The 12 Ways Of Winners

There are myriad factors that turn an also-ran into a winner — not just talent. Andrea Oakes asks top trainers what the world’s best riders have in common

- Andrea Oakes

1 NAIL THE BASICS

“TRAINING means repetition, which takes self-discipline,” says British eventing team performance manager Dickie Waygood, pointing out that a 20-metre circle should be precisely that — not 19 metres or egg-shaped. “In any elite sport you must get the basics right, so you can revert to them in times of crisis.”

Achievers apply this attention to detail to where it matters most, explains Dickie, adding: “Some could live in chaos, but on the field of play they are meticulous in their approach.”

2 HAVE A SYSTEM

RIDERS who win consistently, at the highest levels, have a solid system in place, says Dickie.

“Nothing happens in a random way — everything is done for a reason,” he explains. “Multi-championship athletes have their system and stick to it.

“Eventing doesn’t always go to plan, so you need a really good coping strategy that you can pull out of the bag,” adds Dickie, who highlights Oliver Townend’s split-second decision to take the long route to the Trout Hatchery at Burghley in 2017 with his winner Ballaghmor Class as a masterclass in mental versatility. “You must be able to think clearly under pressure. If you haven’t got a system, you haven’t got a ‘plan B’ to go to.”

3 COMMUNICATE

TALENT alone won’t cut the mustard in world-class showjumping, according to trainer Andy Austin.

“The money has to come from somewhere,” he explains. “Few riders have the necessary personal wealth, so they must be able to communicate with owners, sponsors and backers to build good relationships.”