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Welcome to Blair: behind the scenes at the European Championships *PICTURES*


  • With the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle almost here (10-13 September), we take a look at those who have arrived and their first impressions.

    From kilts to stunning scenery, this year’s championships are already impressing some of the world’s top eventers.

    William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero set off on their long journey from their Dorset base

    Holly Woodhead and her Blair ride DHI Lupison get a good send off from her team in Wiltshire

    Izzy Taylor’s Briarlands Matlida settles straight into her surroundings

    Irish rider Austin O’Connor gets overtaken by a speedy, newly crowned Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials winner Michael Jung

    Nicola Wilson and One Two Many take in the stunning surroundings of Blair Castle

    British riders Holly Woodhead and Laura Collett prepare for a morning hack

    Continued below…


     


    Francis Whittington bids his son farewell for the week at Burghley before he heads up to the championships

    The Germans arrive in Scotland

    Screen shot 2015-09-08 at 11.29.30

    Gemma Tattersall’s mum is very excited about the opportunity of being a part of Team GBR

    After his fall at Burghley, Michael Jung makes good use of a segway to avoid walking on his sore ankle…

    …and he’s pretty nifty with it!

    H&H’s eventing guru, Pippa Roome starts her long journey up to Blair

    Ireland’s Camilla Speirs rides her dimunitive little horse Portersize Just A Jiff against the stunning backdrop Blair offers

    Blair was bathed in sunshine  yesterday (7 September) — long may it continue!

    Kitty King’s ride Persimmon enjoys a pick of grass

    Course designer Ian Stark offers a truly Scottish themed cross-country challenge for horses and riders this weekend

    Remember that the Horse & Hound team will be on site to bring you all the action as it happens through our H&H Live service and daily reports and video interviews with the riders.

    Follow the British team members via Twitter this week to ensure you don’t miss a thing:

    Laura Collett — @CollettEventing
    Dani Evans — @DLEventing
    William Fox-Pitt — @foxpitteventing
    Kitty King — @kittyeventing
    Wills Oakden — @WOakdenEventing
    Gemma Tattersall — @GTeventing
    Izzy Taylor — @1izzytaylor
    Oliver Townend — @Oliver_Townend
    Francis Whittington — @FWeventing
    Nicola Wilson — @NWEventing
    Holly Woodhead — @hollyWoodhead2

    Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout Pau five-star, London International and more with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

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