Bumper entries for horse trials this weekend

Two British Eventing (BE) horse-trials have received bumper entries for the end of July.

The Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun International Horse Trials, near Edinburgh, and the new Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials, in Cheshire, both run over the weekend of 30-31 July.

Hopetoun has received just under 500 entries for its classes, ranging from BE90 to CIC***.

The CIC*** has been chosen by the Irish European team selectors as the venue for its final trials and there are 30 entries from the Emerald Isle.

There will be a strong international feel to the event, with riders from 14 countries, including Columbia, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Sweden, Denmark and New Zealand in the starting box.

There is also strong British interest with Ruth Edge, Nicola Wilson, Matthew Wright and William Fox-Pitt, who will be riding his Olympic hopeful Cool Mountain, in the CIC***.

Stuart Buntine, event director, said: “This is a huge international turnout for a one-day-event and it is a lot more than I expected.

“It is a real compliment to Hopetoun that so many riders are coming north to compete.”

Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials is returning to the BE calendar after a 53-year absence.

Following the demise of nearby events at Tetton Hall, Arley Hall and Henbury Hall competitors have entered in their droves.

More than 550 entries have entered BE100, novice, intermediate, open intermediate and open intermediate U21 classes, running over the two days.

Top riders attending the event, which has free entry for spectators, include Oliver Townend, Andrew Nicholson and Jeanette Brakewell.

Alec Lochore, founder of Musketeer Event Management which runs the event, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the entries we’ve had.

“We are always nervous when we run a new event, but with the strong BE membership base in this part of the country we anticipate a strong show.

“It is certainly a venue that could expand its range of classes in the future – we would take any opportunity that arose.”

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