The Defender Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course for the CCI4*-L has a new look for the 2026 event (11-14 June).
Course-designer Andrew Heffernan, in his second year responsible for the track at this Yorkshire fixture, has altered the route. The small loop in front of the house now comes first, rather than at the end, and the bigger loop out in the country follows. Both loops are taken in the opposite direction to previously.
The CCI4*-L track is 5715m long, with an optimum time of 10min 2sec – this is virtually identical to last year, when the course was 10m longer and optimum time a single second longer. This course uses blue numbers; the green numbers are for the CCI4*-S.
Andrew spoke to H&H earlier in the year about the changes he was making to the track, saying he wanted to make the course a little less hilly coming home and offer a better championship preparation.
Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course: fence by fence
Fence 1: Bedmax Flowerbed
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Fence 2: The Lycetts Table
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Fence 3: Speedi-Beet Table
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Fence 4: Cross Country App Spread
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Fence 5ab and 6: The Defender Trail and The Defender Shoulder
Fence 5a
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This is followed by a right-hand turn to fence 5b and fence six.
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Fence 6
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Fence 7abc: Womble Bond Dickinson Pond
Fence 7ab is a bounce into the water on the direct route
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Fence 7c on the direct route is the right-hand arrowhead in the water
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Fence 7a and fence 7bc on the long route
The numbering at this combination means riders are locked into one route or the other; they cannot mix and match the straight route and alternative.
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Fence 8ab: Womble Bond Dickinson Pond Bounce
Fence 8ab is a step up and bounce to bird on the direct route
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Fence 8a alternative is the left-hand arrowhead in the water
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Fence 8b alternative
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Fence 9: The Pol Roger Pop
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Fence 10: Generator Power Rails
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Fence 11: Horse & Country Table
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Fences 12 and 3: The Parkland Basket and The Picnic Basket
Fence 12
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Fence 13
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Fence 14: Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Cones
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Fence 15: Silver Birch Oxer
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Fence 16ab: Coopers Marquees Corners
Fence 16a
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Fence 16b
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Fence 16b alternative
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Fence 17: The Galloping Gate
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Fence 18abc: Hanging Log Into Water
Fence 18ab direct route
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Fence 18c direct route
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The long route involves curving out to the right and crossing the pond at right angles to the straight route trajectory. Again, riders cannot swap between routes halfway through the combination here.
Fence 18a alternative
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Fence 18bc alternative
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From the alternative 18bc, it is impossible to join the straight route at fence 19 without making a loop or circle.
Fence 19ab: Narrow Brush In Water
Fence 19a direct route
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Fence 19b direct route
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Fence 19a long route
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Fence 19b long route
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Fence 20: The Cabin
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Fence 21abc: British Eventing Support Trust Rail Ditch Rail
Fence 21a direct route
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Fence 21b direct route
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Fence 21c direct route
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The long route here is time consuming, involving branching off to the left to part a and then coming back against the direction of travel for the other two elements.
Fence 21a alternative
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Fence 21b alternative
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Fence 21c alternative
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Fence 22: Joules Leap of Faith
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Fence 23abc: Hanging Log to Corners
Fence 23 direct route
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Fence 23b direct route
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Fence 23c direct route
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To jump the alternative, riders turn left instead of right after the initial hanging log. This route swaps a corner for a log at part b and means part c is not on a related distance from part b.
Fence 23b alternative
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Fence 23c alternative
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Fence 24: Cystic Fibrosis Care Oxer
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Fence 25abcd: Defender Round House
Fence 25ab direct route
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Fence 25a alternative
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Riders taking the alternative at 25ab then have to turn back against the direction of travel to find part b.
Fence 25b alternative
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Fence 25c direct route
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Fence 25c direct route – side view
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The alternative here is only really available if riders have a run-out at fence 25c and jump the ditch to the side of the fence.
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.
