Blenheim cancelled owing to Covid-19: financial viability means ‘it would not be prudent’ to move forward with planning

This year’s SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials (17-20 September) has been cancelled owing to Covid-19.

An email sent to British Eventing members explained: “The financial viability of British Eventing (BE) remains a board priority, and as Blenheim Palace Horse Trials is a BE-owned event it would not be prudent to continue to move forward with event planning, and the costs that this would incur, with the level of uncertainty which exists about whether the event will be able to run.

“The government has indicated that a level of social distancing is likely to remain necessary until at least the end of this year, and the potential impact this would have on the viability of the event in terms of spectator numbers has meant that the difficult decision has been taken to cancel this year’s event.

“We would like to thank our sponsors SsangYong, Blenheim Palace and the organising team for their support and understanding. Whilst we are all disappointed to not be able to welcome competitors, owners, spectators, exhibitors, volunteers and officials to the event this year, we look forward to seeing you all back at the 2021 Blenheim Palace Horse Trials.”

A statement from the event added: “Clearly Coronovirus has impacted on everyone’s lives and whilst we are massively disappointed not to be able to put on the showcase event that we have been planning and preparing, the longer-term health and safety of the public, competitors, exhibitors, volunteers and officials and staff, sustainability of the sport and those who support us, is paramount.

“We would like to thank all of our competitors, sponsors, exhibitors, official, volunteers and all who support us in any way for their understanding and ongoing commitment to the event and sport.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Two more five-stars cancelled owing to Covid-19

Two more top-level competitions have fallen by the wayside today as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on

Dublin Horse Show latest to cancel – as five-star event reviews its options

‘We understand this will disappoint many members of the public and that it will have implications for many horse breeders

Blenheim is the latest major event to fall by the wayside due to the coronavirus pandemic, with CHIO Aachen, Dublin Horse Show and the five-star horse trials at Luhmühlen and Adelaide all recently cancelled too.

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.