Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics
Date: Monday 10 – Tuesday 11 August 2015
Organiser and entries secretary: Tissie Reason
Contact: 07721 551713; tissiereason@gmail.com
Location: Berskshire
Entries open: 6 July
Ballot date: 20 July at 12 noon
Entries close: 31 July
Link to Smiths Lawn entries: www.britisheventing.com/smiths-lawn
How to get there
Grid reference SU971701. Entry to Windsor Great Park is through Blacknest Gate off the Virginia Water to Ascot road (A329). If using satnav please use SL5 0PT, which is the Blacknest Gate entrance to the park.
What the organisers say
Smiths Lawn Horse Trials is in the beautiful setting of Windsor Great Park using the same entrance, Blacknest Gate, into the Park as the Guards Polo Club. The event was established in 1981 but uses the site of the original Windsor Horse Trials, which started in 1956.
The dressage and showjumping are on the level area on Smiths Lawn itself opposite the polo fields. The showjumping course-designer is John Farrell.
The cross-country courses are designed by Nigel Taylor and built by Andrew Hunter and his team. The track was newly built in 2013 in a private area of the park behind Cumberland Lodge which makes the layout more compact than in previous years. The courses are intended to be inviting and educational and to suit first-timers and young horses at both BE100 and novice level. We will continue to offer a good variety of educational fences and include a water jump.
We aim to achieve a happy atmosphere with a good selection of tradestands and competitors usually say how much they enjoy coming to Smiths Lawn.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “Beautiful location, and everything quite central.” “Dressage warm-up was divided in two and easily enough room. The ground was a bit firm, as were the arenas.” “Dressage was in good, flat arenas. The warm-up is quite spacious. It was in a busy area, between the lorry park and the showjumping.” “The showjumping ring was a bit small, but the warm-up was big enough. Again the ground was firm.” “The showjumping course was inviting and up to height, but quite tight and twisty. Both the warm-up and the arena were on flat, good ground.”
Cross-country — “Relocated to this side of the road, and much better now it doesn’t twist endlessly through the woods.” “Quite a short course, but well built and straightforward.” “Lovely, sandy going, the course ran in and out of woodland, over slightly undulating ground.” “All the courses seemed very fair and inviting, perhaps all on the easier side, so a good event for a young horse or first-timer.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
ON: 72%
N: 76%
BE100 Open: 82%
BE100: 80%
Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two