sports tribute

British Sport’s Tribute to

HM The Queen

British Sport’s Tribute to HM The Queen | 3

CONTENTS4 The Queen’s Message

11 The Royal Heartbeat

43 The Queen and the Sporting Royals

Publishers Mayfair Sporting Club Ltd ASI Corporation Ltd

Publishing Director Michael Helliet

Sales Director Mark HudsonEmail: [email protected]

Managing Editor Jonathan Feld Email: [email protected]

Consultant Editor Kier Radnedge

Design Ian Harris

Photography Charles Sainsbury-Plaice

Events Mayfair Sporting Club Ltd Email: [email protected]

Advertising Sales ASI Corporation Ltd

Printers Harrison Print Services Ltd

Supporting Organisation Help for Heroes

Mayfair Sporting Club LtdLower Ground Floor 102 Whitfield St London W1T 5EB

Tel: 0207 388 5999 Web: www.mayfairsportingclub.com

ASI Corporation Ltd Suite 228 Rosden House 372 Old St London EC1V 9LT

Tel: 0844 669 6080 Contact: Kashif Saleem Web: www.asiuk.co.uk

4 Queen’s Message

6 Foreword: Bryn Parry (Help for Heroes)

Sandringham, Shows and Shooting

11 The Royal Heartbeat

20 A Sporting Legacy at Historic Royal Palaces

22 CLA Game Fair - The Pride of Britain

26 Bisley - Business as Usual

30 Willoughby McCabe & Co.

The Queen, Scotland & Scottish Country Sports

35 Balmoral and Beyond

40 Cemmick & Wylder - Capturing Wild Scotland

The Queen and the Sporting Royals

43 The Queen and the Sporting Royals

Equestrianism and the Royals

55 The Royal Connection

60 Burghley - The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

64 Blenheim - Best of British

66 Brocklehurst - Flying the Flag

72 Gatcombe - Home from Home for the Princess Royal

4 | British Sport’s Tribute to HM The Queen

Queen’s Message

Queen’s Message“Over four hundred years ago, King James the Sixth of Scotland inherited the throne of England at a time when the Christian Church was deeply divided. Here at Hampton Court in 1604, he convened a conference of churchmen of all shades of opinion to discuss the future of Christianity in this country. The King agreed to commission a new translation of the Bible that was acceptable to all parties. This was to become the King James or Authorized Bible, which next year will be exactly four centuries old.

Acknowledged as a masterpiece of English prose and the most vivid translation of the scriptures, the glorious language of this Bible has survived the turbulence of history and given many of us the most widely-recognised and beautiful descriptions of the birth of Jesus Christ which we celebrate today.

The King James Bible was a major cooperative endeavour that required the efforts of dozens of the day’s leading scholars. The whole enterprise was guided by an interest in reaching agreement for the wider benefit of the Christian Church, and to bring harmony to the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.

Four hundred years later, it is as important as ever to build communities and create harmony, and one of the most powerful ways of doing this is through sport and games. During this past year of abundant sporting events, I have seen for myself just how important sport is in bringing people together from all backgrounds, from all walks of life and from all age-groups.

In the parks of towns and cities, and on village greens up and down the country, countless thousands of people every week give up their time to participate in sport and exercise of all sorts, or simply encourage others to do so. These kinds of activity are common throughout the world and play a part in providing a different perspective on life.

Apart from developing physical fitness, sport and games can also teach vital social skills. None can be enjoyed without abiding by the rules, and no team can hope to succeed without cooperation between the players. This sort of positive team spirit can benefit communities, companies and enterprises of all kinds.

As the success of recent Paralympics bears witness, a love of sport also has the power to help rehabilitate. One only has to think of the injured men and women of the Armed Forces to see how an interest in games and sport can speed recovery and renew a sense of purpose, enjoyment and comradeship.

Right around the world, people gather to compete under standard rules and, in most cases, in a spirit of friendly rivalry. Competitors know that, to succeed, they must respect their opponents; very often, they like each other too.

Sportsmen and women often speak of the enormous pride they have in representing their country, a sense of belonging to a wider family. We see this vividly at the Commonwealth Games, for example, which is known to many as the Friendly Games and where I am sure you have noticed that it

is always the competitors from the smallest countries who receive the loudest cheers.

People are capable of belonging to many communities, including a religious faith. King James may not have anticipated quite how important sport and games were to become in promoting harmony and common interests. But from the scriptures in the Bible which bears his name, we know that nothing is more satisfying than the feeling of belonging to a group who are dedicated to helping each other:

‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should to do to you, do ye even so to them’.”

HM. Queen Elizabeth II

Royal Christmas Message 2011, Hampton Court Palace.

A Sporting Tribute to Her Majesty the Queen

Foreword


Foreword: Bryn Parry (Help for Heroes)

Foreword“We may not be able to prevent our soldiers being hurt, but together we are helping them get better. Thank you all for all you are doing; keep it up!”

Firstly, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the publishers Mayfair Sporting Club and ASI for asking us to write the foreword for British Sport’s Tribute to HM The Queen in this year of the Queen’s 85th birthday.

Additionally, we would like to extend our thanks to event promoters Mayfair Sporting Club for choosing Help for Heroes (H4H) as the beneficiary of their recent British Sport’s Tribute event ,which took place on 1st June at the Millennium Hotel in central London. Both the event and auction were exceedingly successful, and well supported by the patrons; our wounded Band of Brothers – who were invited guests certainly had fun!

We cannot talk about the event without taking pause to thank the following companies who donated gifts for the auction at the event. They are, in no order of preference, the CLA Game Fair, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Brocket Hall and Eley Hawk. We are incredibly grateful for their support, and know that the money raised at the auction will make a great difference to the lives of the wounded. We are also similarly

grateful to Roxtons Field Sports, The Hempel Hotel and Blenheim Palace who have already donated items for the autumn Mayfair Sporting Club dinner event which is being held on October 20th at the same venue. Once again we are the nominated charity and we look forward to a continuing relationship with the Mayfair Sporting Club.

H4H has raised over £100 million since we launched in October 2007 and all of the funds raised to date have been either allocated or spent on the direct, practical support of those wounded in the current conflicts or injured in training.

To date, H4H has funded a variety of projects including the £8m Rehabilitation Complex at Headley Court, a new £3.5m treatment centre for Combat Stress, adaptive adventure training through the Battle Back programme and the creation of a £6m Quick Reaction Fund to support individuals or their families in need.

Our most recent project has been the creation of five regional Personnel Recovery Centres that provide, in partnership with The Royal British Legion and other Service charities, on-going training and support for the wounded after Headley Court.

We accept that men and women injured in the service of their country may eventually have to leave their job of choice but H4H is entirely focused on ensuring that if that has to happen, those individuals only do so when they are ready, have the very best opportunities and the long term care they need; they deserve nothing less.

On behalf of all of us at Help for Heroes and all those who we will help, thank you for supporting our Charity.

With best wishes,

Bryn and Emma Parry OBE

Help for Heroes Co-Founders

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| Sandringham, Shows & Shooting!

Sandringham, Shows & Shooting!

Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! |


After nearly 60 years and in the year of her 85th birthday, it is fair to say

that HM The Queen does touch the real world of British life, especially the part of it inhabited by what remains of the landed upper classes. A life of moors and deer-stalking, of summers under British rain, dogs and horses, the church, the armed forces, the same few boarding schools. But while the Royal Family is prepared to consider, and has embraced, change in many areas, it’s enthusiasm for hunting, shooting,fishing and horses remains as much a part of royal life as anything else.

Although a Royal residence for only 150 years, Sandringham abounds in history, solemnity, drama and peace. It has seen the deaths of two monarchs, suffered its share of wartime drama and was the venue for the first ever Christmas Broadcast.

The formative years of The Queen were spent at Sandringham and it is here that we must start if we are to understand not only her attachment to the place and it’s surroundings but also the underlying philosophy of the royals - that certain things can never, and must not, change.

There were many royal retreats in the UK – Henry VIII alone financed a number of them, Hampton Court the most notable – but there are last bastions and lasting bastions. “Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere in the world” is the famous refrain of King George, who died there in 1936, which echoes strongly to this day within the beating heart of the Royal Family. George’s son, King George VI who was born in York Cottage on the Estate, died in 1952 at Sandringham House and is buried in the adjoining church of St Mary Magdalene.

The Royal Estate was originally initiated by the Prince Consort Albert, who wanted to find a healthy country retreat for his eldest son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales who later became Edward VII. The creation and rebuilding of the Estate was continued by Albert Edward following his

Edward VII.

George V. Sandringham shooting party circa 1900.



father’s death in 1861. It became obvious that the existing house, which was bought for £220,000, was not suitable for large social gatherings and a growing family, so the then Prince of Wales rebuilt it completely.

As well as social occasions, the other main activity at Sandringham was shooting. The Prince of Wales liked to be outdoors as much as possible and he devised the idea of ST - Sandringham Time. The idea was to make the most of the winter daylight hours for his passion for shooting and so the clocks all over the Sandringham Estate were advanced by half an hour. King George V maintained this custom during his lifetime, but King Edward VIII abolished it on his accession in 1936.

The Royal Stud at Sandringham was another Prince of Wales inspiration which was completed

in the 1880’s replacing the Royal Stud at Hampton Court. One of the most important residents in this early period was the Prince’s broodmare PERDITA II who produced the Derby / St. Leger winner Persimmon,

Guineas / Derby / St. Leger winner Diamond Jubilee, and Goodwood Cup winner Florizel II. Persimmon retired back to stud at Sandringham and was an outstanding sire. After his death in 1908, a statue was raised

“Dear Old Sandringham”.

The clocks were changed to ST - Sandringham Time.



in his honour at the Stud. His mounted head is on display at the Jockey Club Racing Museum in Newmarket, while his skeleton is enshrined at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London.

King George V bred Oaks and Guineas winner Scuttle. King George VI bred Hypericum, Rising Light, and Above Board. Queen Elizabeth II has bred Doutelle, Aureole, Pall Mall, Highclere, Carozza, Dunfermline, Canisbay, Above Suspicion, Almeria, Example, Escorial, Hopeful Venture, Pindari, Charlton, Atlas, Agreement and Magna Carta. Other notable horses at Sandringham have been the great broodmare Feola and the Epsom and Irish Derby winner Shirley Heights who was successfully sired to Sandringham after retirement.

One of George V’s innovations at Sandringham was the founding

of the first Royal pigeon loft in 1886. Almost annually several were entered in international contests; pigeons from the Royal lofts also saw active service with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War.

King George V’s reign also saw the birth of a new Christmas tradition at Sandringham. The first Christmas broadcast to the Empire was made live on Christmas Day, 1932, from Sandringham’s ‘business-room’. History was made again in 1957 when The Queen made her first televised broadcast live on Christmas Day from Sandringham’s library.

The first visit by Princess Elizabeth to Sandringham was Christmas 1926, aged just eight months, when she visited her grandparents King George V and Queen Mary. From that time the Princess made regular visits to Sandringham. During the Second World War she and her sister were often resident on the Sandringham estate, living at Appleton House. In 1943 Princess Elizabeth was featured in newspapers helping with the harvest.

Shooting at Sandringham is essentially a pheasant shoot which lends credence to the Duke’s opinion of shooting as both a social and practical necessity. To this day, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh maintains that his views on shooting, which form

Prince Philip and shooting party.

Statue of the great racehorse Persimmon.

Image: www.agripix.co.uk/Charles Sainsbury-Plaice



the foundations of his position as custodian of the countryside, are based on his extended and continuing experiences at the Sandringham Estate. The Duke frequently invites sporting friends to the Royal Family’s 20,000-acre Norfolk estate whilst The Queen often accompanies the Duke on pheasant shoots. Prince Charles and the Princess Royal have organised competitions in which they lead rival shooting parties and it seems the royal passion will not dim with a new generation. Prince William is said to prefer shooting to any other sport, while Prince Andrew took his daughter Beatrice on a shoot when she was six.

The Sandringham Estate, which provides employment to over 200 people, is a commercial estate like Balmoral managed privately on The Queen’s behalf. Sandringham House, the museum and the grounds

are open to visitors. It also hosts the Sandringham Game & Country Fair which is in its fifth year and in keeping with the association of gundogs and the Sandringham Estate highlights the finals of the Gundog Multiscurry along with several other dog events.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, perhaps at heart the most ardent country sports enthusiast of all the Royals, has been an attendee of the CLA Game Fair which is the biggest countryside exhibition in the world running for over fifty years.

The 2011 show is being held at historic Blenheim Palace whose Royal connections were cemented in the 18th century as it was created to celebrate the British victory over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession and was a gift from Princess Anne and a grateful nation to the first Duke of Marlborough.

Accreditationswww.royal.gov.uk www.tbheritage.com

Carriage Racing at Sandringham.


Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! | A Sporting Legacy at Historic Royal Palaces

Hampton Court Palace is an official Olympic Games venue - the palace will

proudly host the Cycling Time Trials on 1 August 2012. But then the palaces have been hosting major sporting events for centuries.

Henry VIII was passionately addicted to sport, particularly tennis. In 1528 he commissioned the first Real Tennis court at Hampton Court, and the palace is now home to the oldest court in England. The Banqueting House is the only surviving part of Whitehall Palace, destroyed by fire in 1698, and it was here that Anne Boleyn was watching a game of tennis at the time of her arrest. She is reported to have complained to her guards that if they had waited until the end of the game she would have won her bet! Legend also has it that Henry VIII heard of the execution of Anne Boleyn as he played tennis at Hampton Court.

Jousting was the extreme sport of the Tudor period - two knights on horseback aimed to shatter their wooden lances on each other. For many years Henry VIII was one of the country’s best jousters, and in 1537 the Hampton Court Palace Tiltyard was built as an arena for his sporting tournaments. Despite the risks, injuries and narrow escapes it was said of Henry VIII that he had ‘no respect or fear of anyone in the world.’ The King’s jousting career ended at the age of 44, when he was knocked from his horse. He lay unconscious for two hours and they say ‘he fell so heavily that everyone thought it was a miracle he was not killed’.

The Tiltyard’s brick tower remains at Hampton Court Palace today, and

from there spectators had wonderful views of tournaments. A main event was foot combat, often fought between two armoured knights using a sword or polaxe. The all-over protection against the weapons used in this fast and furious sport needed to allow maximum movement, and at the Tower of London you can still see the armour worn by Henry VIII at these spectacular events.

Historic Royal Palaces’ venues have hosted many great events, including Shakespeare’s performance for Elizabeth I in Hampton Court Palace’s Great Hall, and Henry VIII’s weddings. More recently the palaces hosted the Summit for European Heads of State or Government in 2005 and HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday.

A Sporting Legacy at Historic Royal Palaces

Jousting was hugely popular during the Tudor period.

The Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace.

Historic Royal Palaces’ unique venues are available for corporate and private events, weddings and receptions.

To speak to one of their Event specialists call 0844 482 7780, or find out more at www.hrp.org.uk


Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! | CLA Game Fair - The Pride of Britain

The CLA Game Fair, the world’s greatest country sports event and the UK’s

largest National Countryside Show, will be held at Blenheim Palace. Oxfordshire, on Friday 22 – Sunday 24 July, for the 4th time in the history of this magnificent festival celebrating the very best of rural Britain.

Since it made its debut on the countryside scene way back in 1958, The Game Fair has expanded from 55 exhibitors and 8,500 visitors to being an essential meeting point for around 950 exhibitors and more than 140,000 visitors from the UK and abroad. It is the oldest and biggest Game Fair, the annual social gathering of country sports enthusiasts and offers a wonderful opportunity for non-enthusiasts to learn more about the workings of the countryside and try their hand at many of the country sports.

It all started in 1956, when a small group of men from the Game Research Station (eventually to become the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust), had the idea of bringing the British shooting community together for a weekend. Having been turned down for sponsorship by the British Fields Sports Association they turned to the Country Landowners Association who took up the idea of having a show for shooting enthusiasts – and ushered in a piece of history.

The first show was held at Stetchworth, Cambridgeshire. Having been heralded a great success by all that attended as well as the post show reports in the sporting press, the second event was immediately planned. Hackwood Park was the chosen venue where the event took another step forward by including game angling.

Along the way the show has had some bumpy times. During the early 90’s the event lost its way and faltered, then the turn of the

century saw it climb back up to the powerful position it holds in the countryside calendar today.

2001 was a rocky year with foot and mouth seeing shows close throughout the land. However, with a late change from its proposed Woburn Abbey venue (due to the number of deer on the Estate) to Shuttleworth Old Warden Park in Bedfordshire, The Game Fair went ahead to the relief of many by now struggling rural businesses. Then 2007 the show was cancelled for the first time brought about by the site at Harewood House becoming waterlogged and unfit for use.

The CLA Game FairThe King of Game FairsBlenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire22-24 July 2011


Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! | CLA Game Fair - The Pride of Britain

Here we are today 53 years on and The Game Fair rides high having become probably the most singularly important thread for the health of the countryside and the promotion of country sports. The social and commercial aspects of rural life are closely interlinked – The CLA Game Fair attracts more landowners, farmers and land managers than any other exhibition. This year’s show features a dedicated Land Management Exhibition, which brings together Gamekeepers Row and Estate Management Row, Woodland and Forestry Management and Renewable Energies which, together with a special Advice stand, is the largest exhibition of its kind in the UK.

Held in association with The Telegraph, The Game Fair also provides the platform for many prestigious countryside awards and

for numerous topical debates on issues that face those who live and work in the countryside today.

Country sports remain at the very heart of The CLA Game Fair, which is internationally renowned for the famous national and international championships it hosts in shooting, fishing and gundogs. These, along with all the displays, demonstrations and exhibition areas encompassing all country sports, attract an ever-increasing number of enthusiasts and professionals from across the world and importantly introduces huge numbers of newcomers to the pleasures of country sports and the countryside as a whole.

But there is far more to The CLA Game Fair than the major country sports exhibitions. There are also many features, displays and exhibitions embracing all aspects

of country life. ‘Active Countryside for All’ not only guarantees plenty of entertainment for the younger audience but also demonstrates many of the activities that are now enjoyed by thousands at Country Estates and farms nationwide. There’s a strong emphasis on local and regionally produced foods at the popular Totally Food Show, part of the CLA’s drive to promote small local businesses and producers.

Hooked on Horses and Gardens, along with ‘Door to Nature’, The Kennel Club Dog Zone, other features and activities for the young and a host of ‘Have a Go’ events for all ages will ensure that, as always, there is plenty for everyone at The CLA Game Fair.

The CLA Game Fair – Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Friday 22 – Sunday 24 July. For full information on the show and visitor information – www.gamefair.co.uk

Also watch out for forthcoming information about next year’s CLA Game Fair at Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire Friday 20 – Sunday 22 July 2012.


Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! | Bisley - Business as Usual

In a recent ‘Sport England’ poll shooting scored higher than football, rugby, golf and even

angling. However the poll also highlighted the fact that despite there are hundreds of shooting clubs across the UK, newcomers still found the sport difficult to break into and that more needs to be done to encourage young people into the sport.

With this in mind, the Organisers of the National Shooting Week (28 May – 5 June 2011) have teamed up with the Organisers of Bisley Live a new shooting and country sports show. This new Event being held from 30 September until 2 October 2011 will not only focus on shooting but will also be family orientated and is specifically designed to promote the sport of shooting to a wider public.

Unlike some shows that cater for all field sports, Bisley Live will focus exclusively on the needs of the target and game shooting fraternity. In addition to having the

opportunity to fire a selection of shot guns, rifles and black powder pistols there will be more than 200 exhibitors showcasing the very latest guns, ammunition, and the latest fashions in country clothing together with a wide variety of shooting accessories.

“As well as catering for seasoned shooters, the show is designed for complete novices,” explained show organiser Roger Marriott.

The show will be officially opened on Friday 30 September by George Digweed MBE – who was recently crowned World Clay Pigeon Champion for the 18th consecutive year. Could there be anyone more inspirational than George to motivate people into the sport?

Bisley Live will offer so much more than just the usual Trade Fair. Manufacturers and Retailers of guns will have the opportunity to access not only the 300-yard rifle and Running Deer ranges but also the clay shooting pods plus the air gun and .22 Ranges. Exhibitors will therefore be able to fully demonstrate the capabilities of their guns to visitors under the guidance of fully qualified NRA instructors. No other Game Fair offers this exciting facility covering so many different shooting disciplines.

Bisley Live The Gun and Country Sports Show

30th September - 2nd October 2011

Shooters on Century Range.

Canada Club House.


Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! | Bisley - Business as Usual

In addition to the exhibition there will be numerous other features to entertain the visitors. A charity fashion show in aid of Help for Heroes, featuring top brands from all over the world will be taking place throughout the three-day event. Gundog demonstrations from renowned trainer Howard Kirby of Mullenscote Gundogs will also be showcased at the show and to give parents a little respite, Julie Elborough of Woodruff Gundogs and game cookery teacher Kathy Martyn will be holding special taster sessions of their popular ‘Hunt, Cook, Eat’ course for children. The one and a half hour course which includes basic gundog training, followed by a ‘game’ cookery lesson.

For those that require something ‘special’ there are VIP Corporate packages available on the Friday and Saturday of the Show. The day starts with a delicious breakfast prior to honing their shooting skills with shotgun, rifle, both target and sporting, and black powder pistols. The VIPs and their guests will then return to the VIP marquee for champagne and canapés to be followed by a gourmet three-course lunch hosted by World Champion George Digweed, MBE.

After lunch there will be time to view the exhibition and other attractions before rounding off the day with traditional English tea, scones and cakes.

This innovative show has attracted much media interest and many shooting organisations are fully supporting the venture. The Countryside Alliance’s shooting campaign manager, David Taylor, said that the southeast of England has needed an event like this for years. “Bisley’s access and proximity to London will give many thousands of visitors the opportunity to visit the historic home of shooting. A large number of people are unable to visit the summer game fairs because of holiday commitments; however the timing of the Bisley Live event in late September will still allow visitors the opportunity to include a game fair in their annual calendar.”

One of Britain’s best known shots, sporting journalist Mike Yardley, who has been target shooting at Bisley all his life with rifle, pistol and shotgun said “The concept of Bisley Live is so exciting and seemingly obvious – it’s amazing that it has not been done before ” adding that the

camp at Bisley is a unique national treasure. “The marvelous imperial atmosphere is unmatched. To create and launch a show specifically for sporting shooters and their families is something that should have been done long ago. I am sure the inaugural event will attract enormous interest and support with the many exhibitors and visitors.”

The National Shooting Centre’s managing director Jeremy Staples said he was thrilled to be involved in the project. “The National Shooting Centre at Bisley is the only venue in the UK that can host a show like this. In the past, I have been approached by numerous event management companies, but I was particularly impressed with the Bisley Live concept. The organising team understands exactly what visitors want – the chance to break into and participate in one of the most popular sports in Britain.”

For more information, visit: www.bisleylive.com or tel: 01892 548136.

For regular updates on Bisley Live – follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Bisley_Live.

Bisley’s iconic Clock Tower.

George Digweed, MBE and Roger Marriott, Chairman of Bisley Live.

unrivalled opportunitiesto test fire a selection of guns

BISLEY LIVE original:Layout 1 19/5/11 12:48 Page 1


Sandringham, Shows & Shooting! | Willoughby McCabe & Co.

Our company was founded four years ago in Dallas, Texas with twin goals of

service and quality. We specialise in sporting & hunting related firearms with an emphasis on side by side shotguns and double rifles. Willoughby McCabe also sells books, hunting & sporting ephemera, vintage cases, and English campaign furniture. All of our guns and rifles come with a five day shooting inspection and a no questions asked return policy.

When visiting Dallas, please feel free to visit our retail store. Just be sure to call or email us for an appointment. If you do visit the retail store and find a gun or rifle that you would like to try out, we have shooting grounds available close by. At our private rifle range, double and large bolt rifles can be shot off sticks and at various distances up to 300 yards. We offer full line gunsmithing on high end and antique sporting arms and we can arrange for a gun fitting with live ammo shooting close to the store. Should you wish to have the gun or rifle exported, all fees and transport can be arranged.

A company goal is to perpetuate shooting sports and especially the use of historic guns for those pursuits. Shooting pursuits in America are generally doing well and improving in overall quality with high quality and antique firearms enjoying a strong resurgence. More and more people are seeking out quality over quantity.

A big challenge is the lack of young people taking up outdoor sports. the new popularity of collectable firearms has caused price increases, ruling many new potential converts out of the market. It is important for people to understand that a quality gun need not cost a fortune and in fact can be quite affordable. A Birmingham boxlock shotgun without ejectors can be purchased for a song and will bring decades of wonderful shooting. Acquiring one of these older guns gives one a pride in ownership and a sense of some deeper connection to the game we pursue.

I think we could sum it up and say that Willoughby McCabe and Co would like for you to take a look at and down an older sightline and back into history.

Cheers, Patrick M Willoughby-McCabe.

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| Scotland

The Queen, Scotland & Scottish Country Sports


Scotland | Balmoral and Beyond

The Queen and her family normally spend the best part of six weeks in Scotland

each year with much of their time at Balmoral taken up by pursuing sports such as stalking, shooting and fishing.

While the traditions of shooting as a sport were firmly established at Sandringham and largely unalterable, the grouse moors at Balmoral were quite different and generally not used for shooting - until George VI came along. He soon set about creating a successful grouse moor at Balmoral.

Although stalking had always been popular with the royals at Balmoral, shooting in those days was not one of the Royals main interests.

In a remarkably short space of time, the Balmoral shoot soon became a great success among those invited. For guests a day’s shooting or stalking at Balmoral was an occasion to be remembered. Firstly guests would be asked to assemble early in the castle’s great hall and then driven to wherever the specially chosen spot was for the day’s shoot.

As a keen and very good shot, George VI, when at Balmoral regularly went shooting almost up until the day he died, something he instilled in his children.

No children could have had a better grounding in the science and practice of rough shooting, wild fowling or shooting of driven birds than Princesses Elizabeth or Margaret, yet neither took to the sport other than as spectators.

The nearest the Queen comes to shooting today is ‘picking up’ after a drive with one of her labradors. Shooting on the royal estates, up until relatively recently, has been very much a matter for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

When spending time at Balmoral it has always been one of his favoured pastimes and to acknowledge this shortly after the Queen’s accession to the throne she appointed her husband chief

ranger of Windsor Park. Both Prince William and Prince Harry are good shots and, whenever time permits, enjoy shooting with the royal party in Scotland.

Surprisingly, little has changed since George VI established grouse shooting at Balmoral save perhaps the role of the estate workers who used to double up as beaters but now have been joined by whoever is on guard duty.

As soon as Prince Charles showed interest, his father took over and taught him to shoot, drilling him on the importance of safety and to this day he is still a keen shot, receiving numerous invitations from all over the country to join other shoots.

Balmoral Castle remains the private property of the monarch.

Shooting is a quintessentially Scottish pursuit.



Scotland | Balmoral and Beyond

Following hard in the royal shooting traditions are Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, both good shots. Prince Edward once captained Gordonstoun School’s pigeon shoot.

As long as the laws allow, the great royal shooting traditions will continue. The popularity of hunting and specifically shooting is as spirited as ever, as such events play an integral part in the Royal Family’s social calendar. Interestingly, stalking has always been a favourite pastime for the royals staying at Balmoral. Stalking is the one field sport where it is purely a ‘one-to-one’ contest between man and his quarry and the prize of a stag can be won only by skill, fitness and marksmanship. The Queen stalked her first stag at 16 and went on to hunt several more.

With two such ardent and skilled stalkers as parents it’s not surprising that the Queen and Prince Philip’s younger sons also took to the sport and both have shown themselves to be adept stalkers though pleasure from the sport comes easier to Prince Edward because of his more patient nature.

Surprisingly, the late Princess Diana was also a good stalker having been introduced to the pastime through her own family, although Charles was less keen but nontheless made sure both his sons Prince William and Harry had the chance to learn the art and they too enjoy stalking. Before Prince William married Kate Middleton, he took her stalking in Scotland to help her appreciate one of the royals most favoured sports.

One of the Queen Mother’s greatest fishing successes was to educate her eldest grandson, the Prince of Wales, in the joys of the sport. She taught him how to cast off and explained the tale signs on the river and habits of the salmon.

Once bitten with the ‘fishing bug’ Prince Charles learned quickly and later a Balmoral ghillie took over and made him into the fisherman he is today. The ultimate proof of a fisherman is not the catch he comes home with but the dedication he puts into the sport.

Another keen royal fisherman is Prince Edward, whose quiet temperament is ideally suited to the sport. While his nephews, Prince William and Harry have had every opportunity to learn about the sport and are keen fishermen in their own right, other concerns keep them busy and mean they are unlikely to take up the sport as seriously as their father.

Trout & salmon fishing.

Deer stalking.

Image: www.agripix.co.uk/David Mason (Deer)

Image: www.agripix.co.uk/Ann Curtis (Fishing)

CARNELL ESTATES, HURLFORD, AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND, KA1 5JS, UNITED KINGDOM Telephone: +44 (0)1563 884 236 Website: www.carnellestates.com E-mail: [email protected]

Carnell Estates is a beautiful country house in the magnificent

settings of Ayrshire, Scotland. The listed 16th Century Tower and

Mansion House is set within extensive gardens and parklands,

which make Carnell Estates renowned for luxury accommodation,

shooting and golfing breaks.

Mr and Mrs Michael Findlay are pleased to host events and tailor

short breaks around golf, shooting and private parties etc.

The 10 acre garden has featured in the “Beechgrove Garden”,

”Country Life”, The “Good Gardens Guide” as well as Suki

Urquhart’s book “The Scottish Gardener”. Carnell has a traditional

walled garden with a 100 yard long herbaceous border, as well

as a rock and water garden, gazebo with Burmese statues, lawns

and many other features of interest. Herbaceous, rose and phlox

borders are in full bloom during July.


Scotland | Cemmick & Wylder - Capturing Wild Scotland

Craftsman Seb Wylder and Sculptor David Cemmick are based in the South Cumbrian

Lake district. Their studio is an animal sanctuary in bronze and stone sculpture. An inner circle of Silent, Bronze game birds, stag heads, lions and various other wildlife sculptures huddle together in display cabinets and are dotted around on shelves. An old barn on the family farm maybe an unusual set up for these two artists but it is a fitting place for Seb and David who make a living reproducing Wildlife.

One of their latest sculptures is of The Life Size Royal Stag. A limited edition of only 12 priced at £30,000. David created the original sculpture in clay after spending many hours on the Island of Jura gathering reference with the help of Willie McDonald one of Europe’s most respected deer stalkers.

On completion of the original clay master the stag is handed over to Seb who starts the mould making process using silicon rubber and fibreglass to create a mould of the stag in eight sections making two piece moulds so the foundry can start the lost wax casting process.

The Bronze casting process is one of man’s earliest technologies dated back over 6000 years and the basic casting method has not really changed. Welding equipment power tools, flexible moulds along with gas and oil have helped, but today’s process is still heavily dependent on many hours of highly skilled labour. So bronze casting is still classed as high skill low tech craft.

Cemmick and Wylder have created several deer sculptures, however this is their first life size sculpture of red deer since starting their business in 2005. While driving back from the Scottish Game fair in 2007 Seb and David decided they needed to create something on a grand scale, as the stag is the UK’s largest mammal, The RUT was created, depicting two life size red hill stags in battle.

A limited edition of only 9 Pairs were produced priced at £45,000 eight pairs of the stags have already been sold within the UK and worldwide so only one set remain to be sold.

Cemmick and Wylder’s latest project is a 8 foot high sculpture of a brace of grouse, this creation will be unveiled in 2012 in conjunction with world famous gun makers Holland

and Holland and will be a limited edition of nine (POA).

Their work can be seen this summer at The CLA game fair at Blenheim Palace Oxfordshire from 22nd until 24th July 2011. Please visit our stand on Artists row and work will also be displayed on the Holland and Holland stand. Cemmick and Wylder will also be exhibiting several large sculptures at this years Henley festival.

Seb and David are always happy to discuss private commissions, contact details below.

The Bronze Royal Stagby Cemmick and Wylder Fine Art Bronze

Majestic and powerful, the highland stag symbolises the enduring qualities of wild Scotland.

Cemmick and Wylder Fine Art BronzeTel: 01524 781971Web: www.cemmickandwylder.comEmail: [email protected]

Charles Sainsbury-PlaiceSporting Photography

Bespoke & discreet coverage of your day

www.sainsburyplaice.co.uk


| The Queen and the Sporting Royals

The Queen and the Sporting Royals



The Queen and the Sporting Royals |

For hundreds of years the pursuit of physical activity has been a way of life with the

Royal Family and it’s not surprising to find that even in the 21st century most royals participate in some kind of sport whether for pleasure, relaxation or for competitive reasons. In spite of their varied royal duties, their commitment to high performance is exemplary and the fruits of this are evident in their outstanding achievements.

Even though sports in today’s era are played at far higher and more intense levels several royals have succeeded in excelling in their chosen sport, some representing Great Britain internationally and others have gone as far as to reach the level of Olympic competition.

The exploits of Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Phillips within the sport of equestrianism are documented in the commensurate section of this publication. However there are other major and minor sports that the Royals have enjoyed extensive involvement in.

Princess Anne is a keen rugby follower as are most of the young royals. Prince William and Prince Harry played at Eton and enjoy watching international rugby, while Zara’s brother Peter is the only member of the royal family to have actually represented Scotland in rugby. To add to the sport’s attractions later this year Zara is now set to marry

England rugby player Mike Tindall whilst Prince Harry trained as a Rugby Development Officer for the RFU in 2004 and is involved with promoting the sport at grass roots.

Perhaps the keen interest the younger royal generations have in sport stems from Prince Philip, celebrating his 90th birthday this year. In his time he has excelled in several sports, some at international level and those include sailing, polo and carriage driving. It was after he was forced to give up playing polo in his 50’s with chronic arthritis of the right wrist that he went on to learn about carriage driving which he still enjoys. He first represented Great Britain in 1975.

Polo is another popular sport currently played by William and Harry since their father retired several years ago. At his peak, Prince Charles played off a high handicap of five, the highest handicap ever achieved by a member of the Royal Family but by the time he retired that had declined to two.

Back in the early 1970s, Charles and Prince Phillip once competed in the same polo team against Major Ronald Ferguson, the present Duchess of York’s father, who sadly passed away in 2003.

In his time Prince Charles played outstanding polo, competing initially with the Young England team. Princes William and Harry do not play as regularly or seriously as their father. Both have handicaps of one although Harry is supposedly the better player and has already represented his country.

Sailing was one of Prince Phillip’s most favoured sporting activities. In Bluebottle, a small class sailing boat, he won several races during the Cowes Week Regatta. In 1957 he teamed up with top sailor Uffa Fox and they competed at this prestigious event into the late 1980s in a variety of boats including his famous and much loved yawl Bloodhound.Princess Anne at the 1976 Munich Olympic Games.

Zara Philips MBE.

Image: www.agripix.co.uk/Tim Scrivener (Zara Phillips)

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The Duke also insisted on teaching all his children how to sail on a catamaran that was on Loch Muick in Scotland but having his eldest son as a member of his crew did not last very long. It seems after several mishaps Prince Charles was never invited back to crew again. Sailing was never one of his favourite sports.

Both the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales are patrons and presidents of yacht clubs and racing bodies throughout the world and their past active participation in the sport has done much for the development of sailing.

A keen swimmer, Prince Phillip also made sure his children were taught how to swim at a young age in the heated swimming pools at Buckingham Palace and Windsor. Prince Charles extended his swimming talent in other directions by taking up scuba diving and surfing. Following his mother’s footsteps, Prince William is also a keen swimmer and diver, and played water polo for St Andrews.

Skiing has proved another favourite royal pastime. According to reports Prince Charles was an all round proficient skier and would regularly visit Klosters in Switzerland often skiing off piste with his favourite friends and entourage including Charles Palmer-Tomkinson, a former Olympic skier and British champion, and his wife Patty, who once described Prince Charles as a natural and fearless skier.

Although Princess Anne enjoyed skiing she only ventured onto the ski slopes a few times. However, the late Princess Diana was an excellent skier and it was once said that had Princess Diana taken the sport more seriously she could have perhaps become Britain’s No1 royal downhill racer.

Keen to make sure her sons were also introduced to skiing, she insisted on taking them to the slopes with her. Both have ended up as proficient skiers, although Prince Harry is considered the more daredevil. Prince William, along

with his new wife Kate Middleton (now the Duchess of Cambridge) is a good skier in his own right.

Prince Michael of Kent, an excellent all round winter sportsman, was once the driver for the two man British Bobsleigh team representing Great Britain in the 1971 World Bobsleigh Championships which they went on to win.

The Queen has always been a supporter of her children and family enjoying skiing holidays. It’s fair to say that this is partly motivated by political prudence as she is insistent, especially during times of recession, that her family are not to be seen indulging in luxury holidaying or cavaliering in easily accessible locations. Tucked away in Alpine resorts and spending most of their time on the slopes, the Royals are less prone to the prying eyes of the tabloid journalists and over the years this has contributed to a continuing Royal love affair with the slopes and resorts of Europe.

It’s no coincidence though that where the Royal Family choose to take their ski holidays are in fact some of the most beautiful and glamorous ski resorts in the World.

Prince Henry of Wales.

The Duke of Edinburgh at the CLA Game Fair.




The most famous is probably Klosters, an established Alpine village, that first welcomed winter sports enthusiasts in the early 1900s and where Prince Charles and Prince William have been seen regularly speeding down the vast number of pistes on offer in this region.

Linking over to Davos, these two resorts in the Graubunden region of Switzerland offer a vast range of slopes, from the hidden trees where excellent powder and challenging blue and red runs have always proved a tremendous attraction to the skiing Royals.

Another Swiss resort, Verbier, in the Valais region of Switzerland is an uber-glamorous resort where the Duke and Duchess of York and their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie are regulars during the ski season and are seen to enjoy the quiet, sunny south facing slopes of the Savoleyres ski area.

At the foot of the mighty Matterhorn, Zermatt in Switzerland has hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess also recently spent a week skiing in Courchevel in the vast Three Valleys ski area which offers the resorts of Val Thorens, Meribel and Courchevel. Meribel itself was founded in 1938 and is home of the British Skiing Championships. Prince Edward and Sophie the Countess

of Wessex regularly holiday here with Edward frequently presenting the prizes after the Championships.

In Austria, in the Arlberg region, are the beautiful resorts of Lech, Zurs and St Anton, favourites of many European Royals as well as being visited by our British Royal Family. The late Princess Diana loved Lech with its horse drawn carriages, impressive hotels and wonderful skiing around the ‘White Ring’ circuit of Lech, Zurs and Zug.

Nearby St Anton, in the Tirol was host of the 2001 World Championships which were famously opened by Prince

Edward whilst across the pond the Canadian ski resort of Whistler, home to the Winter Olympics 2010, also hit the headlines in the late 90’s when Princes William and Harry along with their father were seen cruising down the pistes of the largest ski area in North America.

The Royal Family has always been associated with the slopes and whilst the Queen’s advocacy of skiing has been influenced by sound sensibilities, her own sporting heart though belongs to horses. Horse riding remained her favourite pastime until May of this year when it was sadly announced that chronic knee pain had forced her to give up the pursuit. For many decades she was an excellent rider, whether for the habitual, relaxing morning rides in the grounds of Windsor Castle, fun rides with her grandchildren or such famously documented episodes as the riding excursion with the former US President Ronald Reagan.

Despite this setback it must be remembered that Her Majesty has followed in her father’s flourishing footsteps as a successful race horse breeder in her own right having won all but one of the classic flat races. Whilst regarded as a small player in a big pond her racing manager John

Verbier - steeped in connections to the Royal Family.

Zermatt - at the foot of the mighty Materhorn.

Image: Ski club of Great Britain

Image: Tim Dixon



Warren is quick to point out that the Queen has been breeding horses for no less than fifty nine years and her enthusiasm and expertise is second to none. In a spectacular race marking the 2011 Epsom Derby, her horse Carlton House just failed to make the winner’s enclosure losing to Pour Moi and Treasure Beach in the final furlong.

Golf has proved less of a royal sporting attraction although the Duke of York brought the game back into the royal fold and, as an avid golfer, plays off a creditable seven handicap and is a member of the Royal and Ancient Gold Club of St Andrews. He is also the patron of no less than 12 Royal golf clubs. He has been an active proponent of the development of junior golf both nationally and internationally having founded the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy in 2001. He is also President of the Faldo Series and patron of the Golf Foundation whose initiatives make golf more accessible to children from all backgrounds and abilities.

It should also be remembered that the Duke of York remains an excellent all round sportsman having played rugby, cricket and soccer at Heatherdown where he earned his cricket colours, whilst at Gordonstoun he played field hockey, rugby and soccer and captained the Gordonstoun 1st cricket team. He also is a qualified pilot and glider and along with Prince Charles he earned his parachutist’s badge from the RAF prior to joining the Royal Navy.

With a tennis court in the grounds of Buckingham Palace several Royals were taught tennis either at school or with a private instructor. Princess Anne was once coached by the BBC’s noted former Wimbledon commentator, Dan Maskell. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are also keen players and members of The Queen’s Club and the All England Club. Princess Michael, although she plays competitively only occasionally, regularly books tennis lessons at the The Queen’s Club.

Prince Edward learned to play real tennis at school and has since become the patron of the Tennis and Rackets Association.

Nowadays most of the younger Royals play tennis. Prince William is especially keen as his new wife is a keen tennis player and often plays mixed doubles with her younger sister Pippa, a member of Queen’s Club.

In 1926 The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet club celebrated its Golden Jubilee with the entry of the then Duke of York (before his accession to the throne as King George VI), partnering Louise Greig.

Although they were outclassed losing 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, it marked the first time a Royal has actually competed at Wimbledon.

Famously, of course, the Queen was a winner as a spectator when, in 1977, she presented the ladies’ singles trophy – the Venus Rosewater Dish - to Virginia Wade at the Centenary Wimbledon.

The Queen at Royal Ascot.


A dedicated team for sales and purchases, valuation and management of bloodstock and racing properties. Contact:

Gemma Burtt

t: 01223 559352e: [email protected]

Ian Monks

t: 01223 559360e: [email protected]

Painting commissioned: Jacquie Jones

Devoted...

01223 559352 | bidwells.co.uk/equestrian

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British Sport’s Tribute to HM The Queen


| Equestrianism and the Royals

Equestrianism and the Royals

Image: Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials


Equestrianism and the Royals |

The Queen and the Royal Family have enjoyed a long association with

equestrianism. The overall British Royal timeline with the sport dates back many hundreds of years. The Queen, herself an excellent rider, limits her involvement these days to patronage of the much loved pursuit. As well as putting her name to competitive teams, she supports the highly sought after British Horse Society’s Queen’s Award for Equestrianism.

Nominations for this Award are invited from all the member bodies of the British Equestrian Federation, the Army, the British Equine Veterinary Association and the National Association of Farriers and Blacksmiths. (The larger member bodies of the BEF are British Dressage, British Show Jumping Association, British Eventing and The Pony Club.) Such is The Queen’s emotional

affiliation to equestrianism she is always entrusted to approve the nominations of the Selection Panel and BHS Board of Trustees and sometimes presents the award itself to the lucky recipient. In 2007 that recipient was her husband - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Additionally, key figures from the world of equestrianism always feature prominently on her annual Birthday Honours List.

Her children have achieved quite spectacular results in both the amateur and professional settings.

Charles’s racing career was relatively short-lived, however his equine exploits were richly rewarded on the polo field. He played polo for 40 years, finally hanging up his boots in 2005 following a couple of nasty falls that resulted in a broken arm and his Majesty being knocked unconscious on another

occasion. Prince Charles’s efforts raised more than £12 million for charities and he met his wife Camilla at a polo match. Nowadays the future king limits his involvement to attending major race meetings and overseeing society polo events in support of his mother. In 2010 he couldn’t attend Royal Ascot because of ill health. However, in 2011 he returned to one of his favourite horse racing events.

His sister, Princess Anne, later to become the Princess Royal, achieved turf success in August 1986, when she won a race at Redcar aboard Gulfland. Like her sibling, Her Royal Highness was an accomplished equestrian, becoming the first (and to date only) member of the Royal Family to compete as an Olympian at the Montreal Games of 1976, where she rode her mother’s horse Goodwill.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles arrives in style at Royal Ascot.



Equestrianism and the Royals |

The year Princess Anne won the World Equestrian Championships in 1971 she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year beating celebrity footballer George Best into second place.

When she was selected to compete for Great Britain in the 1976 Montreal Olympics she was well supported by members of her family. That year it was the Queen’s honour to open the Olympic Games and she was accompanied by Prince Andrew. Prince Charles joined the royal entourage a few days later and as a special treat, Prince Edward was allowed to watch his sister compete in the equestrian events.

She was a regular competitor in the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley and Badminton Horse Trials and won gold and silver medals in the individual European Three-Day Event title as well as a team silver medal. As well as being voted the BBC Sports Personality of 1971 Princess Anne also won the Sportswoman of the Year award at the Sports Writers’ Association, the Daily Express newspaper and World Sport (the journal of the British Olympic Association).

The Princess Royal resides at Gatcombe Park, home of the annual “Festival of British Eventing”. She is also a British representative on the International Olympic Committee as an administrator, and is a member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Following her mother’s footsteps, Zara Phillips soon showed promise in equestrian sports winning the gold medal in the 2006 World Equestrian Championships. Mirroring her mothers achievements, she too was voted BBC Sports personality of the year. Zara is now training hard to meet selector’s demands for London’s 2012 Olympics and, should her favourite horse ‘Toytown’ be fit to compete, she will no doubt carry the Royal competitive torch to another great success.

Princess Anne - IOC administrator for 2012 Olympic Games.

Zara Philips competing at the Burghley Horse Trials.

Image: www.agripix.co.uk/Tim Scrivener (Zara Phillips)


Equestrianism and the Royals | The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

Each year for four days of September the Lincolnshire landmark of Burghley estate

in Stamford becomes home to The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September) – one of the worlds’ top international three-day events attracting the very best horses and riders from around the globe. This year The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

Since the Trials humble beginnings in 1961 increasing numbers of spectators have been drawn to the event set in the Capability Brown parkland that surrounds the house, considered one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan age. The occasion is now considered one of the greatest in the sport and Burghley has been a five times winner of the ‘best event’ award, promoted by the international equestrian year book L’Annee Hippique and voted for by riders.

In terms of status it is one of the world’s five top-rated ‘four-star’ events and entry is only for those who make the grade. Of the eighty or so who qualify only one can take home the coveted Land Rover perpetual challenge trophy and the £50,000 first prize.

The event is also the penultimate in the HSBC FEI Classics™ that offers a serious cash bonus to the riders at the top of the four-star accumulator style league that began in the USA in May at the Rolex Kentucky event in Lexington and ends in France in November at Les Etoiles de Pau. Burghley is also one of the three events that make up the Rolex Grand Slam – a unique prize of $350,000 awarded to the rider who can win three consecutive four-star events of; Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, in any order.

It is not just the expectation of top class international sport that draws in the thousands of spectators however. The temporary ‘village’ of trade stands, specialist pavilions and food halls presents an unrivalled opportunity for shopping and browsing. Over 600 quality retailers offer everything and anything from dog leads to diamonds, hoof picks to Land Rovers. There are few places to

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 1-4 September 2011

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials | Equestrianism

Mayfair Sporting Club A4 bleed:Layout 1 27/04/2011 16:10 Page 1


Equestrianism and the Royals | The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

equal the experience that is The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials which combines top international horse sport in the fabulous surroundings of Burghley Park; with the best that shopping can offer. As well as three wide avenues of stands that host many well-known brands; county tailors, garden nurseries and even a London jeweller. The Burghley Lifestyle pavilion is dedicated to the decorative and inspirational offering products for the home, many of which are exclusive to Burghley. The Country Living Magazine pavilion, showcasing the best of British crafts and goods as well as a select range of clothing and stylish accessories has become a must-stop for many. The Rural Crafts Association marquee remains a popular attraction especially for those organised enough to be starting on the Christmas list. The trade stands offer a wide-ranging selection of the unique and unusual providing the ideal gift solution while the much acclaimed food-walk offers culinary delights and with its continental café atmosphere is the ideal spot for relaxing refreshment.

And of course where better to procure anything and everything connected to the horse than at one of the world’s top equestrian events. The two specialist equestrian areas; The World of the Horse and The Horse Village supply exactly that, as well as providing a ‘Celebrity Talk Area’ ideal for bagging autographs and a big screen so that shoppers can keep an eye on the sporting action.

“Each year we cannot conceive that the range of products on offer at Burghley can get any better yet every year it does and surpasses our expectations,” says Burghley Director Elizabeth Inman. “The wide ranging selection available never ceases to dazzle and we are especially proud of the emporium we have created that runs hand-in-hand with the horse trials to create a unique event in what we think is an unrivalled setting.”

As well as the four days of top class competition there is also the prospect of watching the next generation of the country’s leading event horses in the finals of the hotly contested Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Series as well as the popular Pony Club inter-branch show jumping, the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Qualifier, a parade of the country’s best sport horse stallions and grand prix dressage displays.

Those interested in history and architecture can treat themselves to a visit round the spectacular house designed and built by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I.

There are discounts on advanced ticket purchases. The availability of tickets for picnic parking on cross-country day and the special four-day Burghley membership offers forward parking and use of the member’s enclosure and restaurants offering breakfast, lunch and tea - the perfect place for meeting friends.

For more details about the Trials and for ticket information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk


Equestrianism and the Royals | Best of British

The Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is one of the most popular horse

trials in the country, not only because it is set in the stunning Capability Brown designed grounds of world heritage site Blenheim Palace, but it’s also one of the best three star events in the world.

With the façade of the southern aspect of the Palace as the backdrop for the main arena activities, the Palace is an integral part of the event as the President of the event the Duke of Marlborough who calls this magnificent setting ‘home’.

Each year the event attracts some of the world’s top riders such as William Fox Pitt, Mary King, Mark Todd, Pippa Funnell and many others and their up and coming horses – all keen to pit their skills over the renown cross country courses and test their abilities against eventing’s good and great.

In 2005 the queens grand daughter Zara Phillips not only joined the roll of honour as a winner of the horse trials at Blenheim but found herself a place in the history books of the sport when winning both individual and team gold at the Senior European Eventing Championships on her first appointment to Britain’s senior eventing team.

Easy to get to, with something for all the family to do the event at Blenheim attracts the largest crowds for a sporting event in the country of Oxford and is a firm favourite with the locals as well as those from further afield.

This year the event takes place on September the 8th – 11th with the dressage phases of the CCI*** and 8 and 9 year old CIC*** horses on Thursday and Friday, plus cross country and show jumping on both Saturday and Sunday ; competitions for Riding Club and Pony Club Teams, as well as individuals who have competed locally at BE100 classes; plus a wide range

of displays and demonstrations, children’s attractions, cars and of course lots of fabulous shopping opportunities there is much to do!

For more information or to book tickets simply visit www.blenheim-horse.co.uk

A World Leading Event set in Palatial Surroundings8 - 11 September 2011

CompetitionYour chance to visit the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials as a VIP!

Why not come and see this fantastic event for yourself? - You could win a VIP Members ticket to the event for which ever day you chose, all you have to do is answer the following question...

Which Duke lives at Blenheim Palace?

*Please send your answer to [email protected] leaving your name, telephone number and postal address. The competition will close at 3.00pm on August 17th 2011. The winners will be drawn from the correct answers on August 17th 2011 at 5pm.

*Prize Draw Rules Entry to the competitions is restricted to one entry per person please. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Automated entries, bulk entries or third party entries will be disqualified. Competitions are open to UK residents only. Prizes can only be sent to a valid UK address. Winners will be chosen at random from all valid entries. Winners will be contacted via email names. The Judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to. The competition will run from 1st June 2011 until 17th August 2011. Mayfair Sporting Club is compliant with the Data Protection Act. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent. Tickets and passes cannot be exchanged for cash.

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Equestrianism and the Royals | Flying the Royal Flag

Modern day Point-to-Pointing, although run under the sanctions

and regulations of the British Horseracing Authority, is amateur ‘jump-racing’ contested by horses who qualify by learning their skills in the hunting field.

Today, old sepia or black and white photographs tend to offer a compelling insight into traditions and customs long vanished … but not so in the case of Flagg Races Point-to-Point. The High Peak Hunt traditionally holds its annual race meeting on Easter Tuesday at Flagg Moor, in the heart of the Peak District, more than 1,000ft above sea-level. Just before the limestone White Peak plateau rises up into boggy Pennine moorland, the village of Flagg sits in a bowl of small green fields and large, formidable - if delicately built – dry-stone walls, creating a natural amphitheatre to the rocky limestone outcrop of the spectators’ grandstand.

High Peak Hunt members are justly proud of the extraordinarily beautiful old pasture-land over which they are so privileged to ride and hence the Hunt Members’ Race at Flagg has little changed since its inception in 1892 – although who today would be brave enough to ride side-saddle?! (see image above)

The first of a 7-race card, the Members’ Race runners & riders leave the paddock at 12.30pm for the half-hour ‘hack’ to the start of the 3.5 mile race, way out over the horizon in open country. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, the members gallop literally from one point to another, jumping the ‘infamous’ stone walls in taking their own line across natural hunting country to the finish. In the mid-1980’s there were about 10 such ‘old-fashioned’ point-to-point races in existence but Flagg is now the only one left in the country.

Brocklehursts fly the Flagg in the High Peak

Tiggy Wilson riding to victory in 1934. 2nd place is Joanie Stephenson riding side-saddle.

Andrew Knowles leads Francis Stephenson in the 1927 Members’ Race.Race-goers gather for the start of racing 1934.



To encourage entries from the more ‘lily-livered’ Hunt members, there is now a plethora of trophies and prizes to be won including First Lady Rider; best-placed non-thoroughbred; heavyweight and youngest rider. One piece of Flagg history saw the Croxden Cup,

originally presented to the winner of the Maiden Race, disappear after it was won in 1975. In 2006 it was unearthed by a demolition company’s excavator and, after some renovation, was returned to the Flagg Races suite of trophies. Today it is awarded to the oldest Hunt member past the finishing post.

In more recent years a Memorial Rosebowl is awarded to the groom of the best-turned out horse, in memory of Francesca Foy, former Hunt Groom who died tragically at a very young age. But this is

not smart horsey England, it’s not Gloucestershire or Rutland, this is Flagg – located in what Derbyshire people call the ‘Top Country’. Few can afford the luxury of a groom, ‘doing’ their own horses in the dark, wind and rain, before or after work, and juggling with being groom, owner, rider on the day.

The jewel in the crown has to be the winner’s trophy, the enormous High Peak Hunt Challenge Cup, dating back to 1902 and first presented to Mr S Oram for his win on Axe Edge. Excluding the First World War years, when the races were not held, he

subsequently went on to win no less than 8 times, thankfully not on the same horse! Other names too get more than one mention: Peter J Sutherland of Sutherland’s potted meat fame, enjoyed success from 1957 to 1959 on Winspear and again an unrivalled 5-year run in the early 1970s on Paradox. His son Jamie then reigned supreme from 1977-79 on Dorothy May. Richard H Goring, synonymous with the recently celebrated Goring Hotel, Belgravia and lynch pin of The Boring Gorings team-chasers found success in the 1980s with his horses Temporary Fault & Jake.

Flagg Races former Clerk of the Course, Sue Rodman won 3 years in succession in the late 1990s on Carli’s Star and again 10 years later on Sharp Embrace.

2006 saw a win, for the second year running by Mr Andrew Sebire’s The Tallet – a horse formerly in training with none other than the famous Ginger McCain, who himself has been ‘spied’ studying the form in the paddock at Flagg.

Amateur Whip William Brocklehurst escorts Hunt Members to the start. (Photo courtesy of: www.sweetphotography.com)

Martin Brocklehurst ‘commentating’.

Kicking on – Martin Brocklehurst in hot pursuit

Former Joint-Master Anthony Hopkins & Ryck Turner (Alpha Feeds) battle it out for 3rd place.



This year saw a second win for Mark Caley and his horse Twist & Shout – an un-registered thoroughbred for whom he reputedly paid less than the meagre winner’s prize money to save him from the local knacker’s yard less than a mile from the village of Flagg. Twister, as he is affectionately known at home, has proved his weight in gold.

Three generations of the Brocklehurst family have been closely associated with the

High Peak Hunt & Flagg Races since John Brocklehurst’s initial involvement and Joint-Mastership in the early 1980s. His son, Martin, has hunted hounds, whipped-in and succeeded to the Mastership himself in the late 1990s. He will be hunting hounds again this coming season as Amateur Huntsman. Grandson William has completed a season as Amateur Whip and youngest family member Lilli with her pony Shadow are ‘regulars’ at local meets.

Mingling with the hugely enthusiastic crowd, Martin has over the years adopted various roles at Flagg, some years riding in the race, others parading hounds, commentating and latterly sponsoring and judging the Best Turned Out Racegoer Competition. Punters are invited to dress to impress, embrace the elements and make the racecourse their catwalk for the chance to win some luxury prizes. Tweed suits, bow-ties, scarves, jaunty flat caps, fur & feather are all the order of the day …. not forgetting that ‘trusty’ pair of wellies!

Brocklehursts of Bakewell, established in the early 1960s, are situated in the historic market town of Bakewell, less than 5 miles from Flagg. Still family owned and run,

the company, initially operating out of the back of a Landrover, has gone from strength to strength and now offers a variety of shopping opportunities rolled into one.

Specialising in high quality gentlemen’s and ladies country sporting clothing, they carry a broad spectrum of leading brand stock ranging from formal to casual wear, gift ideas and accessories. At Brocklehursts they also understand that not everyone is a standard size, we’re all different! They still carry out made to measure fittings and can create tailored outfits, for both men and ladies. Designed to withstand the rigours of country sports, their country clothing is both practical and elegant. They also have available an extensive range of high quality cloths, from subtle lovats through to bright bold tweeds for that ‘individual’ style.

No trip to Derbyshire is complete without a visit to the home of ‘the best country clothing in the country’.

Martin Brocklehurst parading hounds.

2011 Members’ Race winner Mark Caley with the much-coveted High Peak Hunt Challenge Cup

A time for reflection? Martin & Lucy prepare for the ‘off’

www.brocklehursts.comwww.flaggraces.co.uk

Archive pictures kindly donated by H U Stephenson Esq. Joint Master High Peak Hunt 1958 – 1965

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Featured on the website areoriginal paintings and limitededition prints by some of the bestknown and sought after names in British Sporting Art, includingArchibald Thorburn, John CyrilHarrison, Colin Burns, Philip Rickman, Roger Mcphail,Sir Peter Scott, John GerrardKeulemans, plus many more.

Phone: 01621 892287 Mobile: 07732 123812E mail: [email protected]:www.britishsportingart.com Archibald Thorburn - Shrikes

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Leaflet:Layout 2 7/6/11 18:36 Page 1


Equestrianism and the Royals | Home from Home for the Princess Royal

An idyllic Cotswolds location, top class sporting action, family entertainment and

quality shopping all come together to create and celebrate The Festival of British Eventing (August 5-7). The Festival takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Gatcombe Park, home of HRH The Princess Royal which is situated a few miles from the old village of Minchinhampton and close to the Gloucestershire market towns of Tetbury, Cirencester and Stroud.

The Festival of British Eventing, presented by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA), hosts three major championships, the British Eventing Open Championship, the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship and the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship. The Festival this year also plays host to one of the qualifying rounds for the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Series. In addition it will host one of the qualifiers for the Express Eventing Series 2011 which culminates in the final at the Horse of the Year Show in October.

The competitions during the weekend attract the country’s top national and international riders. Since the Trials inception in 1983 the event has grown in size and stature and is now considered one of the best in the country. Every year visitors wend their way to this

pretty Cotswold location to discover unrivalled viewing of the two-mile cross country course which each year is designed by former international competitor Captain Mark Phillips.

Visitors to Gatcombe Park will not be disappointed – there is something special for the whole family to enjoy. An ideal spot for a family picnic and why not take a stroll down to the water fence in the Park Bowl area. Over the years many have enjoyed this quite unique setting in front of HRH The Princess Royal’s home to watch riders and their horses being put through their paces. You can take a browse around the many fantastic trade stands selling a wide array of high quality goods ranging from home wares and furniture to designer clothing and rural crafts, fine wines and food. Or you can seat the family at the main arena to watch the many different displays and arena activities. This is a fun weekend for the family of all ages and interests and one not to be missed.

Family season and discounted tickets are only available in advance. For more information and detailed timetable go to www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk or call the information line on 0843 208 7455. The Festival of British Eventing takes place between 5-7 August 2011.

Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe ParkPresented by British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA)5-7 August 2011

CompetitionWe have one pair of season passes with Garden Club badges to give away to one of our lucky readers, all you have to do is answer the following question...

Who is the former international competitor who has designed the cross country course at The Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe Park?

*Please send your answer to [email protected] leaving your name, telephone number and postal address. The competition will close at 2.00pm on July 29th 2011. The winners will be drawn from the correct answers on July 15th 2011 at 3pm.

*Prize Draw Rules Entry to the competitions is restricted to one entry per person please. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Automated entries, bulk entries or third party entries will be disqualified. Competitions are open to UK residents only. Prizes can only be sent to a valid UK address. Winners will be chosen at random from all valid entries. Winners will be contacted via email names. The Judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to. The competition will run from 1st June 2011 until 29th July 2011. Mayfair Sporting Club is compliant with the Data Protection Act. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent. Tickets and passes cannot be exchanged for cash.

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