"The Bit - Straight from the horse's mouth"

Poplar Park (1) - 11/12th March 

PicturePippa Funnell and Billy The Biz on their way to an AI win
"I’ve been coming here for 30 years, since it started, it shows what I think of the event as I’ve bought 2 of my best horses here – Sandman and Billy The Biz" commented British Olympic rider and the original Rolex Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell in a prize giving interview with our editor Sarah Skillin and Bo Harwick, Poplar Park Horse Trials organiser.  

"They are all Advanced horses and all have big aims for this season and the reason I brought them here is because for an early pre-run you are always guaranteed the ground and I think since you’ve [Poplar Park] done the work over the past few years with the show jumping collecting ring and particularly the cross country, I think there are some really good questions out there on the course.  I think sometimes you can go to these early runs and they are nice runs but there are no questions asked and then suddenly you are presented with an Advanced course and that’s what is good here, you’ve got all sorts of questions…in and out of the woods and the uphill and downhill, in and out of the woods again and the galloping stretch, you’ve got all sort of situations.  I think its an excellent early run."
PictureAlyson Parker - BE100 winner
Praise was being lavished on the East Anglian event from all angles with riders over joyed at the recent developments to the cross country course and the event as a whole.

Local Badminton Mitsubushi Motors Cup bound rider Alyson Parker took time out to talk to The Bit UK team as well, following a 6th place in the BE90 with young horse Jollee II finishing on their 28 dressage and a win with 'horse of a lifetime' JJ Malone (known by Joe to his friends) on a stunning 22.8 dressage.

"Joe just has to be my horse of a lifetime and I am so excited to have won our section at Poplar Park today ... it is part of my build up to this years Badminton Mitsubishi Cup and he felt fit, supple and totally up for it. I can’t believe how much work the organizers have put into improving and developing the course. It is beautifully presented with some challenging questions at all levels. In the 100, fence 4, the step down to fence 5 the house was a good question and had an alternative for the less experienced horses. Poplar is one of my all time favourite early events ... part of the whole “start of the event season” thing. I have been coming here for years, know so many people here and look forward to it every time. Massive thank you to everyone concerned.”
PictureLocal rider Jo Williams
Poplar Park proved a great start to the season for fellow local rider Jo Williams, who was placed on all five of her rides across the BE90, BE100 and Novice.  

"Wow, where do I start? Firstly what a great job they have done to the course, lots of changes and new jumps, Jonjo and his team did an amazing job and the going was excellent...Toby Rush 's Storm doing a great 26.5 dressage and double clear to come 3rd and Vicky Golding 's Nebs who finds stressage exactly that, did a respectable 32.5 with one fence and also clear cross country to come 10th [in the BE90]. Yogi did a 28 dressage ( won't mention the rider error) with a double clear and Mac a 30.5 double clear to come 2nd and 3rd, I did think I had a 1st/2nd for a while but thrilled never the less. I finished the day with Christine Anthony's Darwin in the Novice, who did a pleasing test then stormed all the direct routes cross country, with us ending up a surprising 7th. I have never been placed on every horse I have taken out before, ever!"
Picture
Anthony Clark and his 2* European Championship ride Crambamboli took top honours in the Open Intermediate, just managing to stay a nose ahead of Pippa Funnell and Sandman after a flying cross country round.  

Sandman certainly looked in good form as flew through Volvo Valley and down the hill to the new set of very upright gates, but it was Anthony and 'BamBam' who managed to finish just 2 seconds over the optimum time to add 0.8 penalties to their 27.7 dressage.  "I'm over the moon with BamBam" added Anthony, "the ground at Poplar was fabulous, the course improvements are great and the organisers did a great job.  It really is such a great event, and one of the few events that is really friendly with great viewing.  It really does deserve more entries as the organising team obviously listen to what the riders have said in the past and implemented change.  In all its a great event - thank you!."

It has been a long time since we've seen such a full car park for what is essentially a 'local event'.  James and Bo Hardwick, the father and daughter organiser team, have done an incredible job raising the game at Poplar.

"I’m just disappointed for you guys that you don’t get more support because your worst trouble is the clash with Oasby and Tweseldown...to me in this game a good run is a good run and I’d rather travel more hours to get to the venues I think are better for the horses" commented Pippa Funnell MBE.

We asked Bo what it means to Poplar as an event to have the support of eventing superstars like Pippa...

"It is massively important (to have the likes of Pippa here) for me when I’m doing my pre-event publicity I want to be able to tell people that if they come down and watch they are going to be able to see the likes of Pippa and the more people I get the more money I get the more I can give to our charities"

Poplar Park returns for a new fixture in May 20/21st - make sure you add it to your eventing calendar!