Horse trials C to F

CATTON PARK, Staffs

14-15 June

How to get there: Catton Hall is situated midway between Lichfield and Burton upon Trent. Take the A513 Tamworth/Rugeley road at Alrewas on the A38 towards Tamworth. Travel for 1.5 miles and immediately under the railway bridge turn left. Catton Hall is situated on that road about one mile along on the left. Do not approach Catton via Walton upon Trent as there is a weight restriction on the Trent Bridge

The course: There are four largely different courses built on riverside permanent pasture and rising ground beside and in front of Scone Palace. The ground provides excellent going, with good free-draining conditions over a variety of undulating and flat galloping terrain. The fences are straightforward and mostly maximum dimensions for each class. They are designed to give early-season competitors lots of confidence. The tracks will be near full distance. The courses are modified and improved each year, and for 2003 several new obstacles are planned, as well as a re-design and re-build of the OI Triangles and the removal of the OI Stile! There will also be non-jumping alternative into the water for pre-novice and intros

The course: A popular and flowing track produced by an Olympic course designer which is immaculately and imaginatively realised by builder David Evans and his team. The course, which will have several new fences this year, runs over good parkland going and provides a useful fitness pointer as it runs on the side of a hill. Natural features are utilised, plus the historic Queen Mary’s Bower water complex. There will be some differences between the advanced track and the CIC tracks, which are primarily intended as a useful build up to Bramham. The novice course does not go up the hill

The course: All four courses, which are totally separate, run over undulating grassland and include some fairly steep hills, but are designed to encourage and give confidence to the forward-going horse. The novice course isstraightforward and suitable for a true novice, although more difficult alternatives make it a good school for more experienced horses. A few alterations are planned this time. The water jump, which all classes use, was upgraded a few years ago. Thetracks include wooded areas, while the thick covering of grass gives near perfect going at all times

The course: Runs over undulating parkland on old turf, and the organisers work hard to ensure good going whether itr is wet or dry. Last year an intro course was added, while for 2002 a new novice track is being built. The intro course is designed to be invited and encouraging for young horses, while the upgraded pre-novice and new novice will be strong courses with alternatives. An alternative to the stew ponds on the pre-novice track is planned for this year.