Calling Gatcombe geeks! Test your knowledge with our Festival of British Eventing quiz
Are you a true Gatcombe geek? With this year’s Festival of British Eventing underway, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test with our fun 10-question quiz. Good luck!
How did you score?
0-3: Let me guess, eventing isn’t really your thing?
4-6: Not bad, but time to do a bit more swotting up
7-9: Good work, you’ve nearly reached geek status
10: Congratulations, you’re officially a Gatcombe geek!
Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe
The Festival of British Eventing takes place at Gatcombe Park every summer and hosts the British open, intermediate and novice championships, as well as the new restricted novice championships for amateur riders, which will take place over a brand new cross-country track. As well as a weekend of top class eventing, spectators can look forward to spending their hard-earned cash in the shopping village, while the rest of the family will be entertained by the main arena attractions that include world record-breaking stunt rider ‘The Kangaroo Kid’.
New Zealander Andrew Nicholson will be defending his British Eventing open championship crown and has five horses entered including former winners Avebury and Nereo. The Kiwi challenge will be bolstered by Andrew’s compatriots, Sir Mark Todd, (NZB Campino), and the on-form Jonelle Price, who will ride the nippy little mare Classic Moet. The 2013 British Open Champions, Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush, are entered again and will be looking to add to their laurels.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Seven of the 12 riders selected for the British squad at the upcoming Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle in September have rides in the British Eventing Open Championship, including Izzy Taylor, who will ride her reserve horse, KBIS Briarlands Matilda, and Pippa Funnell, who has Mirage D’Elle and Second Supreme. The popular combination of Nicola Wilson and the coloured mare Beltane Queen are sure to get a rousing reception, while British squad debutants Francis Whittington, who rides Fernhill Highlight, and Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul, will also be looking to put in a solid performance ahead of Blair
Australia has a strong hand with former Badminton Horse Trials winners Sam Griffiths (Paulank Brockagh and Happy Times) and Paul Tapner (Kilronan and Vanir Kamira) lining up.
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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.