Press Release – 6 July 2010

The Festival of British Eventing – presented for the fifth consecutive year by The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) is almost here combining the best of national and international horse sport and entertainment to create the perfect weekend for the family and eventing enthusiasts alike.

The British Eventing Open Championship is one of the most coveted in the National calendar. Past winners include British Olympians William Fox-Pitt and Mary King and Antipodeans Andrew Nicholson, Mark Todd and Clayton Fredericks all of who are likely contenders again this year. Last year’s Champion Ruth Edge will undoubtedly be back to defend her title, which she also won in 2004 & 2008. Another win this year for the Cumbrian based rider would put her in the record books as the first rider to win three consecutive titles since the championship was inaugurated in 1986. This year the Festival will be one of the final events in the run-up for riders heading for the World Equestrian Games to be held in Kentucky in September (25 September – 10 October).

Future equine stars of the sport also have a chance to take centre stage at The Festival in the Smith and Williamson Intermediate Championship and the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship. Horses for these championships qualify throughout the year ensuring the highest standard of young horses at the final. Cool Mountain (William Fox-Pitt) the winner of the four-star at Lexington Kentucky this year was the Festival’s Novice Champion in 2007.

The spectator friendly course at Gatcombe Park designed by Captain Mark Phillips follows the customary route from the start at the top of the park before dropping down into the ‘bowl’, allowing for great views of the action, and along the valley to the finish.

“As always while the track may have a familiar feel for riders and a familiar look on parts of the course from the spectators’ point of view changes have been made to some of the more influential fences particularly the Land Rover at the Folly and the water near the end. It doesn’t matter how experienced the rider or how many times they have ridden this track there is always something new for them to think about,” said Captain Phillips.

Competition for the championship classes starts with dressage on Friday also the day of the Burghley Dubarry Young Event Horse qualifier, one of the last chances for four and five-year-old potential event horses to win a place in the coveted final at Burghley. The now traditional inter-branch Pony Club show jumping sponsored by BETA takes place on Friday in the main arena which over the weekend hosts the championships’ show jumping as well as a full challenging timetable of family entertainment.

This year the athletic dogs of The Kennel Club agility display team will show off their jumping skills and there will be the opportunity for visiting pet canines to have a go. Charlotte Dennis returns to entertain and educate with her display of Natural Horsemanship which has proved a popular attraction on previous occasions and dog trainer Bob Hogg will demonstrate the skill and enviable obedience of his working dogs. There will also be qualifiers for the popular and hectic Shetland Pony Grand National and at the other end of the scale the serenity of top class dressage to music.

Away from the action over 100 selected trade stands in three avenues provide the best shopping and on-site catering has to offer. The Festival held at Gatcombe Park (August 6-8) has become one of the annual highlights of the eventing calendar and unique in that it hosts the three major British championship classes.