"Crikey, it is finally here - the end to the season 2011. Now I would be lying if I didn’t admit that on the odd occasion as a show organizer one daydreamed about never having to set foot on a showground again (it’s normally at about 1am during wet shows) but when the end of a long season finally comes, it’s always with mixed emotions. Happiness is in the form of a holiday to France next week (wooo hooo), but there’s also the inevitable sadness too that all the fun is over for another year. The anti-climax of next week makes leaving the country nigh on essential. And what a season it’s been, and what a fabulous new show we’ve had.

The wrong horse

Now, for today’s blog I actually have to hark back to last night when, sitting having supper with my sister Chloe, I received a text from the lovely Shirley Light – of Brendon Stud fame. Having regaled my readers last night with the story of Truly Darco only costing £50, the text went something like this:

'Dear Dozy Daisy. Shirley here. Um, excuse me, Truly Darco jolly well was not £50 – he went for that but with several noughts on the end! I think you’ll find it was Andrea Skinner’s lovely horse It’s Billy the Kid that was such a bargain!’

Oopsie, and huge apologies to Laura Preston. That will teach me ever to listen to Jess, one of our esteemed showjumping secretaries again (henceforth Dozy Jess!) Funnily enough, I did think it was quite amazing that a progeny of Darco, one of the top sires in the world, had gone for so little. Always one for a wind-up, my sister Chloe, herself also a horse dealer and breeder in Sussex like Shirley, sent her a text saying: “I know we’ve just done quite well on a deal we pulled off together Shirley, but it doesn’t mean you can flood the Sussex market with good cheap horses, you’ll do me out of business!” At least it proves someone reads my blog though I suppose.

Hickstead rumour mill 

Although I have had a lovely relaxing week, the ‘other’ office (we split into two offices in the summer) have been at pains to point out that it’s been just as busy as any other show for them this week, as there’s still tones of horses here! Anyway, Dozy Jess should probably be excused for her misinformation due to extreme tiredness, but it is not the only reason she became BF today (Blog Fodder). As you can imagine, in such a close knit environment as this, we thrive on any gossip and Jessica provided ample when she was busted arriving early this morning with Matt (who works on the showground) in her car - who it has to be said was looking rather hot and sweaty. The rumour mill went in to overdrive particularly when he appeared in the office later to try and give her ten pounds she said ‘oh don’t worry Matt, it only took two minutes!’ The boring truth was that she’d found him running home from a mates to get changed and then in to work and had given him a lift – or so they say, anyway!

A grand day for Tim 

The competition in the main ring reached a thrilling climax this afternoon as Tim Davies because the first person ever to win our All England Grand Prix – Tim hadn’t been to Hickstead for years, but this year has made a triumphant return with a third in the Templant Events Queen Cup at our July show and grand prix win here. We are now his favourite show!

So it’s goodbye from me for now… but not for a whole year, as I shall be back blogging from HOYS… really a recipe for disaster as I’ll have even more time for going out and having fun, but I’ll be behind the scenes catching up with some of the best in the world and keeping you up to date on all the gossip.

Thanks for reading!"

Daisy