Weather devastates horse sport for second weekend in a row
Rain, snow and hail have combined to force another slew of cancelled competitions.
Aldon Horse Trials abandoned at lunchtime on Saturday, 16 March, losing that afternoon’s classes and all of Sunday’s, due to bottomless going and hailstorms — the first time it has cancelled for 20 years.
The going at Aldon???!!!??? twitter.com/SpencerSturmey…The going at Aldon???!!!??? twitter.com/SpencerSturmey…— Spencer Sturmey (@SpencerSturmey) March 16, 2013— Spencer Sturmey (@SpencerSturmey) March 16, 2013
I was just sent this photo from Aldon…think cancelling was the right decision! #whereisspring twitter.com/DassettEventin…I was just sent this photo from Aldon…think cancelling was the right decision! #whereisspring twitter.com/DassettEventin…— Dassett Eventing (@DassettEventing) March 17, 2013— Dassett Eventing (@DassettEventing) March 17, 2013
And Swalcliffe lost both days (16 and 17 March) due to torrential rain, followed by snow.
Poor weather also saw the cancellation of affiliated dressage at Richmond Equestrian Centre on 17 March and the loss of five out of 14 point-to-point meetings.
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Flora Watkins spent several years working for BBC News before moving into print, first as a staffer at Horse & Hound, before going freelance.