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 11 – Sunday 12 April 2015
Organiser: Holly Farr
Contact: 07966 421779; holsfarr@gmail.com
Location: Wilstshire
Entries open: 4 March
Ballot date: 19 March at 12 noon
Entries close: 1 April
Link to Larkhill (1) entries: www.britisheventing.com/larkhill1
How to get there
Larkhill is 3½ miles north-west of Amesbury and is signed from the A303 and A345 to Larkhill Camp.
What the organisers say
The event is sponsored by The Pure Feed Company.
The dressage is on flat old turf. The showjumping arena is large with good grass coverage. The ground is slightly sloping.
The cross-country runs over good, springy old turf in mildly undulating country over substantial, well-obstacles. The track drains well owing to the chalk nature of Salisbury Plain. There is a mixture of permanent and portable fences, which are up to height. There is a water jump.
Every year there are new fences on all three courses. Each track remains educational and inviting. The courses are up to height, but there are no rider frighteners.
The courses suit first-timers or more experienced competitors, but all tracks flow well and are educational for all.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “The dressage was quite a ride from the lorry park up a track to the top of the hill with the wind whistling across the plains and scrambler bikes whizzing around in the adjacent field.” “The warm-up was a good size and arenas were nicely laid out and flat.” “The showjumping was next to the main racecourse building and tradestands, and there was a fantastic, huge warm-up area with a good-sized arena.” “It got quite deep and slippy, but the collecting ring steward was lovely.” “The course was very twisty and you kept turning back on yourself, which is not something I enjoy doing on a youngster.”
Cross-country — “The cross-country warm-up was an adequate size, but the course seemed to double back and forth across the plain with some undulations.” “The fences were well built and dressed, but you did have to stay sharp to see where the next fence was, as it got a bit confusing.” “It’s suitable for a first-timer.” “A lovely viewing course, and very educational with everything you want to jump.” “The ground was good, and they had put sand on take-offs and landings.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
N: 76%
BE100 Open: 81%
BE100: 79%
BE90 Open: 76%
BE90: 82%
Download part one of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part one
Buy Eventing magazine’s March issue for our full horse trials guide detailing every event from March to June 2015 or purchase a digital copy of the guide here. The second half of the guide will be in our April issue (on sale 20 March) and online to buy digitally after publication