The Flying Scot unveils some 'rider frighteners'

NO wonder Ian Stark's nickname is the Flying Scot. It takes a lot to slow him down, including a spell in hospital last summer when he suffered from a brain haemorrhage. "I'm fine now," he says calmly as we discuss his latest job – cross-country course designer for this year's Bramham International Horse Trials – as well as his hectic schedule of competing, coaching, commentating and when he has any time left, getting his flying hours back up.

The former Olympic rider is back competing again at three-star level at the age of 56 after taking over his daughter's horse, Looks Similar. His daughter was expecting a baby (his first grandson) and they were reluctant to part with the horse which had belonged to his late sister-in-law.

After competing at Burnham Market earlier in the year he found he was bitten by the bug again, though it would be more sensible, he admits, to sell the horse. However, when we met they were heading, via Chatsworth Horse Trials, to compete in Saumur in France. Bramham is familiar territory for Ian Stark who won there three times in the 80s and again in 1996.

"Being back here doing something completely different, designing my first CCI three-star course, is very exciting."

His first big win at Bramham, in 1983, came not long after he had taken the plunge and given up his day job to ride full time. He went on to compete at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles the following year and his tally of medals over the years has included four Olympic silver medals, three European eventing team golds plus an individual gold in 1991. He won Badminton Horse Trials three times, making history in 1988 when he also finished second on his other horse, Glenburnie.

He grew up in Galashiels and had his first riding lesson at the age of 10 only because his sister was having lessons but decided she didn't want to go. He cadged 10 shillings from his mother to go again the following week and was completely hooked. "I spent every waking hour at the stables, shovelling the proverbial."

When he left school he got a job as a clerk in the DHSS office, using up all his annual leave and more to go hunting, competing and riding his horses. On one memorable occasion when he was supposed to be off work sick, he was spotted on the Border television news at the opening meet of the Buccleuch hunt. It didn't go down too well back at the office.

By then married with two children, he was desperate to concentrate on riding full time but knew it would be a risk. "My wife Jenny said 'well leave, hand in your notice'. So I did."

He was driving back to their home in the Borders after working in Cardiff last year when he was taken ill. He had a blinding headache and managed to call 999 before collapsing in the road at the side of his car. He was taken by ambulance to the local hospital and then air lifted to Cardiff. "I must have come round at one point and called my wife. I told her I thought I was going to die. It was quite scary for the family."

He was put into an induced coma to allow his condition to settle and when he began to improve he was transferred to a hospital nearer home and has made a full recovery.

There will be some surprises in store for riders at Bramham this year, not least the fact that he has turned the course round so that

the top of the hill, normally the finish, will now be the start.

"Sue Benson used a lot of new ground last year, so I decided to turn it round as well as using some different bits of the park and different features."

Fence five will be the main water complex, which means this crowd-pulling fence will be jumped much earlier than usual on the course.

"The horses will still be fresh and full of enthusiasm and jumping, but it does take some time to get into a rhythm, so it will be different for the riders."

There will also be a new water splash at the top of the park (fences 17 and 18) approached via two huge wooden jodhpur boots. At fences 12 and 13 at the round house in the park, riders will jump on and off the ha-ha to a large, brush hedgehog.

Some of these fences are what he describes as "old- fashioned rider frighteners" which he has incorporated along with the more modern, skinnier fences.

He is obviously enjoying the challenge and says with a smile: "We'll see if it works."

Bramham International Horse Trials, June 3-6.

For more information about this year's cross country course see Equestrian Post on Page 14.

CW 22/5/10