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 13 — Sunday 14 June 2015
Organiser: Amanda King
Contact: 01628 827529; aking@bca.ac.uk
Location: Berkshire
Entries open: 8 May
Ballot date: 23 May at 12 noon
Entries close: 3 June
Link to BCA entries: www.britisheventing.com/bca1
How to get there
See www.bca.ac.uk for a map. Access is easy from junction four of the M40 and eight/nine of the M4. We are 2min from the A404 Hurley/Henley/Burchetts Green exit.
What the organisers say
The sponsors include Equicover and Fox Lodge.
Both the dressage and showjumping take place on level grass. The ground will be aera-vated and the showjumping arena will be watered if necessary. If the going is hard, the showjumping and warm-up will be in the outdoor Andrews Bowen arenas.
The cross-country terrain is gently undulating and the fences are a mixture of permanents and portables. The water has a slope in for all sections. The ground, including the warm-up area, will be aera-vated and watered if necessary.
The BE90 and BE100 tracks are inviting and a fair challenge for a first-timer.
There are alternatives at the more technical novice fences.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “The ground was very firm in the dressage warm-up and arenas and my horse struggled a bit.” “The warm-up is very roomy.” “Dressage arenas well positioned and quiet as they are set away from everything.” “The showjumping warm-up is either on the field or a surfaced arena, but the ground was too hard for anyone to prefer jumping on the field — it may have been designed as an overflow as they were only allowing so many people into the collecting ring.” “The competition was on another surfaced arena; it was a well-built course and rode well.”
Cross-country — “Quite a trek from the lorry park, between the football pitches with noisy matches and training going on.” “The course is well built and quite flowing, and rode very well.” “It isn’t particularly long and there is a hill and water towards the end.” “Suitable for a first-timer.” “Exactly the same course every time and you can school there if you have problems.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
N: 78%
BE100 Open: 90%
BE100: 87%
5YO: 79%
BE90: 86%
4YO: 67%
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.