Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 42

Interview
When Diana Bown and her husband
Philip retired to the Isle of Wight from
Monmouthshire in 2013, it was with the
expectation that she would finally wave
goodbye to her decades of involvement
with horse trials.
The couple, who also enjoy sailing, had
been holidaying on the Island for most of
their 50-year married life, and the idea of
selling up their long-time home in Wales
for a new home in Bembridge, was so that
they could spend more time on the water.
“Essentially, we moved to the Island to
retire” says Diana, “but somehow it doesn’t
seem to be quite working out that way”.
Indeed, since airing her idea of staging
horse trials at Osborne , Diana’s retirement
plans seem to be firmly on hold.
After more than 30 years of running
horse trials at Chepstow and elsewhere,
she is clearly in her element, as she buzzes
from meetings with potential sponsors
and suppliers, to visiting events on the
mainland, gathering ideas for the two-day
Osborne trials which is in the final stages
of discussion with a view to taking place
next July.
“It wasn’t quite what I’d planned, but
then I suppose I just don’t like to be
bored!” she laughs.
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Lightbulb moment
The idea of using the magnificent
former Royal house and grounds for
such a big equestrian event came to
Diana after she attended a function at the
English Heritage venue.
Her instant thought, was a horse-related
occasion - but it wasn’t until the following
year, when she attended a concert at
Osborne by one of her Welsh idols,Tom
Jones, that she saw the full potential of
the venue.
“I realised there was a huge amount
more land than I had thought, and that
it would be just perfect for horse trials,
because of the way it sweeps away from
the house and down to the sea” she said.
In fact, she reckons that the closeness of
the house to the horse riding action could
potentially make Osborne an even better
eventing venue for riders and spectators
than high-profile Badminton or Burghley.
A former Board member of British
Eventing and for six years Chairman of the
BE Organisers Association Diana also has
long experience of running horse trials,
including one in collaboration with former
Olympic showjumper David Broome,
which meant she was able to draw
from her extensive contacts book, and
approached Stuart Buntine, co-director of
Bede Events.
“When it comes to event organisers,
there are two types” says Diana: “one that
does it as a business, and the other simply
because they love it.
“Stuart is definitely one of both of
these! When he came to Osborne he
was instantly excited by the potential and
agreed that it was tailor-made for horse
trials.
“Whilst Badminton and Burghley are
undoubtedly wonderful estates, Osborne
almost surpasses them in the way that
all the equestrian action can happen
very close to the house, and offer such
splendid views for the spectators.
“Prince Albert and Queen Victoria
certainly knew what they were doing,
having their house there!”
Diana’s next step was to convince
Osborne’s General Manager Rob Flower
that her “crazy idea” was sound – and to
that end, she accompanied him and a
party of English Heritage representatives
to the National Trust property Belton
House in Lincolnshire, to experience one
of its horse trials.
Meanwhile, plans are rolling ahead for