Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics
Date: Tuesday 7 – Wednesday 8 April 2015
Organiser: Mike Yarrow
Contact: 01725 517241/ 07815 182096; emergency mobile during event 07815 182096 / 07775 888546
Location: Wiltshire
Entries open: 3 March
Ballot date: 17 March at 12 noon
Entries close: 28 March
Link to Portman entries: www.britisheventing.com/portman
How to get there
Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal, Salisbury. Signed from the A354 and the A30.
What the organisers say
Portman runs at a new venue this time at Rushmore Park, part of the Rushmore Estate, by the kind permission of William Gronow-Davis MFH.
Newly sown flat ground has been taken out of arable to site the dressage, showjumping, tradestands and lorry parking at the entrance to the park.
Three new courses will include a BE90 for the first time. The cross-country will be run over the undulating park of old turf with a new water complex, steps and ditch, together with new portables. The course is designed, built and laid out by Adrian Ditcham.
Our sponsors are local companies and all catering will be supplied by the Portman Hunt Supporters Club.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “The dressage takes place in flat arenas with large, level warm-up areas.” “Set in a quiet spot away from everything.” “The showjumping arena is on a slight slope with a smallish warm-up area.” “It also had a very good coffee stand next to the arenas, which spectators and supporters seemed to love.” “The showjumping courses were at the right height and technicality for each level, although the courses last year seemed to ride better in a more forward rhythm.”
Cross-country — “Good first-time cross-country track for young horses, as it’s not very complicated.” “Very fair inviting courses with a good number of alternative fences at the trickier combinations.” “Mainly over gentle, undulating ground.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
ON: 97%
ONU18: 83%
ON: 81%
N: 84%
BE100P: 96%
BE100 Open: 88%
BE100: 86%
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