Thunderstorm hits horse show

Yes, if it's Bank Holiday Monday and the Bexhill Horse Show is at the Polegrove.

The elements blasted competitors and spectators but succeeded in revealing the best of British, with a stout display of spirit that would not be beaten by adverse conditions.

The sky threatened all morning from the nine am start, then just after midday dark clouds opened and it seemed the heavy thunderstorm would put an end to proceedings.

But the horses in Ring Two turned their backs to the rain and stood patiently through the the worst of it, pelted with hailstones as their riders sat straight-backed with dignity, getting absolutely soaked. Sara Smith, competing in the Riding Club Horse category with Pinocchio, said:

"It was quite horrendous really, but he took it well. He just stood there, with his bottom turned into the hail. I thought he might be upset, but he was very good."

Over in Ring One, spectators could just make out through sheets of rain the determined shape of judge Avril Lewis, displaying indomitable spirit as, without missing a beat, she continued to assess the Private Driving class.

She said: "It's self-preservation. You can't let down the drivers, or the competitors. If they are prepared to carry on, then it would be churlish not to."

However the decision was made not to have the traditional Show Drive of the carriages on the roads, as Avril thought this dangerous given the difficult conditions.

Another hero of the day was Bethan Clifford, who rode Paddy from Glovers Farm the two-and-a-half rainsoaked miles through Sidley to get to the Polegrove.

""When it starts raining as soon as you set off it is depressing, but I would never just give up because that is not the point."

She told how she had ridden for 35 minutes through traffic to the centre of Bexhill, where they had sheltered from the worst of the storm under the railway bridge near Sainsburys.

"Paddy was distressed, upset and anxious - he is usually very calm. It's very difficult....better when I'm riding him because he has that reassurance, but when I wasn't he just didn't know what to do with himself."

Also refusing to be defeated by the weather was Rodeo Dave, who continued to entertain spectators although water on the ground made his western-style trick riding even more hazardous. He pulled off a number of classic cowboy stunts, including dismounting at speed and clinging onto the side of his galloping horse, Jake.

Dave, who has broken ankles, knees and ribs during thirty years of trick riding, admitted that wet slippery ground caused problems for the horse, increasing chances of a fall.

Organisers quickly reshuffled events, bringing on the Shire horses and Bloodhound Parade, to deal with the immediate problems posed by the weather. General secretary Trish Duckworth thought the day had been success: "I think it went very well in general, considering we had a short break for the rain.

"But then the weather perked up and later classes were held in sunshine. We did lose out on spectators because a lot of people went home and didn't come back again. It had been getting really busy on the gate when the rain started, so I think that hit a lot of the public coming to us."

There were 287 entries in total - slightly down on last year.

She added: "The committee is grateful to all of the judges and helpers, who were all volunteers - we wouldn't have managed without them."