Showing Tag: "fei" (Show all posts)

July 18th Calais to Goring, almost home!

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Todays crossing was far rougher than on the way out there. However we are now pros at being 'commercial drivers' and knew exactly what we were doing in the Route Masters lounge. We also got through Border patrol which was hilarious as the window was level with the roof of the lorry. 90 min later we were back on English soil and on the right (I mean left!) side of the road. After dumping Jasper (who is galloping round the field with Kiwi) at Julie and Anns and flinging some stuff in the back ...
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July 17th Frankfurt to Calais

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Another 10 hours driving today and we are now at Calais parked up for the night ready to get a ferry home tomorrow morning. Ann and I went for our final ride around the farm scaring all their horses (you would think they had never seen another horse before!). We've also been playing with the kittens and cuddling their very friendly foal. Everyone else is leaving in the middle of the night but we are going to get a few hours shut eye before we leave.
 
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July 16th Back to Frankfurt

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
We were all up at the crack of dawn (again) this morning to collapse the tents (again) and we were all loaded up to go in less than 40 minutes. Jasper and Kiwi went straight in because they're pros at the whole travelling thing now ;)
After 12 hours we were back at Frankfurt where Ann and I decided to go out for a ride to stretch the ponies legs and got lost in the village we were riding through. Jasper took no notice of the freight trains that passed us as he saw plenty at Anns house. Tomorro...
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July 15th Cones

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
If I though we had had our fair share of the bad weather I was sadly wrong as todays weather has been every bit as bad as yesterdays. Having walked the course the organisers have decided the ground was being ruined after the first two classes and gave us just 15 min to relearn it. This didn't bother me and Jasper stormed round to almost make the advanced time but unfortunetly we had a few balls down due to the back end of the carriage sliding out on a few corners. It was very frustrating but ...
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July 14th Marathon Day

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Today is the Cones event of the ICKD competition and I am very proud to say they won Team Gold! Big congratulations as well to Ann who drove a fabulous double clear to take Individual Silver as well! The sun shone all morning but dark clouds were gathering ready for the FEI Marathon. I was almost last to go at about 4pm and it was chucking it down. Soaked to the skin and freezing cold we got round, navigating the complicated Section E (which had 17 compulsory flags!) to drive a neat, clean ro...
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July 13th Dressage Day!

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
This morning the heavens have opened for our Dressage Day. Jasper was a star today and did a lovely test to score 58 which is a result I was hoping for. Unfortunetly hi didn't rein back in the test, I'm not sure why as he tried to go backwards but the carriage wouldn't move. I can only assume it was stuck in a rut or something because he was really trying but we got rubbish scores for that movement which has cost us some penalties. We are currently in 11th place which I am really pleased with...
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July 12th ICKD Dressage

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, August 30, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Today was the ICKD dressage where Team GB has enjoyed enormous sucess with every member up on the podium! Big congratulations to Ann who drove a fabulous test with Kiwi and is currently lying in 2nd place.
Its all a bit nerve wracking for the FEI as we haven't even started yet but it will be all systems go tomorrow and hopefully the lovely weather will continue!

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July 11th Trot up and Opening Ceremony

Posted by A O'Neill on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Last night we had yet another huge thunderstorm  and it was boiling here again today. The trot up was this afternoon which had everyone feeling a little tense. I am pleased to say that all of Team GB ponies passed without incident and we all looked really smart. We also had another team photo shoot and got all dressed up for the opening ceremony this evening. It was a very proud moment for all of us. Hopefully it will stay dry for the ICKD dressage tomorrow!
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July 10th Nations Night

Posted by A O'Neill on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Today it has been boiling with temperatures above 35 degrees. We had a practise trot up this morning and had a great training session in the afternoon. Now we have been here 24 hours and are a little more settled we all ventured into Wiener Neustadt to buy ice cream at one of their adorable shops. Julie and mum went very early this morning as we has run out of everything. Emily and crew are also doing a blog on the BHDTA website so check it out. As yet we haven't tried the pool which I am det...
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July 9th Magna Racino to Wiener Neustadt, Finally here!

Posted by A O'Neill on Monday, July 9, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Well after three long days of traveling we are finally here! We had the most enormous thunderstorm last night and it was about a million degrees in our tent. I got up and unzipped the tent in pants and t-shirt which made absolutely no difference. Ann and I went exploring round the beautiful racecourse. I rode Jasper bareback as there was no room for a saddle on the lorry. Today has been swelteringly hot so we bathed both ponies and let them graze in the sun to dry. By 2.30 we were all off on ...
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July 8th Frankfurt to Magna Racino, nearly there!

Posted by A O'Neill on Monday, July 9, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Today we were up at an eye watering 5am which is 4am England time! The picture is the sun rising over their outdoor arenas. We loaded all our tents and ponies and were on the road by 6am. After 12 hours driving we finally reached our overnight stop  in Vienna. Having upset quite a few German people on the way (they are not very good at waiting patiently) and attracted crowds of people wanting to look at the ponies at every stop. It's been a long day and Kiera, Ann and I have spent our time pl...
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July 7th Calais to Frankfurt!

Posted by A O'Neill on Sunday, July 8, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
After a smooth ferry crossing we finally arrived at our over night stop in Calais at around 3am! Luckily we are used to arriving in the middle of the night so are well practised at it.  Both ponies are travelling fine and after about 4 hours sleep we were up for the ten hour drive to Frankfurt in convoy with Emily who kindly dragged herself out of bed to help us get sorted so thank you  to Emily and Sue. The drive was uneventful with both ponies drinking their Horse Quencher and we arrived at...
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July 6th OFF TO AUSTRIA, Goring to Calais!

Posted by A O'Neill on Friday, July 6, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
We have finally left! Jasper not impressed about loading but he is now on the lorry with kiwi! Kiera, Ann and I are crammed in the lorry living on our way to Dover to get our ferry before our first overnight stop over in Calais. We are praying for a smooth crossing as everyone apart from me gets seasick! 
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July 5th Back to Anns!

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, July 5, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Had a great evening yesterday going to the cinema with my friends to see the Amazing Spiderman. It wasn't a film I would have picked but it was amazing and I loved it! This morning we drove back up to Anns house to deliver Jasper so he could be checked that he was fit to travel by her vet and did some more packing. We are now almost ready! Picture taken by Emily of her pony, Jack who is also crashing at Anns house with Jasper.
Isobel is coming tomorrow as she is kindly taking my carriage and a...
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July 2nd Jaspers had a makeover!

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, July 5, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Yes Jasper has finally had a make over so he doesn't look such a scruff! Big thank you to Vicky for coming and pulling his mane for me yesterday and to Sam of Hooves-n-Woofers for coming and clipping him today at such short notice! Yesterday Kiera helped me clean the carriage and today with the help of my three sisters we made a start on repainting it. I still have loads of it to finish tomorrow but I think we are actually starting to get somewhere. The picture is Jasper with his present; an ...
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June 30th Trip to Anns house

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, July 5, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Today is the morning after my leavers ball and after a late night curled up on my friends sofa I was up early so I could get home in time to do the ponies. After about 4 hours sleep (and a hangover) I was up driving Jasper for the last time before we leave for Austria. The picture is the view from behind Jasper out on Salisbury Plain when for once it wasnt raining! We then drove up to Anns house with the car piled high with stuff to make a start on packing for Austria so its nice that we have...
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June 29th Jaspers back :)

Posted by A O'Neill on Sunday, July 1, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Jaspers home from Judes today, who tells me he has been a very good boy. I went to see him yesterday when our farrier Jerry came to shoe him for Austria and kindly gave me a spare set of shoes for him. Tonight was my Leavers Ball so I was busy getting ready for that so thank you to Jude for having Jasper and to my Mum and Dad who went and picked him up for me. I had a fabulous night and my feet are absolutely killing me! It was great to see all my friends and get all dressed up for once.

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June 22nd Jaspers off to Boot camp

Posted by A O'Neill on Saturday, June 23, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Today has been crazily busy with more preparation for Austria. Despite having about 6 hours sleep out of the last 72 hours I was up at the crack of dawn to take my sister to school (yup my family enjoys a luxurious chauffeur service provided by moi). I am not a morning person anyway so dragging myself out of bed was tough.

My mum and I were then off to see our friend who is printing the GB teams lorry stickers for Austria to okay the trial one she has done. It looks brilliant and it was so wei...
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June 21st Union Flag is here!

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, June 21, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 

For someone who never gets interesting post I had a very exciting letter from the BHDTA today containing my official union jack flag to wear in Austria!
I am so happy as I was worried I might not get to wear it and its fantastic to have our hard work officially recognised.
In terms of progress for Austria most of my team kit has arrived, our team lorry stickers are in progress, the paperwork is being sorted as is our route.
Its really close now and I seriously can't wait.
Our local paper the Sali...


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June 20th Training with James

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, June 21, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 

Had another great days training today with James Rooney but a driven one this time. We loaded the trailer back up and drove down to Anns yard. I had my lesson first working on the dressage test I will be doing in Austria. Jasper went brilliantly today, really pleased with him, going in a lovely rounded outline and really trying his best with his medium trot.
The picture is of us warming up so his outline is not as nice there but mum forgot to take any more pictures!
After behaving so well all w...


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June 19th Training at Carolines

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, June 21, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
Spent a fabulous day in Hampshire today training with Caroline Douglas in preparation for Austria.
Jasper was great and showed huge improvement throughout the day so I was really pleased with him. I got loads out of my lesson and I am glad we did as I feel so much more postive about Austria now. Big thanks to Caroline for a great lesson and for her generous hospitality. The icing on the cake is that today the weather has been brilliant, sunshine never fails to lift my mood.
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June 15th Blue Chip Update

Posted by A O'Neill on Friday, June 15, 2012, In : Sponsorship 
Blue Chip have just posted the news on their page that we have been selected for Austria!
http://www.bluechipfeed.com/2012/06/15/amber-oneill-update-2/
They are the most brilliant sponsors, always helpful and supportive. Its been a great two years with you leading up to Austria, its getting seriously close now.


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May 30th WE'RE GOING TO AUSTRIA!

Posted by A O'Neill on Thursday, May 31, 2012, In : FEI Junior European Champs 2012 
So excited to announce that Jasper and I have been selected to compete in the FEI Junior European Championships hosted by Austria this July. This is the best piece of news I have ever had and I can't say how proud I am that I will be representing Great Britain for the fourth time. This is going to be Jaspers first international competition and there is so much to organise and plan! There is no greater honour than to represent your country in the sport you live and breathe and words cannot des...
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April 14th Jaspers passport is here!

Posted by A O'Neill on Saturday, April 14, 2012, In : Day to day 
Very exciting bit of post arrived today containing Jaspers FEI Passport!! Now we just have to hope and pray we get to use it and we get selected to go to Austria this July. It looks very posh, purple and official. Makes the whole thing seem much closer now! Tomorrow we are off to the South of England Carriage Fair to take part in the BYD display, so harness is clean, carriage washed and polished and everything is packed as we have to leave at 6.30am tomorrow. As if I wasn't tired enough!

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Carriage Driver Blog Hi my name is Amber, welcome to my blog! This is where I will record what it is like being a Junior Carriage Driver and what I get up to day to day.

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