, they had a lovely steady
round but unfortunately incurred 12 faults on the way round. Last to go with no pressure was
Sqn Ldr Randall riding Dexter, her talented five yr old. This was the first big show he had
been to; he behaved and jumped very well, just two poles down incurring eight faults. The ‘C’
team unfortunately finished on elimination but still had the parade to look forward to later on
in the day.
The ‘A’ team got off to a good start with Flt Lt Wroe riding her own experienced show
jumper/eventer Little Chamonix, just an unfortunate pole down at the last incurring four
faults. The next member to ride was Flt Lt Fleming riding L/Cpl Caterall’s brave, honest and
kind coloured horse Spellbound Major Colour. It was their first time as a partnership at the
RWHS and they jumped a lovely steady clear round. The final member of the ‘A’ team was
myself riding the honest and experienced 15 yr old Ufo, he jumped his heart out to produce a
magnificent clear round, so the A team finished on just 4 faults and were assured of a place
in the jump off.
The ‘B’ Team unfortunately did not fare so well. First to go for this team was Flt Lt Moore
with her own very talented stunning six yr old Montgomery Z, after a short time in partnership
they put in a brilliant effort and just had two fences down incurring eight faults. Second to
jump for this team was Sqn Ldr Martin riding his own beautiful grey event horse Cruise who
put in a good performance with just one very unfortunate pole, scoring four faults. Last to go
for the ‘B’ team was Cpl Marshall riding her own Dino, who was looking very lively before
warming up; she rode a brilliant round with just two fences down incurring eight faults. In
total 20 Faults for the ‘B’ team. There were a number of teams who finished on a score of
20 so it was touch and go as to whether the ‘B’ team had made it through to the final twelve.
Unfortunately a number of teams completing after the final ‘B’ team rider finished on a score
of less than 20 meaning that the ‘B’ team were unsuccessful in their bid for the final twelve
but would still take part in the parade of teams.
Once all the teams had jumped, the top twelve teams were named to compete in the second
round. The ‘A’ team had made it through to the jump off and were sitting in 3rd place – I had
been selected for the jump-off on Ufo and as the jump-off was in reverse order, I was 10th to
jump.
By the afternoon, the sun was very hot and the crowds had built up so much that all the
stands were full; there was little standing room at the sides. This made me nervous of going
in the ring to jump again! The tension was amazing, all the teams including our team had
paraded in front of Her Majesty, and then it was time for the jump-off! I had gone to walk the
course while Wg Cdr Elson had the job of trying to calm Ufo down as he had got a little
worked up by the parade. Back on board and a few practice fences later, it was my turn.
After speaking to my team mates we decided just to go for it, looking for a speedy clear
round that could push us up to second or first place as the teams sitting in those positions
only had one pole in hand!
I trotted in the ring to see the crowds and Her Majesty; Ufo didn’t want to stand for me to
salute as he was very worked up but I knew he had it in him to jump a fast clear and that’s
exactly what we did! We had the fastest jump off time out of all 12 teams to stay on a score
of four faults. It was an amazing feeling to jump round and hear the crowds clapping and
cheering as we cleared the last fence - it was unexplainable to be honest.
The team lying in second had a couple of fences down to push them down the placings
which was good news for us as it meant we were now in second place. A member from the
HCMR was last to go with a zero score from the first round - a pole down and a slower jump
off time than me and we would be the overall winners of the class. It wasn’t to be, he went
clear so we were second but as we were the highest placed non-mounted unit, the RAF ‘A’
team were winners of the Queen’s Plate (it also meant we won a Land Rover rug!). A quick
change putting rugs on and back into the arena for the prize-giving. Ufo decided not to stand
still and was doing his rearing circus act on the side so unfortunately I never got to meet Her
Majesty, but Flt Lt Wroe and Flt Lt Fleming were presented with the Queen’s Plate and
various rosettes. It was an amazing experience for us all and a day I will never forget for the
rest of my life.
A fun day out was had by all with the RAF team members putting in a great effort to try and
pull out all the stops for a successful outcome. Well done to everyone that competed and of
course, none of this would be possible without the continued help and support of the RAF
Sports Board. Also, thanks to all those behind the scenes, grooms, helpers, jump putteruppers, horse holders and everyone else who make the stress and anxiety of competing at
this level a little easier. It also takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make sure the
horses are fit and healthy, and for all those who help to make this possible, thank you. Also,
a special mention for Sqn Ldr Fieldhouse for taking on the RAF Team Chef d’Equipe, for all
her organising and hard work she has put in so far this year.
SAC M Humphries