Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics
Date: Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 August 2015
Organiser: Josephine Carr
Contact: 01323 482016; 07973 103110; jo@firleplaceevent.co.uk; www.firleplaceevent.co.uk
Location: Sussex
Entries open: 24 July
Ballot date: 7 August at 12 noon
Entries close: 19 August
Link to Firle Place entries: www.britisheventing.com/firle-place
How to get there
Firle Place (postcode BN8 6LP) is off the A27 between Lewes and Eastbourne.
What the organisers say
Now in its 39th year, the award-winning Firle Place International is a classic horse trials. Run once a year in the parklands surrounding the historic Firle Place, the event offers a great day out for all the family and the dogs.
The CIC* attracted over 100 entries last year and the location of the CIC* dressage in front of the house is spectacular. The showjumping is sited in a large arena in the middle of the tradestands, near the house.
Designed and built by Badminton’s Willis Brothers, the cross-country offers a big, galloping track set in the undulating parkland on well-established, downland turf. Take-offs and landings are sanded and the aera-vator is used as necessary.
It is an excellent venue for spectators, as almost the entire course can be viewed from near the showjumping — assuming they can tear themselves away from the 100-plus tradestands that help to make up the country fair and dog festival on Sunday. With open-to-all events from terrier racing to a hugely popular gun dog scurry, the Firle Dog Festival adds to the horse trials’ vibrant atmosphere.
The dressage is set in flat, grass arenas in a quiet area with a large warm-up.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “Dressage warm-up is quite limited and the ground is a bit uneven and next to a cricket ground.” “Arenas are well spaced-out and flat.” “The dressage was in a lovely set-up for the one-star and having the main house as a backdrop gave it an international feeling.” “Showjumping warm-up is a good size and the course is held in a really nice arena in the middle of the tradestands. The ground was fab.” “A lovely educational course.”
Cross-country — “Another location for the start/finish this year, but the course was well built in the lovely park. It’s quite a straightforward course and suitable for a first-timer.” “Slight undulations and a very fair, but testing, course with all the questions needed and alternatives which were time costly, but still educational. The going was good and the layout of the event worked very well.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
CIC*: 60%
IN: 74%
N: 63%
BE100RF: 83%
BE100 Open: 87%
BE100: 82%
5YO: 65%
BE90: 75%
Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two