Arlene Phillips and Andrew Lloyd Webber to judge Express Eventing
Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips and composer of musicals Andrew Lloyd Webber are to be judges at the inaugural Express Eventing International Cup at Cardiff on 30 November.
Andrew and Arlene will be join Jennie Loriston-Clarke, Isobel Wessels, Frances Verbeek and Andrew Gardner to judge the freestyle dressage to music section for the new condensed eventing competition.
Andrew, said: “My wife Madeleine was an international eventer, so this sport has been a big part of our life — though I will admit that I still have a lot to learn about horses. I am delighted to be asked to play a part in what is a great new sporting event.”
Arlene said: “It is so much fun using my experience in all sorts of different arenas and this is a first for me. I always enjoy working with Andrew on a project and this is certainly an original one. With 20 different riders choosing 20 different pieces of music, it is going to be fascinating to see how the horses respond and the competition evolves.”
Arlene has choreographed many stage musicals, including Starlight Express and The Sound of Music and is also director of the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour.
Andrew is a producer and composer of numerous musicals including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Phantom of the Opera and Evita. The BBC has recently been him to write the UK’s next Eurovision song.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.