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Bton Horse Trials: Putting on the show

Niki Hinman
BBC News, West of England
BBC Sarah Tucker (r) and Bton Horse Trials scoring assistant Wendy Barke say they wouldn't miss it for the world as they stand in front of a huge blackboard full of squares to be filled in with score numbers. BBC
Sarah, right, says she has to climb a tall stepladder to get the scores written on the board

Around 200,000 visitors are expected to head to Bton Horse Trials later to watch some of the world's top riders and horses compete.

But what does it actually take to put on one of the most prestigious horsing events in the annual calendar?

On top of the 100km of electrical cables and 650 portable toilets there is also a staggering amount of planning.

The tents are up, the bars are stocked and the horses are stabled in the personal yard of the Duke of Beaufort right next to the big house.

But while the animals and riders limber up for the dressage, the scoreboard team is preparing to write all the scores by hand in white paint.

"I got the job doing this as I sent Jane, the event director a Christmas card and she liked my handwriting," explains Sarah Tucker from Coalpit Heath who has taken the week off work as a 111 call line trainer to work at the show.

"Just goes to show that good handwriting gets you everywhere doesn't it":[]}