NO MUD BATHS, PLEASE!

FOR many years, Yorkshire’s grass collecting ring has taken a fair amount of criticism, especially on wet show days, so the newly laid Andrews Bowen warm-up arena received universal praise.

Graham Fletcher, who was instrumental in the change, explained: “Riders put up with it because they love to jump in the main arena, but it’s not great when the main ring is division one and the outside ring is division four.

“It’s important to have conditions in the warm-up area right as the modern day competition horses are sensitive and they cannot give their best in the main ring if they are feeling the ground in the collecting ring.

“I think the standard of jumping has been incredible here, and the new surface paid dividends especially after the constant rain on the first day.”