Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics
Date: Saturday 25 — Sunday 26 September 2015
Organisers: Peter Hurley, Jo Fletcher-Lee, Justyn Castle
Contacts: Peter 07975 846903; southerlyeventing@outlook.com; Jo 07808 028448; jo@fletcherandlee.co.uk; Justyn 07971 635603; Justyncastle@hotmail.com
Location: North Yorkshire
Entries open: 21 August
Ballot date: 4 September at 12 noon
Entries close: 16 September
Link to Aske (2) entries: www.britisheventing.com/aske2
How to get there
Aske Hall is located on the B6274 between Richmond and Gilling West and will be appropriately signposted.
What the organisers say
2015 is the start of an exciting new chapter for Aske Horse Trials. A new organising team of professionals are introducing a range of changes and developments to provide rider-friendly events with a social feel, and create the “must do” dates in the north’s eventing calendar.
The July fixture has BE90, BE100, novice and intermediate classes. A new leading course-builder and designer (to be announced shortly) are redeveloping the cross-country course with interesting new fences. They’ll make best use of the ground to avoid a continual uphill course, which will make the event more accessible and enjoyable for horse and rider.
The September event has BE90, BE100, novice and intermediate sections, plus a CIC*. Our CIC* means Aske will be one of only two events in the north-east to have international status. The new course-builder will also be further developing the new cross-country course, which is being rebuilt for the July event.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “The warm-up is quite far away from everything which is a good thing except spectators can’t see what’s going on.” “It’s quite small which means you spend a lot of time looking around to see where everyone else is going instead of concentrating on yourself.” “The dressage arenas are well out of the way so that the horses aren’t distracted by anything.” “They are not the flattest rings but not bad.” “The showjumping warm-up is slightly downhill and a bit bumpy so it can be hard for young horses because they are unbalanced.” “The actual ring is quite bumpy and on a slope, too, but the ground is always pretty good.” “The course is quite tricky and has a lot of questions so it’s good for people moving up to the next level.”
Cross-country — “There are trees in the warm-up and you’re always jumping uphill, so it can be hard to get them working properly.” “The warm-up fences are fine and I love the actual course.” “It’s undulating and you start off going uphill with gentle slopes and the jumps are nicely laid-out with good combinations.” “A few questions so you have to think about it.” “It is usually good ground and I’d say a top-level BE100 course, so not for inexperienced horses at that level.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
OI: 82%
I: 67%
CIC*: 86%
N: 76%
BE100RF: 76%
BE100 Pony: 100%
BE100 Open: 83%
BE100: 76%
Download part one of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part one
Buy Eventing magazine’s April issue for our full horse trials guide detailing every event from July to October 2015 or purchase a digital copy of the guide here.