This year’s British Eventing (BE) under-18 championships will be held at Subaru Houghton Horse Trials (21-24 May) the Norfolk three-day event that runs for the third time this year.
The championships have previously been held at Chepstow Horse Trials, but the event is not running this year as the racecourse will be closed for maintenance work.
Current under-18 champion Evie Paterson is looking forward to defending her title at Houghton.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of contesting the championships again this year. Houghton is a fantastic venue and I’m eager to ride round the CCI* course.”
The under-18 championships will run alongside the CCI* and CCI** classes, where top riders such as William Fox-Pitt and Lucy Wiegersma regularly compete.
Event organiser and course-designer Alec Lochore said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to host the under-18 championships. It is a welcome boost, and I’d like to thank Subaru for their continued support. I’m looking forward to meeting all the riders and owners.”
British Eventing (BE) said it is thankful to Alec and his team for hosting the event at such a late stage.
“I’m sure they will do an amazing job and produce a fantastic championship competition,” said BE sport manager Paul Graham.
The championships will return to Chepstow in 2010, with a new early summer date.
The under-18 championship has always been a prestigious title. 2007 champion Emily Llewellyn went on to take double gold at the 2008 young rider European Championships in Germany.
www.houghtoninternational.co.uk
