The Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course for this week’s competition (17-21 September) has been designed by Mark Phillips. The track has 31 numbered fences and is 5710m long, with an optimum time of 10min 1sec.
Walking the course on Wednesday (17 September), the ground looked in good condition, with a fair covering of green grass on the majority of the track. Scroll on to check out photos of every jump on the course…
Blenheim European Championships cross-country course
The red numbers are for the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course; the blue ones are for the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old class.
Fence 1: Agria Flowers
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Fence 2: RDA Log
There are two options here – a left-hand fence on flat ground and a right-hand one on a mound. The left-hand one looks like the quicker option.
Left-hand fence on flat ground
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Right-hand fence on mound
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Fence 3: MIM Oxer
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Fence 4: HorseHage Roll
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Fence 5: Peden Flyer
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Side view
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Fence 6abc: The Suregrow Dew Pond
Fence 6ab direct route
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Looking over the direct route fence 6ab to the water and fence 6c
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Fence 6c direct route
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The long route involves more distance and three jumping efforts instead of two.
Fence 6a long route
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Fence 6b long route
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Fence 6c long route
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Fence 7:Horse & Rider Picnic Table
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Fence 8: Joules Pavilion
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Fence 9: Joules Palace View
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Fence 10abc: Agria Angles
Fence 10a direct route
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Fence 10bc direct route
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Riders taking the long route jump the same first element, but would take it straight on, rather than at an angle. They then turn away from the direction of travel to jump alternative parts b and c.
Alternative fence 10b
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Alternative fence 10c
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Fence 11abc: Subaru Sensation
Fence 11a
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Fence 11b direct route
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Fence 11c direct route
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The more time-consuming alternative involves two easier corners.
Fence 11b alternative
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Fence 11c alternative
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Fences 12 and 13: Palace Treasure Chest and Jewellery Box
Fence 12
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Fence 13
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Fence 14: evoke Lodge
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Fence 15ab: The Raging Bull Roller Coaster
Fence 15a direct route
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Fence 15b, which comes after a run down a mound and back up
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There is an alternative at 15a, off to the side, but no alternative for 15b.
Fence 15a alternative
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Fence 16: The Ha Ha Oxer
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Fence 17abc and fence 18: BE Support Trust Healing Garden and Subaru Splash
Fence 17ab direct route
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Fence 17ab direct route (closer view)
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Fence 17c and 18ab direct route
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The long route here involves five elements and riders will have to circle between fences 17c and 18a.
Fence 17a alternative route
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Fence 17b alternative route
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Fence 17c alternative route
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Fence 18a alternative route
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Fence 18b alternative route
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Fence 19: Agria Water Crossing
Fence 19 direct route
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The alternative here is to the right, so less close to the exit from the long water crossing, and involves jumping a similar type of fence but at less of an angle.
Fence 19 alternative
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Fence 20abc: GFS Saddles Water
Fence 20ab direct route
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Fence 20c direct route
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The long route here takes more time and adds another jumping effort, but riders using it avoid jumping into the water and jumping a fence in the water.
Fence 20a long route
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Fence 20b long route
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Fence 20c long route
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Fence 21: BE Triple Bar
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Fence 22ab: FEI Mounds
Fence 22a direct route
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Fence 22b direct route
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The long route here involves extra distance, but the fences are sited on flatter ground.
Fence 22a long route
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Fence 22b long route
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Fence 23ab: LeMieux Wedge
Fence 23ab direct route
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The alternative route here involves two jumping efforts rather than one.
Fence 23a alternative
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Fence 23b alternative
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Fence 24: The Estribos Table
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Fence 25abc: CrossCountry App Wooded Hollow
Fence 25ab direct route
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Fence 25c – everyone jumps this ditch, even if they take the alternative for the preceding elements
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Fence 25a alternative
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Fence 25b alternative
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Fence 26: Voltaire’s Leap
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The second long water crossing, back across the lake, follows this fence.
Fence 27: Bedmax Nest
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Fence 28abc: The Brookfield Bullfinch
Fence 28a direct route
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Fence 28bc direct route
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The long route here is not as circuitous as some, but it does add an extra jumping effort.
Fence 28a long route
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Fence 28b long route
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Fence 28c long route
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Fence 29: Fischer Stick Pile
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Fence 30abc: Zip Travel Tray
Fence 30a – competitors on the direct and alternative routes jump this
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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.
