Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 44

Interview
Picture by Fiona Scott-Maxwell
their rules.
They too are excited by this opportunity
to showcase the sport to a whole new
group of people – and that’s partly why it
is being run in late July, at the start of the
summer holiday season.
The format will also be different, in that
each day will feature two competitions in
each of the three disciplines (dressage,
cross country and showjumping).
For day spectators, this means that they
will get the satisfaction of seeing the
winners at the end of each day, unlike a
traditional horse trials where winners are
only announced at the end of a full four
days.
“It’s a similar idea to that of 20-20
cricket” explains Diana, “the aim being
to widen the appeal to spectators. Unless
you’re really addicted to the sport, you
won’t necessarily want to wait four days to
see a winner”
Certainly, this is a real ‘first’ for the Island,
since British Eventing horse trials have
never been done before anywhere else at
this level.
Not surprisingly, the ferry companies
– who stand to gain from their specialist
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skills in transporting horses and riders as
well as extra visitors – are very supportive
of the event, and it looks as if Diana
won’t have any trouble finding the 300
volunteer helpers whom will be needed
to do everything from putting up fences
to acting as show judges, stewarding
the crowds or providing specialist First
Aid and veterinary services. There’s also
plenty of healthy interest and sponsorship
from business people who are keen on
mounting trade stands.
“We believe it would be very positive
for the whole Island – for the sport, for
Osborne and for the Isle of Wight as a
visitor destination”.
As for Diana herself, it’s become quite
clear that she’s not prepared to give up on
the world of horses just yet. Although she
no longer rides herself and has no horses
at home, she does have two competition
horses, Ceylor Lan and the French horse
Vendredi Biats which are stabled in
Chippenham and ridden by Kitty King.
And now of course there’s the Osborne
fixture to occupy her time and energy.
The next big challenge will be to
sign up a main sponsor for the event
– and the former Royal home certainly
will make an attractive prospect for
businesses, who have the prestigious
option of hosting dinner or drinks
gatherings in various suites that are not
normally open to the public.
Guests at such private events will be able
to watch all the sporting action from the
superb vantage point of the terrace.
Diana credits English Heritage for
being “very generous” in allowing access
to additional parts of the house that
aren’t normally available to view, and
says this makes it extra appealing for
sponsors – in fact it’s one of the unique
features Osborne will be able to offer
over Badminton, Burghley or Blenheim,
which can only offer a drinks party in the
evening within the house.
She adds: “When we talk about our
sport, we talk about owners, riders and
organisers as equal stakeholders.
“In the same way here, we have the
sport, the house and the Island – and all
are equally important”
* The dates for this intermediate level
showcase event are July 25-26, 2018