‘We need to show the inside story'

Graham Fletcher on grabbing media attention – and why the time is right.

- Jennifer Donald

A QUESTION I’m still continually asked is why there’s virtually no coverage of showjumping on mainstream television – especially when it was so popular in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.

Due to the enthusiasm for football, other sports have had air time reduced. But I really do think that British Showjumping (BS) must put more resources into the promotion of our sport.

For years I’ve been at odds with the present administration over it. They maintain that BS is a body for all members, and from a democratic point of view, I agree that it’s run very fairly.

But having lived through those earlier days of extensive TV coverage, I know just how much effort a number of astute businessmen and promoters put in to make showjumping so popular with the public and appealing to broadcasters.

Like me, they believed the more successful a sport is at the top, the more everyone stands to benefit. So instead of just looking internally at showjumping, we need to acknowledge what a major player it’s become in global sport.