Guest Blog: a very happy Aoife Clark

WEDNESDAY 8 MAY - SUNDAY 12 MAY, 2024

Guest Blog: a very happy Aoife Clark

What a brilliant way to end the week. Firstly huge congrats to William, Chilli and their team for a superb win. The show-jumping caused plenty of trouble and it was such an exciting climax.

It was a proper up to height track and for us to come away with just the first down and finish 8th is a fantastic result for Jimmy and one I am very proud of. It equals my best Badminton placing with Master Crusoe (Paddy) in 2013.

Jimmy has struggled with show-jumping in the past – never through lack of trying, but just because he has not got the most natural technique and has found it quite challenging. The way he jumped on Sunday is a real credit to Robert Snaddon who has been an huge help to me this year. We did a very limited warm-up to save the best jumps for the ring, and other than being a bit surprised by the first fence jumping into the crowd, he hardly touched a pole. Go Jimmy!

Jimmy will now have a well earned holiday, and as I write this he is horizontal in the field. Not the same for me as we are off to Aston le Walls and Chatsworth this week, and then Tattersalls in a fortnight. The Monday after Badminton always feels like you’ve got a hangover as the excitement and adrenalin, and maybe just a teensy bit of alcohol, drains out! This is not good when mixed with a yard full of fresh horses delighted to see me back… The girls at home have been doing a fab job keeping everything going while I’ve been away though and as it is a busy week it is important to hit the ground running.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the support team behind us. I may be the one riding, but there are so many people with a part to play behind the scenes. Also a huge thank you to all the volunteers and helpers involved in making such a memorable Badminton possible. It really is my favourite event and I’m already looking forward to next year!