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We would also ride down to the sea and with Jennie and sometimes Charlie gallop across the sand and jump over the breakwaters, always an exhilarating occupation with the great Golden Cap cliff towering above us. Anthony and Michael Point to Pointed, hunter trialled and show jumped very successfully before leaving home to start work and in Mike’s case join the army. We competed in a lot of show classes on the home produced ponies going round the country. Jennie was the expert and with Charlie won the pony pairs 3 years running at the Royal International Horse Show in the 50,s also winning several championships with a variety of lovely ponies including the legendary Royal Show. Sarah and I followed on as we grew up also winning at most of the big shows on ponies and hacks.
In 1959 the sad decision to sell Catherston must have been devastating for our parents but the upkeep was just too much and the Bullen's moved to Didmarton just on the edge of Badminton Park in south Gloucestershire. Brother Mike had been competing very successfully in Horse Trials, so to be so near to the great event was a real thrill to me and the following year he was selected to ride at the Rome Olympics after a third placing at Badminton. We had been given permission to ride in the great park by 'Master' the Duke of Beaufort, I certainly found it inspirational to be able to train in the park especially when the Australian Olympic Team came to stay with us whilst in quarantine before the Rome Olympics. I learnt so much from the amazing Roycroft family where father and two sons competed in those Olympics and several others. Later 3 Bullen's would compete in 8 Olympics. Anne Bullen continued with her painting and drawing getting numerous commissions in Gloucestershire and she exhibited at Badminton Horse Trials with many of her works on display in the Canvas tent purchased for the occasion. Us three girls joined the Beaufort Pony Club and Mum was a great supporter of this.
Mare and Foal
It was in 1960 that Anne learnt she had breast cancer. It must have been devastating but in her usual forthright way it was tackled in much the same way as getting a commission finished on time. Life appeared to carry on as normal and amazingly in this day and age she was allowed to go to the Rome Olympics with Jennie to watch Michael compete where he finished 4th just missing out on the bronze medal. THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE