Grassroots eventing in the southeast has been given a boost with the news that Mattingley in Hampshire, previously a British Eventing (BE) venue, will be hosting a new unaffiliated event on 7-8 May.
Following last year’s affiliated fixture it was announced that eventing would cease to take place at Blue Anchor Farm, and that the organising team would move its operation to an alternative venue.
But when the move fell through and a suitable date in the BE calendar could not be found, it was decided to re-establish the event at unaffiliated level.
Andrew Hunter will continue to design the cross-country courses, which will include a number of new fences, including a new water complex.
Organiser Jill Lamont said: “I am very confident that the organising team will continue the traditions of the ‘old’ Mattingley and I am very excited about taking on the event.”
There will be classes from pre-intro to pre-novice level and the event will be a qualifier for the new Southern Unaffiliated Horse Trials Championship, along with Borde Hill (20-21 August) and Tweseldown (3-4 September).
The final will take place at Tweseldown on 15-16 October.
Mattingley will also be running fortnightly cross-country training courses, taken by accredited trainers, from May to October.
For more details visit www.mattingleyhorsetrials.co.uk.
This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (28 April, 2011)
