Polish Adventures Part 2: Junior European Eventing Championships

Much loved commentator/controller, Henry Symington, is well known to many of us who event. He is the 'voice of eventing' on the domestic scene, providing entertaining commentary and ensuring our safety on course. He also commentates and controls internationally, and here he regales Part 2 of his recent adventures to Poland for the Junior European Eventing Championships.

Some find dressage mind-numbingly boring and akin to watching paint dry, but I rather enjoy it, especially when done well - Charlotte Du Jardin and Valegro being fine examples. Here in Bialy Bór, it soon became apparent that the German team and individuals had been hard at work practising. In fact they dominated the leader board both for the team and individual placings after this first phase. Dressage commentating is not the most testing, so it was good to be able to watch some of the tests while my Polish colleagues and teammates worked out the scoring system and how to make the computers work!

I suppose the highlight of any event is the cross country phase where ‘man’ and ‘animal’  are really required to work as a team; each one’s life literally depending on the other. The riders have at least had the advantage of walking the course several times beforehand so know what’s coming up – whereas the horse hasn’t a clue - a bit like the English speaking Commentator! Now, as many of you know, I’m not adverse to a challenge, but the whole of the cross country radio reporting was to be conducted in Polish and I don’t speak a word. Luckily I had brought my travel plot board – which tracks the horses around the different fences -  and was able to explain to my Polish colleague how it worked. I described how he would have to plot where the horses were on course as the radio reports came in and write down any refusals since I wouldn’t be able to understand what was being said. 

I have come to the conclusion that Polish is spoken at quite a high volume and very quickly - even quite benign conversations sound like an argument - so this in addition to the existing excitement of the cross country box exacerbated an already fraught situation. Once we got underway the situation didn’t improve, with radios blasting out Polish, the scoring team (also in the box) discussing computer problems and scoring issues, and at one point the Controller completely losing the plot (as far as I could tell) and leaving the box. I note with interest that the other British officials stayed well clear as I manfully struggled on through it all!

I’m pleased to report that, as far as I can tell, all got round safely and there were very few falls or retirements, which is a great compliment to all the team trainers, vets, and grooms for preparing the competitors, both human and equine, so well.

And so, having survived the excitement of the middle phase, we went onto the final phase - the showjumping.

Read the final installment of Henry's adventures in the next Myrtle Musings coming soon!

If you've enjoyed reading this blog and would like to hear more hilarious tales from the commentary box, Henry is available for after dinner speaking, as enjoyed by the pony club, British Eventing officials and other groups. You can contact Henry on henrysymington.45@btinternet.com  for more information.

Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical Writing and Cathean Ltd Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical & copy writer and equestrian journalist with a passion for creating high quality content for her clients. Her customers include pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses in the UK and across the world.