Eventers will have another opportunity to run at advanced level before Badminton Horse Trials next year with the announcement that Burgham will run advanced and intermediate sections on the weekend of 24-25 March 2012.
The shortage of pre-Badminton advanced classes has long been a hot topic and — assuming Burnham Market, Belton and Weston all run as normal — this new fixture raises the number of pre-Badminton advanced options in Britain to four.
Burgham runs its first British Eventing (BE) horse trials this summer (22-24 July), with BE classes up to novice. There will also be multiple other attractions, including showjumping with a grand prix offering a £12,000 prize-fund. This summer fixture will also run again in 2012.
Event director Paul White said: “I believe we’ve already far surpassed what anyone thought possible this year.
“To then secure a new intermediate and advanced fixture next March is testament to the excellent, dedicated and knowledgeable team we have at Burgham. 2012 is a particularly significant year since a number of overseas teams will be in Britain training at this level for the London Olympics.”
Frances Hay-Smith, British Eventing’s regional co-ordinator for Scotland and the north, said: “I am delighted we have secured this prestigious event in Northumberland to give our members based in the north and Scotland the chance to get pre-Badminton runs without the huge travel costs they have had to pay in the past years.”
BE chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith added: “The team behind Burgham have gone to great efforts to boost the popularity of both eventing and equestrianism in the north east. I am sure that the addition of another advanced fixture to the 2012 calendar will be warmly welcomed by riders in preparation for the international stage.”
