About |
Virtual Eventing becomes a Reality |
After listening to various nurses plea's on Social Media at the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Former Advanced Event Rider and Director of Uptown Eventing, one of the world’s leading Event Horse Sales Agents, Rachel Wakefield decided that the NHS Nursing staff needed supporting in some way.
“With the cancellation of Badminton & Kentucky and no eventing for the foreseeable future I had his wacky idea that I could pull together a group of 5 star riders and put on a virtual competition with people competing from their yards at home. With the wonders of todays technology we could play this out on their own social media channels.”
After discussions with Mark Jennings from Chilli Pepper TV, we have made this a reality and will live-link to Riders on their phones and livestream it on the day. "It’s a logistical nightmare but we’re going to give it a go," said Rachel. People need something to look forward to in these desperate times and I’m hoping that the youngsters and Grassroots riders can get involved” BBC’s Lizzie Greenwood Hughes will host the programme from her back garden and well known Equestrian commentator Spencer Sturmey will commentate Live from the comfort of his sofa!
The Charity Rachel selected to support is The NHS Charities Together. Ellie Orton, Chief Executive, NHS Together Charities said “This sounds really exciting, and we are delighted that you have chosen to support our charity.” They represents 140 member NHS charities throughout the UK which means the Riders Fundraising will reach NHS staff all over the country.
A world class field of Events Riders from around the globe have come onboard to help with the challenge including: Gemma Tattersall, Laura Collett Vittoria Pannizzon, Andrew Heffernan are among the 40 field entries. USA based Boyd Martin & Joe Meyer, Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Sarah Clark and Megan Jones who are based in Australia could prove interesting to livestream but as Rachel says ‘It’s a bit of fun and the main aim is to raise money”.
Rachel has been blown away by the support and help she’s received from the Eventing community who really want to make this happen. I know things are going to be tough out there but if everyone that was going to visit Badminton, (there were 180,000 in 2019), donated just £5.00 we’d raise nearly £1million for the front line medical staff. Every time we go to an event or in fact any equestrian competition we know the NHS is there for us so it’s time to give back.
The event format has been tweaked to include a trot up, 5* Dressage Test marked by a Ground Jury of 3 top International FEI Judges of Les Smith, Annabel Scrimgeour & Jane Tolley. The cross country will include a series of fun challenges set out in an arena and will not include any jumping with a horse. The showjumping phase, designed by International SJ Course Designer Steve Williams is planned although not up to height and with a slight twist. As the lockdown/safety guide lines could be relaxed by the time the event comes around we are planning to run this phase. If it is deemed not sensible to show jump at the time we have a backup plan.
“If you ask me what the rules are - most are in place and will be completed this week as I’m wearing quite a lot of hats at the moment and this time last last week I was busy stressing about homeschooling my daughter.” Rachel previously combined eventing with a career in the Exhibition industry hence her organisational skills which have come into play. They are hoping that everyone in the equestrian world will join in and watch the live streaming of the first ever Virtual Eventing Competition, which is scheduled to start 2pm 6 May 2020.
Live Scoring will be available through Eventing Scores throughout the competition.
“With the cancellation of Badminton & Kentucky and no eventing for the foreseeable future I had his wacky idea that I could pull together a group of 5 star riders and put on a virtual competition with people competing from their yards at home. With the wonders of todays technology we could play this out on their own social media channels.”
After discussions with Mark Jennings from Chilli Pepper TV, we have made this a reality and will live-link to Riders on their phones and livestream it on the day. "It’s a logistical nightmare but we’re going to give it a go," said Rachel. People need something to look forward to in these desperate times and I’m hoping that the youngsters and Grassroots riders can get involved” BBC’s Lizzie Greenwood Hughes will host the programme from her back garden and well known Equestrian commentator Spencer Sturmey will commentate Live from the comfort of his sofa!
The Charity Rachel selected to support is The NHS Charities Together. Ellie Orton, Chief Executive, NHS Together Charities said “This sounds really exciting, and we are delighted that you have chosen to support our charity.” They represents 140 member NHS charities throughout the UK which means the Riders Fundraising will reach NHS staff all over the country.
A world class field of Events Riders from around the globe have come onboard to help with the challenge including: Gemma Tattersall, Laura Collett Vittoria Pannizzon, Andrew Heffernan are among the 40 field entries. USA based Boyd Martin & Joe Meyer, Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Sarah Clark and Megan Jones who are based in Australia could prove interesting to livestream but as Rachel says ‘It’s a bit of fun and the main aim is to raise money”.
Rachel has been blown away by the support and help she’s received from the Eventing community who really want to make this happen. I know things are going to be tough out there but if everyone that was going to visit Badminton, (there were 180,000 in 2019), donated just £5.00 we’d raise nearly £1million for the front line medical staff. Every time we go to an event or in fact any equestrian competition we know the NHS is there for us so it’s time to give back.
The event format has been tweaked to include a trot up, 5* Dressage Test marked by a Ground Jury of 3 top International FEI Judges of Les Smith, Annabel Scrimgeour & Jane Tolley. The cross country will include a series of fun challenges set out in an arena and will not include any jumping with a horse. The showjumping phase, designed by International SJ Course Designer Steve Williams is planned although not up to height and with a slight twist. As the lockdown/safety guide lines could be relaxed by the time the event comes around we are planning to run this phase. If it is deemed not sensible to show jump at the time we have a backup plan.
“If you ask me what the rules are - most are in place and will be completed this week as I’m wearing quite a lot of hats at the moment and this time last last week I was busy stressing about homeschooling my daughter.” Rachel previously combined eventing with a career in the Exhibition industry hence her organisational skills which have come into play. They are hoping that everyone in the equestrian world will join in and watch the live streaming of the first ever Virtual Eventing Competition, which is scheduled to start 2pm 6 May 2020.
Live Scoring will be available through Eventing Scores throughout the competition.
All donations should be made using the Buttons on this site or via any of our social media links.
All donations go directly to the charity. For enquiries email: infor@uptowneventing.com Phone : 07899943133 Event Website: www.virtualeventing.com fb: Virtual Eventing 2020 inst: @virtualeventing2020 twitter: @virtualeventin1 |