Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics
Date: Wednesday 13 — Saturday 16 May 2015
Organisers: Ann & Nigel Taylor
Contact: tissiereason@gmail.com (secretary Tissie Reason)
Location: Northamptonshire
Entries open: 7 April
Ballot date: 19 April at 12 noon
Entries close: 3 May
Link to Aston (2) entries: www.britisheventing.com/aston2
How to get there
Grid reference SP495505. Aston-le-Walls is situated just off the A361 between Banbury and Daventry.
What the organisers say
We have a new sponsor for all four events — Horsezone.co.uk, a website for buying and selling horses and equestrian products.
The new all-weather surface, on which five dressage arenas or two showjumping rings can be run, was used successfully in 2014. In March we will be using it for the dressage, and for the rest of the year its use depends on the weather conditions. But it means the dressage and showjumping can be on the all-weather surface.
When the showjumping is on the all-weather, the warm-up will be in the indoor arena. Martin Cox designs the showjumping tracks.
The cross-country designer is Nigel Taylor; courses are built by Andrew Hunter and his team.
The terrain rides well in all conditions. The spring tracks are designed to be encouraging and straightforward. The cross-country courses are different at
all events.
The obstacles are a mixture of portable and permanent fences. We have four water complexes and at least two will be used in each class. As in previous years, the agri-vator, ground slitter and water bowser will be used as necessary to produce excellent going.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “The Aston team continues to invest in the site and always provides the best possible ground conditions whatever the weather.” “The dressage is held on an enormous surface but the end arenas are relatively spooky.” “The jumping was up to height and technical enough, but a fair test. When on grass, the warm-up was enormous with a large number of fences; on a surface, the indoor can get crowded in the warm-up.”
Cross-country — “Despite the frequency of events, there is variety provided in the cross-country routes and fences, which are educational and a good introduction to each ‘next level’.” “A real effort is made to ensure good courses and going — if firm, the ground is watered.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
OIU21: 71%
OI: 95%
I: 81%
PT: 97%
ONU18: 75%
ON: 94%
N: 85%
BE100 U18: 89%
BE100 Open: 85%
BE100: 79%
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.