TALKING POINT

GLORIOUS MUD!

HEAVY storms affected the new venue at Oswestry in the early part of the week and several took to Facebook to complain bitterly about waterlogged stables and mud.

But the complaints were far outweighed by riders vigorously defending the show’s organisers, and from Tuesday onwards the sun came out to play and the showground dried quickly.

Novice 85cm debut winner

Courtney Thompson was on her first visit to Scope and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“We’ve had a fabulous time and will definitely come again,” she said.

George Babes (son Graham won the five-year-old title) has attended every single show of the 20-year history.

“We live in Britain — it rains! The organisers have tried their utmost and I think they’ve done a fantastic job in putting on a show of this calibre in eight short months after losing the Stafford venue unexpectedly,” said George. “I’m sure positive teething problems will be resolved next year and the alternative is no show at all. We ought to get behind them and support them,” he added.

Geoff Billington summed up. “I salute [show directors] Jimmy Maguire, Bob Young and their team who have worked around the clock to make it a brilliant show,” he said. “If social media had been around in the early days, we wouldn’t have had the likes of Hickstead. The weather cannot be controlled anywhere in the world — I’ve been up to my neck in mud in Aachen, never mind Oswestry!”