A record number of entries have flooded into Blair Castle International Horse Trials (23-26 August) after the deluge of rain across England this summer forced the cancellation of a substantial number of events (news, 2 August).
“After Hartpury was cancelled, we were inundated with entries,” said Erika Hay, spokesman for Blair Castle. “We haven’t had anything like the rain they’ve had down south. We’ve had a fair bit, but we have free-draining soil here, so we’re expecting the going to be fairly good.”
Lucinda Green, Andrew Nicholson, Matt Ryan, Oliver Townend and Ruth Edge are among those now entered, while William Fox-Pitt has four horses in three different classes.
“This will give us two full days of cross-country, with the one-star running on Friday for the first time and the rest running on Saturday,” said Ms Hay.
This year, Blair will also host the FEI European Young Riders Eventing Championships, for which 72 riders aged between 18 and 21, from 18 different countries — including Russia, Hungary, Belarus and the Czech Republic — are planning to compete.
Blair is hoping for a record number of visitors this year — having already exceeded previous years’ records of advance membership sales.
Visitors to the horse trials and its award-winning country fair should head to the Horse & Hound stand (48) for great deals on subscriptions to H&H and our sister magazines, HORSE and Eventing.
Up to 35% off a year’s subscription to H&H is available, together with the chance to win one of a multitude of prizes, including £500-worth of Masta and Harry Hall gear, and instant freebies in our popular tombola.
Tickets for the horse trials start at £8 for adults and £4 for children up to 16, car parking is free. For more information, visit www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk or (tel: 01796 481543).
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (9 August, ’07)
