Bayaanaat, the ride of Izzy Taylor, was the winner of the British Eventing retrained racehorse championship at the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing replacement, the NAF Five Star Hartpury International Horse Trials today (11 August).

Although this class only attracted nine entries this year, it was a competitive section. Izzy and the eight-year-old, who she co-owns with Lavinia Taylor and Caroline Goodwin, led from start to finish to complete on their 28.3 dressage.

“He’s very cool. He came to me as a four-year-old and he has a really lovely brain,” said Izzy of the gelding who ran a handful of times on the Flat and over hurdles with little success. “He’ll do an autumn CCI3*-L and I think he’s a proper one. He’s mega across country, he’s got the showjumping now and he’s cool on the flat.”

Oscar Fitzgerald and the sparky little grey Our Old Fella were second in the British Eventing retrained racehorse championship on 28.8, while Jack Randall, ridden by Alexander Tordoff, was third on 32.9.

Corinthian Cup result

The Fairfax Saddles Corinthian Cup, a novice championship for amateur riders, was a competitive affair with Victoria Gregg and Langson Governor the eventual winners, just .1 of a penalty ahead of second placed Freya Partridge and the diminutive Candy Flight. Victoria and the son of Larduc led the dressage on 23.5 then added four faults in the showjumping before climbing back up to the top of the leaderboard with a clear cross-country round, picking up just .4 of a time-fault.

Langson Governor, a 13-year-old owned by the rider, has proven himself to be very consistent at this level, with this championship remaining the aim for the past three years over a limited number of runs.

“It comes down to finances,” explained Victoria, who was in second after the first two phases in this class last year before it was forced to abandon owing to wet weather. “I run a busy livery yard and it’s a case of being able to get the time away. He’s a big fella, so we’re very careful with him ground-wise and we only run him when the conditions are perfect. He’s good at his job, so from a financial and time point of view, we have to pinpoint what we need to do to qualify in the championships we want to aim for. We’d have loved to have been at Gatcombe, but it is what it is.

“My best friend bred him – she’s only 4’11, but he was born 14.2hh and he’s 18.1hh now. But I think because he’s only ever had me ride him since day dot, he doesn’t know how big he is. We’ll stick to competitions like this rather than progressing up the levels.”

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Katie Magee won the hotly contested Fairfax Saddles British novice championship at the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing replacement, the NAF Five Star Hartpury International Horse Trials today (11 August).

Riding Sharon Parnaby’s seven-year-old Cushlas Indigo, Katie finished on her 26.3 dressage, which left them second after the first phase, but their speedy double clear secured the win.

“I was a bit surprised to win, to be honest,” laughed Katie. “He’s had a really good season so we were hoping for a top 10 finish in quite a competitive class, so this is a brilliant result.”

Katie has produced Cushlas Indigo up through the grades, with wins at novice level and placings at three-star.

“His owner found him in Ireland and bought him for me to ride,” explained Katie, whose next stop with this son of Imperial Heights is the CCI3*-L at Blair Castle later this month.

“He’s a really lovely character and very straightforward but with enough character and spice to keep it interesting. Has been spooky in his past couple of tests so it was good to get the mark he was capable of this weekend. He’s getting better and better – he does what he needs to do and the bigger the fences, the better he’s getting. He was brilliant last year too and we’ll keep producing him and see where he takes us.”

Hector Payne and the flashy eight-year-old mare Global Lovestory were second on 27.5, while Kirsty Chabert and Hanerina SSF were third on 28.

British novice championship first phase leaders, New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Mr Cookie Time, added 3.2 cross-country time-faults to their 26.1 dressage to finish in seventh.

Of the 50 cross-country starters, 37 jumped clear and 12 completed inside the 5min 59sec optimum time.

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Oliver Townend added to his impressive tally of British championship victories when securing the Aston Martin Bristol British intermediate championship at the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing replacement, at the NAF Five Star Hartpury International Horse Trials today (11 August).

Riding John and Victoria Peace’s En Taro Des Vernier, Oliver capitalised on a speedy cross-country round, where he clocked the joint second fastest round of the day for four time-faults to complete on 36.4 – adding four showjumping faults to a 28.4 dressage.

“I think he’s a very, very good horse. He’s one of those that isn‘t flash on the flat in comparison to the modern day lot, but I think that you’ll see him at proper five-stars,” said Oliver, who purchased this horse, who previously mainly showjumped, from France. “He‘s a machine to ride across country and a nice jumper and he has a really nice personality about him. He’s a playful character, he deserves this win and we think he’s a good one.”

Speaking of plans for the rest of this season, Oliver said not to be surprised to see him at a top level event.

“He could end up at a five-star at the end of this year. He’s so enthusiastic cross-country – he’s probably the first one I’ve ever had that you’re almost pulling him off the corners – he almost tries to do it too well, which is an incredible feeling when you‘re jumping skinnies on angles and you‘re telling him ‘not the wide bit’, but he’s so desperate to please.”

Oliver said that he thought the track at Hartpury was a “proper” test.

“It was like riding around a four-star with the terrain taken into account, which is exactly what you want for a championship course. It was as tough as you could have it really. Obviously we’ve lost Gatcombe, which is the saddest thing in my eventing life, but at the same time it’s a brilliant replacement in terms of the terrain. We’re sadly missing quite a lot of what Gatcombe has, but at the same time, from a horse point of view, you come out of this event knowing exactly what you‘ve got.”

Oliver commented that Crazy Du Loir, who was novice champion in 2022, and led the British intermediate championship after the first two phases last year before rain stopped play, also deserved this win. However, the incredibly talented 12-year-old mare, who led going into the final phase, stumbled on landing jumping into the second water and left Oliver with no chance at remaining in the saddle.

British-based Dutchman Andrew Heffernan secured second with SSK Cape Cooley, 1.8 penalties behind En Taro Des Vernier, while Fiona Kashel was third with Monbeg Cazador on 39.3.

Of the 24 cross-country starters, only France’s Gaspard Maksud jumped clear inside the time with Just Perfect, which was enough for them to finish fifth. Twenty starters jumped clear.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Tim Price retained his British open championship title at the British Championships today (11 August). Riding Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali, Tim cruised around the track at the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing replacement, the NAF Five Star Hartpury International Horse Trials, clocking just 1.2 time-faults – the fastest time of the day.

New Zealander Tim was second after the dressage aboard 14-year-old Vitali on 20.5 with Kitty King leading the way on Vendredi Biats with 20.4, but Tim’s speedy cross-country round propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.

“He’s so well suited to this sort of competition. He obviously hasn’t had the best record showjumping when that phase is on day three – that’s something I’m still working on and it will come,” explained Tim. “But in this one-day format, it suits him. He’s got fresher legs this way around and everything is a bit more related to the training you put in for the dressage over the days leading in so the body is a bit more manageable, whereas in a three-day format, he gets more strung out across country and it’s a lot to put him back together.

“He’s such a showman in the dressage, and then we got a clear showjumping round out of him and it’s then a bit game on because he’s a fast horse. He’s been there, done that. The time was super-tight and then I heard Em [Emily King] had gone pretty close to it and I thought ‘gosh, I was trying to get close to the time on my other rides and I was miles off’. But he was super and is so adjustable at speed, which of course helps.

“There was lots to do on the cross-country and it was strong enough. It is good Burghley prep and for what Hartpury is able to offer, it was up there with one of the better tracks.”

Comparing the British open championship at Hartpury to Gatcombe, Tim says it’s a good preparation but slightly different.

“In terms of Burghley, last year I really missed not having Gatcombe as a prep-run [owing to the event’s abandonment] as it just set horses up so brilliantly. This obviously isn’t Gatcombe, but it still got right into my horse’s bread basket – there were enough hills, so I’m hoping this will stand him in very good stead for Burghley and having a bit more gas in the tank than we had there last year when we didn’t get the Gatcombe run.”

Emily King crowned British champion

Emily King was crowned British National champion in the British open championship, as she was the highest-placed Brit, finishing second on her own, Philippe Brivois and the Valmy Biats Syndicate’s Valmy Biats. Emily follows in the footsteps of her mother Mary King, who took this title in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2007.

It was very close at the top following the dressage with just .4 of a penalty separating the top three, but Emily’s cross-country round, where she incurred the joint-second fastest round of the day for 3.2 time-faults, moved her from third after the first two phases into the runner-up spot.

The highly consistent combination of Kitty King and Vendredi Biats added 8.4 cross-country time-faults to a dressage of 20.4 to finish third.

“He pulled a shoe off early on at fence eight so that made it hard to be quick, but he went really well, did a lovely dressage test and showjumped brilliantly,” explained Kitty of the 15-year-old, owned by Diana Bown, Samantha Wilson, Sally Lloyd-Baker and John Eyre. “He’s so consistent now at this level.”

Kitty stated that the plan is to take ‘Froggy’ to Maryland 5 Star in October.

“I’ve raised half of the funds to take him there, I’ve just got to raise the other half now. I’m hoping to raise the rest by offering someone to ‘adopt’ him for the week, so they will get the full owner experience at the event, but without being named as an owner.”

Zara Tindall and five-star stalwart Class Affair were fourth on 30.7, while Tim Price finished fifth on 37.8 with Coup De Coeur Dudevin.

Of the 34 starters, 30 jumped clear around the Eric Winter-designed cross-country course, while akin to Gatcombe, nobody made the 7min 1sec optimum time.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Big names and previous winners are among the British open championship entries at this weekend’s Festival of British Eventing.

Previously held at Gatcombe Park, this year the championships will be running at Hartpury in Gloucestershire, alongside the venue’s NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials (8–11 August)..

The British open championship was abandoned owing to heavy rain in 2023, so 2022 winners, New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali, line up to defend their crown this weekend.

There are 37 horses entered for this class; joining Tim will be Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, who will be hard to beat owing to this mare’s form in 2024, which includes winning the five-star at Kentucky and a recent victory in the CCI4*-S at Burgham.

Kitty King and her top horse Vendredi Biats, with whom she won team gold and individual silver at the 2023 European Championships and has since been on flying form, will join Oliver in the line-up.

Valmy Biats and Emily King will be ones to watch too, having not finished outside the top five in all six of this gelding’s starts this year, including fourth at Badminton and fifth at Aachen.

Tom McEwen, who won Olympic team gold in Paris last week and has just become world number one for the first time, is entered with CHF Cooliser, a gutsy mare who was last seen finishing second in Luhmühlen’s five-star.

Zara Tindall rides her top horse Class Affair in the British open. He is among the contenders in this class who will then likely head to Burghley Horse Trials; some of these horses may not run across country at Hartpury, depending on their riders’ build-up plan for the five-star.

Jonelle Price lines up with Grappa Nera and Chilli’s Midnight Star and both are worth keeping an eye on.

The British novice championship is the largest of the three main championship classes with 52 entries, and the British intermediate championship plays host to 40 entries.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Olympic Games, Burghley, the Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Hartpury University and College will hold this year’s British Eventing (BE) national championships, following the cancellation of Gatcombe.

In March it was announced that the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe (2-4 August) was off following the adverse weather experienced last year which led to the abandonment of the event, and the “ever-increasing costs associated with operating on a greenfield site”.

The championships will now run alongside the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials on 7-11 August.

The novice, intermediate and open national championships, the Corinthian Cup restricted novice championship and the retrained racehorse championship will run alongside Hartpury’s CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI4*-S classes, with an additional day of cross-country on 11 August.

“Britain’s national champions will then be crowned in what will be a fitting finale to a week celebrating the sport of eventing,” said a BE spokesman, adding that Hartpury is “no stranger” to holding top events, having hosted the European dressage and eventing championships for juniors and young riders in 2022.

BE chief executive Rosie Williams added that BE is “really pleased” to be working with the Hartpury team.

“We are all focused on building this back to a major event for our members of all levels to aspire to, and it is brilliant to have Hartpury on board to help us do that,” she said.

“Members attending the championships will have access to top-class facilities across all days of competition, while also being able to enjoy the atmosphere that the existing international event brings with it. Our national classes are the pinnacle in the calendar for many of our members, and we look forward to being able to watch the titles being contested within a top-class environment.”

Hartpury deputy vice-chancellor Rosie Scott-Ward said “it is our privilege to be trusted with delivering these championships in 2024”.

“Like many others, we were sad to hear of the loss of Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing from the calendar this year,” she said.

“While it’s not easy stepping up at relatively short notice, I’m very proud of our team here who have already got to work to ensure we deliver a superb competition and championship atmosphere for competitors.”

Ms Scott-Ward added that Hartpury has “exciting plans” for the cross-country courses.

“We are working with designer Eric Winter and [course-builders] Jump1 to create world-class tracks and exceptional going, both for the championships and also for our prestigious international classes,” she said.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone in August.”

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Mark Phillips on losing a flagship event that is very close to his heart, a dispute between officials and the FEI, and unintended benefits of the new Olympic format

It’s easy to take things for granted. It was easy to assume, and assumption is always dangerous, that the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, initially set up by the Princess Royal and I, would continue for another 40 years, with the next generation in charge. That this is not so is beyond sad.

Gatcombe, in order to put on the Festival experience, was not driven financially by entry fees, but by sponsorship and ticket prices. It had good sponsorship, but Gatcombe is a small venue and therefore limited in the number of spectators and tradestands it could accommodate. With insurance costs tripling, the venue was unable to raise the revenue needed to make the event viable.

Every venue is different, but I don’t foresee Gatcombe being alone among greenfield sites struggling for revenue in the next year or two. I am truly concerned about how this will change the face of the calendar.

I know a number of events this year are running without abandonment insurance. British Eventing (BE) have set up their abandonment fund for entry fees to help members, but this does little to aid organisers exposed to significant overhead costs.

After Covid, with inflation and cost-of-living increases, the only thing for certain is that eventing is facing changing times.

Two-way trust

I was truly shocked to hear the FEI has, without warning, discommunicated the International Eventing Officials Club (IEOC). To arbitrarily remove the officials’ communication vehicle because they did not like what they are being told by their officials is Putin-esque.

Small wonder that more than 80% of eventing officials don’t feel supported by the FEI. The FEI, increasingly run by its legal department, hotly denies this, but how can so many officials be so wrong? The FEI talks about loss of trust – does trust not go two ways?

Surely the art of communication is about two-way discussions and sympathetic listening, but the whole issue is now in the hands of lawyers. I suspect this will produce a legal answer, not one in the best interests of the sport.

Positive direction

The FEI is proposing a new Olympic format for LA 2028 and beyond. Despite resistance from many quarters, I’m sure they will bulldoze the proposal through, with showjumping before cross-country for the team medals and the next day for the individuals.

I actually like the idea, because of the unintended consequences.

To make this work for the team medals there has to be a clear-cut result when the last horse finishes. We cannot delay the medal ceremony for incessant video reviews.

This means losing the 15 penalties for a shoulder outside the flag, with all the associated cameras and video reviews (a major plus for organisers and officials), and instead bringing in a penalty for knocking down a flag. With no discussion about flag or broken frangible penalties, we have an instant result as long as the horses have no blood or marks on them and can walk back to the stables.

Altering the flag rules also means course-designers will have to increase the minimum jumpable width between flags, especially on bending lines, and give riders more chance to get horses straight to skinnies, which may mean more strides between fences, which can still be set on a forward distance to encourage good cross-country riding.

If riders are taking more care to jump fences in order to stay between the flags, that has to be a positive for risk management. If these changes make the sport safer, easier to understand for spectators and keep the Olympic broadcasters happy, I can’t see any downside.

Such quantum changes would need introducing over time, for the education of riders and officials. How nice, if for once, change is in a positive direction for the sport and not for political reasons.

● What do you think about penalties for knocking down flags on cross-country? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 21 March

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing (2-4 August) has been cancelled this year as the current economic climate has made the event unviable.

“Following the adverse weather experienced at Gatcombe last year, which led to the abandonment of the event, and due to the ever-increasing costs associated with operating on a greenfield site, it has made the event unfeasible to run,” said a statement from the event. Event chairman Mark Phillips added that the rise in costs since Covid, particularly insurance, means “the numbers no longer add up”.

In terms of the future of the event after 2024, a spokesperson for the Festival told H&H: “We can’t rule out it ever coming back, but it would need to be in the form of a different business model.”

The festival usually hosts the novice, intermediate and open national championships, as well as the Corinthian Cup restricted novice championship and a retrained racehorse championship.

The team at British Eventing (BE) is now discussing a tender process to find a new venue for the national championships . In 2021, when Gatcombe did not run because of Covid, these classes were hosted at Burgham.

British Eventing CEO Rosie Williams said: “It is incredibly sad news for everyone involved in the sport. My focus this year is very much going to be on how we can implement a strategy that works for the sport going forward. We need to do everything we can to find a way to support our organisers, landowners and stakeholders to make events at wonderful venues like Gatcombe become viable. We will work hard as a governing body to assist in any way we can for the financial risk and burden to be minimised so that we can welcome Gatcombe, and others like it, back into the calendar.

“We will continue to be ongoing in discussions with Peter [Phillips, event director] and the team at Gatcombe and will also be, as a matter of urgency, discussing a tender process for the national championships, which will need to find a new home for this season and going forward.”

Festival of British Eventing cancelled: 40 years of history

Festival of British Eventing event director Peter Phillips said: “It is with a heavy heart that the festival, which has played a significant part in the British Eventing calendar since 1983, cannot run this year. The event has also been a huge part of my family’s lives and those of many others for 40 years.

“It has built up a large community that has enjoyed and celebrated the festival each year. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved over the past four decades; our sponsors for their unwavering support, the large selection of trade stands and arena entertainment and our spectators who have loved coming to Gatcombe to watch the world-class equestrian sport from the famous Park Bowl.”

Mark Phillips added: “The horse trials at Gatcombe, and more recently the Festival of British Eventing, have been a major part of my life for over 40 years when the Princess Royal and I first had the dream. The dream became reality, and with it, many special memories of the many riders, horses, volunteers, sponsors and spectators all of whom massively contributed to the history of the horse trials at Gatcombe Park.

“It’s truly a great sadness that the original model and indeed the sport has changed so much. Since Covid, costs, particularly insurance, have risen so much that the numbers no longer add up. It is an end of an era, the next 40 years of the sport will be different, let’s hope it can be equally special.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rising costs and bad weather are tough for all involved in the sport, says Mark Phillips in his exclusive Horse & Hound column

I never thought I’d live to see the day that we would have to cancel cross-country on the free-draining Cotswold slopes at Gatcombe.

My son Peter, who is the event director, the British Eventing (BE) steward and the technical advisor all did everything they could to be able to put on the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, but eventually after more than an inch of rain in 24 hours from Storm Antoni, it was impossible to stage the five British championships.

On Saturday, the cross-country was cancelled as even the fleet of Land Rover Defenders struggled in the conditions. This meant the demise of the regular novice and intermediate classes, but we hoped that all the championships could run on the Sunday. A whole new ring was created on higher ground for the Pony Club so that their Mars Arena could be used for better ground in the showjumping warm-up.

Once again, those BE members not in the more prestigious divisions took the hit. This repetition of losing the regular classes must be truly galling for members just trying to get a run, in a year that seems to be unprecedentedly wet, apart from the heatwave in June.

BE, awaiting its new CEO on 18 September, faces an extraordinary dilemma. The cost of staging an event on a greenfield site has escalated by 30–40% since Covid. BE membership numbers are holding their own, but horse registrations are down, largely as people cut back on numbers because of cost-of-living issues.

BE anticipates that there will be 30,000 less “cross-country starters” this year compared to the halcyon days before Covid. That equals circa 100 cross-country days. Yes, we are losing some events as organisers find it increasingly difficult to balance their books, but not that many!

The irony is that the popular events, particularly those with infrastructure, want to put on more days as they have fewer overheads, but that puts more pressure on the greenfield and parkland sites, especially the peripheral ones, as it is harder for them to attract enough entries to balance the books.

In short it is difficult to see the solution, as all the stakeholders – owners, riders and organisers – struggle to deal with spiralling costs. If only we could find a cheaper model for affiliated eventing.

With the site at Gatcombe completely trashed, making the gut-wrenching decision to abandon the event completely quite simple for the BE steward, Peter faces months of wrangling with insurers to mitigate the amount of money he will lose.

Other organisers who have faced the same situation this year, despite their best efforts, have received unacceptable abuse, both on social media and on the phone. Hopefully, despite their frustrations, people will appreciate how hard the team tried, with the consequential financial penalty, and spare us that. I’m not holding my breath as a senior rider was abusive beyond reason with BE officials last Saturday.

Looking forward to the Europeans

I leave the chaos at Gatcombe behind me this week and drive to Haras du Pin in France for the eventing Europeans. Such is the strength of the British squad we must start red-hot favourites and could even sweep the individual medals, but that brings its own pressures.

Never underestimate Michael Jung and company – and the French are never harder to beat than when they are on home territory.

It’s going to be a fascinating, nail-biting weekend. Warm weather is forecast, so let’s hope we can leave the rain behind so our girls and boys can extend further our remarkable record of European success.

● How can eventing adapt to meet the needs of all its stakeholders? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August, 2023

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Disappointment as Festival of British Eventing abandoned on 40th anniversary

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Horse Trials has been abandoned after further rain on Saturday exacerbated bad conditions underfoot.

The cross-country phase for all five of Gatcombe’s championship classes – the Magic Millions British Open, the Evelyn Partners British Intermediate Championship, the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship, the RoR/NTF Retrained Racehorse Event Championship and the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup – was planned to take place tomorrow (Sunday, 6 August) after some rescheduling from Saturday.

A statement by the organisers of the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing said: “It is with deep sadness and regret that, despite great efforts from the organising team, the decision has been made to abandon the Festival of British Eventing. This is especially disappointing that it happened during the event’s 40th anniversary.

“The adverse weather experienced at Gatcombe today has made the site unsafe for the event to continue for all our competitors (human and equine) as well as the many thousands of spectators that were due on site tomorrow. Safety for all is our main priority.

“Further information on the refund process will be provided in due course.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in the event for their unwavering support and hard work over the past few days.”

These British national championships in Gatcombe Park, home of the Princess Royal, have only been cancelled because of bad weather once before – in 2012.

There will be disappointment for riders, for whom these valuable classes are an important part of the eventing calendar. Oliver Townend was in the lead in all three of the major championships – aboard Finley Du Loir in the Evelyn Partners British Intermediate Championship, with En Taro Des Vernier in the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship, and in the Magic Millions British Open he and Swallow Springs shared pole position with last year’s winners, Tim Price and Vitali.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Gatcombe Horse Trials weather has forced organisers to abandon all cross-country today, including the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championship and the Dodson & Horrell novice championship.

Those two championship classes were due to conclude today (Saturday, 5 August), but instead the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing organisers hope to run them tomorrow, in addition to the Magic Millions British open championship, the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers Federation retrained racehorse event championship and the TopSpec challenge for the Corinthian Cup.

The British eventing national classes at open intermediate and open novice level have been abandoned completely.

Showjumping for the championship classes will continue to take place in Gatcombe’s main arena as planned, and will be shown on Horse & Country TV.

A revised timetable for Sunday is being prepared, and main arena attractions are expected to go ahead on Sunday.

A statement from the Festival of British Eventing on the Gatcombe Horse Trials weather said: “The safety of all of our human and equine competitors and spectators is of paramount importance to us and at the centre of this decision.”

The organisers have also said that general admission tickets for today that are not used are transferable to Sunday, but hospitality and park view picnic parking for Saturday cannot be transferred.

The Festival of British Eventing was last cancelled due to bad weather in 2012.

Oliver Townend is in first and second places in the British intermediate championship after showjumping. He leads on Sir John Peace’s Finley Du Loir on a score of 24.9, just ahead of Sir John Peace and Charlotte Cole’s Crazy Du Loir on 25.8.

Oliver has four wins to his name in the British intermediate championship to date – 2007 (Daisy Crazy), 2008 (ODT Land Vision), 2015 (Note Worthy) and 2017 (Khoi Traveller).

Jason Wood holds a healthy advantage in the British novice championship after the first day of dressage. His score of 22.7 aboard Alexandra and Charles Lloyd’s Nitor gives him 3.9 marks in hand over Oliver Townend and En Taro Des Vernier.

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Top rider stood down from competition after fall; daughter to deputise on her rides

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, which is held at Gatcombe Park, is back in 2023 between 4 and 6 August. If you can’t attend in person, here’s how to watch Gatcombe Horse Trials on TV.

*UPDATE* 5 August : The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing has been abandoned as the site was deemed unsafe by organisers following heavy rain.

With the Festival hosting championships from the Corinthian Cup for amateur riders right through to the British open championship, the weekend showcases the sport of eventing at all levels. The cross-country in Gatcombe Park is often thrilling to watch, with the course, which is designed by Captain Mark Phillips, winding its way up and down the park’s rolling hills.

All the Saturday and Sunday cross-country action from the Festival of British Eventing will be available to watch on H&C TV.

NB: If you prefer the additional online security offered by a VPN connection, check out the 30-day ExpressVPN trial and follow the instructions below.

Keep up to date with Horse & Hound

Don’t miss our full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August 2023.

How to watch Gatcombe Horse Trials on TV

Although there will be no terrestrial TV coverage available from this year’s Festival of British Eventing, you can follow all the cross-country action from the Festival of British Eventing on H&C TV. If you aren’t already signed-up to Horse & Country, either you can take out a 12-month subscription at £59.99 or £6.99 per month, or choose the pay per view/event pass option at £14.99, which gives you 30 days access to the event. While there is a seven-day free trial available, please note that this does NOT include access to live sport, so it cannot be used to watch Gatcombe.

The cross-country is scheduled to start at 11am on Saturday 5 August, when you will be able to watch both the novice and intermediate championships, plus the RoR/NTF retrained racehorse event championship and the open intermediate.

On Sunday 6 August, the cross-country is scheduled to start at 10.30am and you will be able to watch the Corinthian Cup, the open novice and the showcase British Open Championship.

How to watch Gatcombe live with a VPN

While it is not necessary to use a VPN to access Horse & Country’s live stream, if you would like to protect your online viewing from being monitored by third-parties, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you do this. A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, such that the servers and services you’re accessing aren’t able to track what you’re doing. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. As a rule, we’d suggest a paid-for service such as free 30-day ExpressVPN trial which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

How to use a VPN

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access.

3. Then head over to Horse & Country on your browser or device and enjoy the livestream.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British Olympic team gold medallists and the defending champion head up the Gatcombe Horse Trials entries for the British open championship at this weekend’s Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

Oliver Townend and Tom McEwen both have the horses with whom they won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Ballaghmor Class and Toledo De Kerser, lining up in the Magic Millions British open championship. Oliver also has Swallow Springs in the class, while Tom has three rides, with last year’s British intermediate champion Luna Mist and MHS Brown Jack joining Toledo on the starting blocks.

New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali, last year’s British open champions, are also among the 35 Gatcombe Horse Trials entries for this flagship class, aiming to take back-to-back titles.

Zara Tindall rides her top horse Class Affair in the British open. He is among the contenders in this class who will then head to Burghley Horse Trials; some of these horses may not run across country at Gatcombe, depending on their riders’ build-up plan for the five-star.

Alice Casburn and Topspin will also contest the British open on the way to Burghley – this is the young star’s debut in this class. Topspin was not on his best form at Badminton Horse Trials in the spring, but has since been treated for ulcers and showed his fitness with a recent advanced win at Aston-le-Walls.

Billy Walk On, who was third here last year with Pippa Funnell, and Colorado Blue, third at Badminton under Ireland’s Austin O’Connor, will also be ones to watch. Piggy March’s ride, the 2021 European individual silver medallist Brookfield Inocent – who missed last year with injury but has also returned on good form with a win at Aston-le-Walls last month – is worth keeping an eye on, too.

The Dodson & Horrell British novice championship is the largest of the three main championship classes, with 67 entries. Oliver Townend had a one-two in this class last year, but has just one entry this time, En Taro Des Vernier.

There are 34 scheduled to go to post in the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championship, including Oliver’s 2022 novice champion Finley Du Loir.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, which takes place in Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, is set to take place between 4 and 6 August. If you’re interested in getting your hands on some Gatcombe Horse Trials tickets so you can see all the action in person, then you can save money by buying them in advance. Tickets bought on the gate will cost more (see prices below in brackets).

Gatcombe Horse Trials tickets: general admission prices

Friday 4 August: £20 (£25)

Saturday 5 August: £25 (£30)

Sunday 6 August: £25 (£30)

Season admission: £65 (£75)

Free parking is included with all general admission tickets

Forward parking tickets

If you want to save your legs by parking just a short walk from the main showground, with the added benefit of a swifter entry and exit, then it may be worth booking a forward parking pass, which costs £10 for any one day on top of your admission tickets. Season forward parking costs £25. However there is limited availability and forward parking is not available to purchase on the gate, so it pays to plan ahead.

Festival Pavilion membership

Membership to the Festival of British Eventing includes a two-course buffet lunch with table reservation, complimentary tea/coffee on arrival, ringside seating, members’ only luxury toilets, closed-circuit televisions showing the cross-country action and a concierge service for your shopping.

However, membership does not include general admission to the event, so the prices below will be in addition to your general admission tickets. You could consider them an upgrade to make a great day out even better.

Saturday 5 August adult membership: £55

Saturday 5 August child (12 and under) membership: £27.50

Sunday 6 August adult membership : £55

Sunday 6 August child (12 and under) membership : £27.50

Picnic View parking

A limited number of visitors will be able to park and enjoy a tailgate picnic in the Gatcombe Park bowl, looking over the folly and lake, so you can watch the cross-country action from the comfort of your picnic.

Park View Picnic parking must be booked in advance. Park View Picnic prices do not include admission; admission tickets need to be purchased in addition to the Picnic Pitch for all occupants of the car who are aged 12 years and older.

Saturday 5 August: Sold out

Sunday 6 August: Sold out

Camping

Caravans, motorhomes, horseboxes and tents will be able to park up at Gatcombe from Thursday 3 August.

Caravan season pass: £195 (this includes your pitch and two campsite/season admission wristbands (Friday– Sunday)).

Caravan with Festival Pavilion membership: £305 (this includes your pitch, two campsite/season admission wristbands (Friday– Sunday) and two Festival Pavilion memberships (Saturday–Sunday)).

Electric hook-up: £102

Things you need to know

• Gates open: 8am–6pm.
• General admission for children 12 years and under free – no ticket required.
• Dogs on leads welcome.

Buy tickets now

Planning a trip to Gatcombe? Here are some places to stay…

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Piggy March, Badminton victor and the winner of six senior championship medals, on competing in the heat at Hartpury, why Gatcombe isn’t for everyone, and Britain’s dressage stars

HARTPURY was incredible, so a big well done to the team there. It’s an event that’s changed massively from 10 years ago and the organisers deserve a slot to run a future senior championship if that’s their ambition.

The effort put into the ground was the obvious positive – the going was exceptional, not just good “for this time of year” or “under the circumstances”.

I only rode the four-star track and it provided a great pre-Burghley run. My only criticism was a few too many drops, but with the ground as good as it was, it wasn’t a big problem.

In terms of coping with the extreme temperatures, the permanent stables at Hartpury are big and airy and the team made every effort to mitigate the conditions. The courses were shortened and finished under the trees with misting fans, a clever idea which worked well. I don’t believe there were any nasty incidents of horses – or people – suffering. It was a well thought out, happy, safe event.

It was great for Vanir Kamira to score a good win in the four-star short as we aim for Burghley Horse Trials. She’s an evergreen little soldier and I’m very proud of her. She’s been such a servant for my career and a family horse for her owners the Dickens, who’ve had so much enjoyment with her.

She’s 17 now and I don’t know how many more days like that we’ll have – we’re grateful for every event with her and every run is a bonus. She owes us nothing and we’ll carry on for as long as she keeps enjoying the sport as much as she always has.

An acquired taste

It’s a shame the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe had such low entries. It’s an amazing spectacle for the sport.

I do think the venue is a very personal, acquired taste for riders. I didn’t compete there this year, but have in the past. I’m definitely not one who’s afraid to ride round an event where the cross-country is the most influential phase; I’d encourage those sorts of venues.

But there are “horses for courses” and to be competitive at Gatcombe, horses do have to run fast on the camber, which is hard on them physically. It won’t suit every horse or every programme and different riders get the “feel good” factor from different places.

The riders I’ve spoken to said the ground this year was as good as it’s ever been and I hope the effort the organisers put into watering and so on will be repaid with more starters in the future.

I spent many years sitting in the bowl watching the good riders galloping around trying to win the British open when I was a kid, and it would be nice to see the event having that stature again.

Spine-tingling Lottie Fry

Well done to the British dressage superstars at their World Championships. Lottie Fry’s freestyle on Glamourdale was absolutely spine-tingling.

The development of British dressage has undoubtedly been headed by the incredible horseman that is Carl Hester. His protégée Charlotte Dujardin is an unbelievable freak of a talent, producing another younger horse to perform again, this time in Imhotep. And now we have Lottie coming up as a new face to take things to the next level.

It makes you proud to be British to see our team riding with such horsemanship and elegant harmony, even if you’re not a horse lover or a dressage lover. Our showjumpers and para dressage riders came home with medals too, so Herning was an all-round success story.

The eventing World Championships is just a few weeks away. The British squad looks very strong and must start as the favourites – it’s a solid group, with the horsepower and temperament to deliver, and while there’s a long way to go, I’d hope that with luck on their side, they can bring home the gold.

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 25 August

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Five-time Burghley winner Andrew Nicholson wonders why more younger riders don’t attend the Festival of British Eventing

WHY are so many of our supposedly ambitious, up-and-coming riders avoiding the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe? I imagine they might say they expected the ground to be hard, that they don’t like the terrain… They need to think again.

In all the years I was riding there, I thought that when it was dry, the going was some of the better ground that we have in those conditions, because it is old turf. The couple of fields in which the turf was newer are no longer used.

Sure enough, when I was there last weekend, I thought what the organisers had done with the ground was very good, and when I looked at it after the horses had run on it, you could see their hoofprints very nicely, even in the cross-country warm-up area. Yet the main championship classes had far fewer competitors than they deserved.

I understand that not everyone will have a horse for the open championship, but what about the novice and intermediate championships? All of my best horses would have competed in a championship class at Gatcombe at least once in their career; they might not have won them, but it was a major part of their learning – and mine.

There are a bunch of riders who I feel should have been there to gain experience, for themselves and for their horses, from riding round Gatcombe’s undulating courses in front of a good crowd. They’d have learnt more there than at half a dozen other events put together.

I remember the first time I rode there, on a horse called Spit-Teak in 1983. I was seventh, and I felt like I’d made it in life! And my owners always loved being there. Surely owners haven’t changed, so it must be the riders. And it’s interesting that a first prize of £10,000 in the open – with good money down the line – isn’t an incentive, either.

Ideal Burghley prep

I’M surprised more of the Burghley entries don’t use Gatcombe as a prep. If Pippa Funnell is doing so, isn’t that a bit of a clue? They don’t have to go flat out and try to win it, necessarily, but there are obvious comparisons between the hilly cross-country courses, and showjumping in Gatcombe’s main arena is ideal practice for Burghley, too.

It was certainly where my Burghley horses had their apprenticeship and later their preparation. Mr Smiffy, who won Burghley in 2000 and was second in 2001, always had his final prep run at Gatcombe.

It wasn’t necessarily that much fun and quite hard work for both of us, as he would be pretty wound up and would pull like a train going to the downhill fences, but when we got to Burghley, things felt much easier as a result and off he’d go, inside the time.

It’s disappointing that some – not all, but too many – of the younger set of riders aren’t supporting our national championships, which draws a great crowd and would teach them so much that they really need to absorb if they are going to get to the top of the sport.

Parental nerves

I WAS at Hartpury for the junior and young rider Europeans, and I thought the ground was unbelievably good and that Eric Winter’s cross-country tracks were excellent – up to height and technical enough without being over the top for the age groups.

It was fun to observe the individual gold and silver medallists – Mathies Rüder and Isabelle Cook – being watched by their parents, German rider Kai Rüder and Tina Cook. Both are pretty cool customers, but they were fairly nervy for once – even though the parental advice was of the sensible, “just go quietly” sort, neither could help the continuous glances at their watches… It made me smile. Once a competitor, always a competitor.

● Are you a competitive parent? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com to share your stories

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 18 August

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Our 115th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast features our full review of the team competition at the World Dressage Championships, where the British team won a brilliant silver medal and Lottie Fry won an incredible individual gold in the grand prix special aboard Glamourdale. As this podcast was recorded prior to the freestyle, we will review that in full on next week‘s episode. H&H’s Polly Bryan, who is out in Herning, where the championships are taking place, and H&H‘s Lucy Elder, who has been covering the event from the UK, share their thoughts on the amazing achievements of the British team so far. Then H&H’s Martha Terry and Gemma Redrup, who were both reporting from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe last week, ably assisted by their colleagues Pippa Roome who was covering the event remotely, give the full lowdown on all the action from the Gloucestershire event. We hope you will enjoy listening.

Episode 115 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service, which is available every Thursday morning for our H&H digital subscribers, is now live.

Each episode is available for all H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app 24hrs after its early release to our H&H digital subscribers. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode. This will allow more listeners to make The Horse & Hound Podcast an essential part of their week on Friday morning.

• View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

Our 115th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast features our full review of the team competition at the World Dressage Championships, where the British team won a brilliant silver medal and Lottie Fry won an incredible individual gold in the grand prix special aboard Glamourdale. As this podcast was recorded prior to the freestyle, we will review that in full on next week‘s episode. H&H’s Polly Bryan, who is out in Herning, where the championships are taking place, and H&H‘s Lucy Elder, who has been covering the event from the UK, share their thoughts on the amazing achievements of the British team so far.

Then H&H’s Martha Terry and Gemma Redrup, who were both reporting from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe last week, ably assisted by their colleagues Pippa Roome who was covering the event remotely, give the full lowdown on all the action from the Gloucestershire event.

• We would love to hear your feedback on our new podcast series, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 115

Listen now to other recent episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast…

The Horse & Hound Podcast 114: Royal International Horse Show review

The Horse & Hound Podcast 113: Lottie Fry | Herning World Championships preview | Festival of Hunting review

The Horse & Hound Podcast 112: Hickstead Derby review with Shane Breen, plus Royal International preview

The Horse & Hound Podcast 111: Gareth Hughes | Hartpury dressage | Hoof cracks | News round-up

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Festival of British Eventing course designer Mark Phillips on where riders go wrong in modern cross-country riding

I come up for air this week with the Festival of British Eventing behind us and also – unbelievably in the second week of August – harvest behind us too, such has been the heat and lack of rain this summer.

This week I move on to set new courses at Kelsall Hill and then join Derek di Grazia at Burghley to help put the final touches to his course there.

At Gatcombe, we ran two of the British Eventing aerovators from Thursday onwards and for the first time my son Peter, as the event director, decided to take the massive step of adding water out of the “mains” supply. They did the same thing at Jardy using city water in July, but this of course comes with a price tag. Such are the demands of the modern riders and owners on organisers.

I believe that everyone needs to make the most of being able to do this, even those with access to rivers, reservoirs, canals and so on, as water is increasingly becoming a valuable commodity. I hear the Government is already thinking of banning water extraction for all sporting events, including golf and racing.

In the end, competitors were happy with the footing and, as often previously at Gatcombe, we heard, “The going is much better than we expected.” It even got the thumbs up from Mark Lucey, with his machine that measures the hardness or softness of the ground. It was, therefore, disappointing only to have 20-odd runners in the open and intermediate championships.

Going to plan B

There were a couple of turns I didn’t like on the intermediate championship track, but otherwise the courses were pretty straightforward.

The terrain at Gatcombe is different from most venues, so competitors have to ride from start to finish, whereas on the more normal “flat tracks”, riders can cruise between the fences. The terrain also makes the time a critical factor.

At most combinations, I deliberately offered a forward distance or the opportunity to bend a little more for an extra stride or two. The latter not only takes more time, but is obviously more tiring for the horse as they have to get up to speed again after the fence. Sadly, the vast majority of riders opted to go to the hand and add!

Hugh Thomas reminded me at the weekend of something Noel Palmer, an eventing diehard, said many years ago: “The more you lower the standard, the less people will ride!”

It made me think how much more difficult the dressage test and showjumping tracks are today compared to yesteryear and how proficient most riders now are in these two tests. Sadly, we have not been allowed to follow suit with the cross-country – the fence dimensions and speeds have not changed in over 50 years. Yes, there are more skinnies, but is that all that cross-country is about in the modern sport?

Too many people walk cross-country courses and are counting strides instead of simply riding the horse underneath them. All combinations are related to how you jump the first element – if you have a forward “shot” in, you have one distance; if you get planted at the first element, you get another.

It’s common sense, but we are seeing fewer and fewer people with the ability to go to plan B when required. We’ve seen some appalling falls this summer as a result of riders not reacting to their circumstance.

I’m involved in a lot of work to try to reduce the risks of riding across the country, but if riders don’t react, I’m not sure how we prevent serious accidents, because if you keep trying, eventually you will get unlucky.

The Festival was something of a Townend and McEwen benefit as they shared the lion’s share of the prize money in all the championships, with only the genius of Tim Price with Vitali spoiling their party in the open.

Let’s hope that next year, with a more normal qualifying period, we will see more of our younger stars at this unique venue with its very special atmosphere and the experience it offers their horses.

• Should sporting events be allowed to use water on the ground? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com to let us know your thoughts

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 11 August

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An Olympic ride franks his class, a tiny grassroots champion and the battle of two racehorses – find out what happened on the final day at Gatcombe

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Four more champions were crowned at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing today (Sunday, 7 August) with a Kiwi topping the British Open. So, who featured in the Gatcombe Horse Trials results?

Tim Price took today’s headline class, the Magic Millions British open championship, riding his Tokyo mount Vitali.

• Find out Tim’s view on why the optimum time is so hard to achieve at Gatcombe

As Tim is a New Zealander, the national title went to runner-up Oliver Townend on Dreamliner, one of his three rides in this championship

• Learn what Oliver and other placed riders had to say

Bur first, there was a shake-up in the dressage order, with Pippa Funnell moving up to take the lead after showjumping clear

• What made the track so clever, according to Pippa?

Feisty 15.1hh Iwan landed the Corinthian Cup thanks to impeccable jumping displays

• Find out from his rider Amy Barlow why she persevered with Iwan despite multiple involuntary dismounts

A classy ex-racehorse moved up in the fourth and final phase of the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers Federation championship for retrained racehorses to take the title

• Learn what winner Andrew Downes had to say about his talented winner’s second career

There were also two open novice sections on this final day of the festival, won by Nicholas Lucey (Ta Kalo Arlo) and Caroline Martin (Galway Bay Redfield HSH Conner). That completes the Sunday round-up of the Gatcombe Horse Trials results.

Yesterday, the Dodson & Horrell British Novice and Evelyn Partners Intermediate Championships were decided, with Oliver Townend and Tom McEwen running out respective winners.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tim Price took his first Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship title at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing today (7 August). Riding Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali, Tim cruised around the Captain Mark Phillips-designed cross-country track, clocking just four time-faults.

New Zealander Tim led the dressage on a score of 23, but three time-faults in the showjumping then dropped them to second prior to the cross-country. But two-phase leader Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On incurred 8.4 cross-country time-faults, which dropped them to eventual third in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship.

“I saw a few waiting distances and with everything being so busy and when the stride gets longer, things [distances] get a bit closer, so it was quite difficult to give him a smooth run everywhere,” said Tim afterwards. “But it was a good round and he came home very well.

“It’s always challenging when you’re going fast here and it’s always influential – the two corners at fence six were what caught some out today. But you just have to ride in a balance to make a lot of tight turns and then climb a few hills and come home with a healthy horse.”

Oliver Townend was crowned British National champion, as he was the highest-placed Brit, finishing second on Mark and Angela Chamberlayne’s Dreamliner.

Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship: riders’ thoughts on low entries

Entries into the Magic Millions-sponsored British open championship were low this year, with just 19 combinations starting the competition.

“I love it here – you learn a lot about your horses and they come on for being here,” explained Oliver Townend. “You learn exactly what you’ve got from a stamina point of view and I think it’s a huge part of my horses’ progression to come here every year.

“It’s a special and unique venue. You look at the amount of five-star winners who have been novice or intermediate champion, for example, Land Vision, ODT Mouse, Navigator, Seacookie, Tamarillo, it’s endless which horses came here as young horses and turned out to be superstars.”

Although the country has been shrouded in hot weather recently, the going was good at Gatcombe this weekend.

“It’s very safe ground, I know it’s difficult when the place looks like a desert, but you can see where the horses have been down the hill, and touch wood, the horses have pulled up very, very well,“ said Oliver. “I’m a big fan of this place – it’s a shame that a lot of riders aren’t supporting it, but I think that’s more fashion driven than statistically driven. 

“I think there should be British young rider championships here. I feel like I leave this place, the horses come on for it and I ride better after I’ve been here because you have to sit on your backside and react. It’s good for the horses – William Fox-Pitt used to say it’s the only place you can actually put every horse in your yard that’s established at a level against their peers. And now that I’ve won the novice championship here this year, we know we have the best novice horse in the country.”

Pippa Funnell agreed with Oliver that it’s a shame more riders weren’t here to support the big class at Gatcombe.

“It’s just so sad, but in the old days, there used to be 50, 60, 70 starters. I think a lot of it is people like to protect their form – they don’t want to run risk with having 20 penalties and with the hills it’s quite a tough track stamina-wise,” she explained.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Gold Nugget, a racehorse which failed to fire on the track in three runs, is excelling in his new career, landing Gatcombe Horse Trials’ retrained racehorse championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

“He’s just been a really good little fella,” said Andrew. “He’s a game horse who just wants to do his job.”

The format of this RoR/NTF-sponsored class is a regular horse trials of dressage, showjumping and cross-country at intermediate novice level, to give a top-10 which showjump again in reverse order for the title. It’s quite a demanding format for any horse to showjump twice, but perhaps particularly for an ex-racer who is naturally more predisposed to jump flat after going cross-country. Today (Sunday, 7 August), was the final showjumping round.

Gatcombe Horse Trials retrained racehorse championship: placings

Tom McEwen was bidding for his second championship of the weekend, having already taken the intermediate title, with his ride Magdalena Gut’s Dream Big leading throughout the first three phases on his dressage score of 31.1. However, Andrew Downes and Golden Nugget were breathing down their necks 0.6 of a penalty behind coming into the showjumping final. When “Nugget” jumped clear, the pressure was on and Dream Big lowered one rail to slip to second.

Hector Payne and Tom Dillinger were third, adding just 0.4 of a time-fault across country to their dressage of 35.6.

Nick and Jane Moss’s Gold Nugget finished last on two of his three racing runs, but switched to eventing at five with Andrew. He was already advanced by the age of seven, and is established now at four-star aged 12. But Andrew said that this didn’t mean today’s task was straightforward.

“He’s a thoroughbred, and so he can go in and jump a clear round at four-star, or he can have two down at novice,” he said.

It was due recompense for Andrew after suffering a broken cheekpiece during one of his rounds in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship yesterday (Saturday, 6 August) and being forced to pull up.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A feisty 15.1hh out-jumped his rivals to land the Gatcombe Horse Trials Corinthian Cup at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, on his dressage mark. Iwan, ridden by Amy Barlow, scored 29.8 to lie close-up in fourth after dressage. When the trio ahead, led by Holly Allan and Ray Of Light W on 26.6, lowered rails, the eventual winners took the lead before the final-phase cross-country in this TopSpec national restricted novice championship for grassroots riders.

Amy, who events full-time, had hoped to get into the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship, but when hard ground curtailed her intermediate outings, she diverted to this class. She hopes that Iwan will be the horse to take her up the levels, but it was a rocky start.

“I bought him as an unbroken four-year-old for £2,000, and all I did was fall off,” she says. “He would spin and buck and everyone said, ‘why are you persevering when he’s so naughty? All you do is get concussion’. But I loved him – he’s my pet.

“He is so talented, he has all the jump in the world and he’s just a really cool little horse. I’m hoping he’ll now go up the grades easily. I just have to keep my weight down – he never grew into his big knees and feet!”

Gatcombe Horse Trials: Corinthian Cup placings

Ellie Healy, who rode at the European Pony Championships in 2018, filled both second and sixth spots in the Corinthian Cup. Her runner-up, Balladeer Just For Kicks, produced super jumping rounds to move up from 11th after dressage to finish on a clean sheet of 31.6.

It was tight at the top, with the third and fourth just 0.8 adrift. Will Crawley (Nadiva E) and Holly Allan both finished on 31.8, with Will sneaking into third by virtue of his faster cross-country time. Holly added a rail and 1.2 time-faults to her leading dressage, but was ecstatic about her result having not competed since the Badminton grassroots championship in May.

“I keep saying I’m too old for this!” said Holly, 49, who is a full-time “Pony Club mum with two kids and lots of ponies”. “I’ve been really busy this summer but with the kids’ ponies not my own. So I thought she would be really spooky, but as I was leading after the dressage I had to go for it.”

Holly bought Ray Of Light at the Verden auction and the mare has an embryo transfer foal, with Holly thinking of breeding her 12-year-old son’s future event horse.

“I thought if I don’t do it now, they won’t be ready – my son is already doing 90s,” she said.

Just 0.1 of a penalty behind in fifth was Victoria Gregg. She was second after dressage on the 18hh Langson Governor on 27.9, finishing eventual fifth after adding just four faults for a rail to their first-phase score.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Pippa Funnell has claimed the lead in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing ahead of the cross-country later today (7 August).

Riding Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw’s Billy Walk On, Pippa jumped an immaculate clear round to remain on their 24.4 dressage, which meant they moved up from second place after the first phase.

“It was a clever track because the time was tight but the distances were very waiting,“ explained Pippa after her round in the Magic Millions-sponsored class. “So you could try to ride for the time but at the end of the day you had to sit quiet because of the distances. So it was a really clever course because you had to land and really move through the turns to give yourself enough time to sit quiet.”

Pippa is also third on her own and Marek Sebestak’s Majas Hope having jumped a super clear round to remain on their 29.2 dressage.

New Zealand’s Tim Price has dropped from the top spot into second having jumped a clear round but incurring three time-faults aboard Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali.

“He is a good jumper, but isn’t always the best technician in the showjumping,” Tim explained after his round with the 12-year-old. “He loses concentration because he’s a very highly strung horse in his own way, so his mind is going everywhere often. If he loses concentration he loses his jump a little bit.

“I was very pleased with his round today. I kept him very calm and then he went in and he concentrated. Because I had a couple down at Luhmühlen and he’s hopefully going to Burghley, the theme of the round today was more important so that we can build on it for Burghley.”

Oliver Townend holds both fourth and fifth place with Lukas and Dreamliner respectively.

In total, just four combinations jumped clear inside the time allowed from the 19 starters in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship.

The cross-country will get underway at 3.10pm, with competitors running in reverse order of merit.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The first 2022 winners were crowned at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing today (Saturday, 6 August) – and two British Olympic riders took a clean sweep of the placings on the British intermediate and novice championship podiums. So, who topped the Gatcombe Horse Trials results?

Tom McEwen took today’s headline class, the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championship, riding Luna Mist.

• Where is Luna Mist headed next?

A new face, student Henrietta Ewell, made her mark by leading the intermediate championship after two phases on her own Zaino.

• Find out what Henrietta has worked on to improve her showjumping

Tom’s fellow British Olympic team gold medallist Oliver Townend scored a one-two in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship.

• What did Oliver say about his winner, Finley Du Loir?

Oliver led throughout the class, but there was plenty of movement in the rest of the leaderboard, with a Hungarian rider having a moment in the spotlight when she sat second after the first two phases.

• Learn more about Noémi Doerfer and her ride Serengethi

One rider suffered a tack malfunction in this class…

• What happened to Andrew Downes’ bridle as he was riding across country?

Tim Price holds the lead in the Magic Millions British open championship after dressage, riding his Tokyo Olympic horse Vitali.

• Find out what Tim said and what pleased Pippa Funnell, who lies second and third, about her horses’ performances

The British open concludes with the showjumping and cross-country phases tomorrow, when the TopSpec Challenge for The Corinthian Cup and the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers Federation Retrained Racehorse Event Championship also wrap up – check back for more Gatcombe Horse Trials results on horseandhound.co.uk

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tim Price steered his Olympic ride Vitali into the lead of the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

They scored 23 (79.58%) to nudge Pippa Funnell into second, in the Magic Millions-sponsored class. Always smart in the first phase, this wasn’t quite a personal best for Vitali at international level – he posted 21.2 at Houghton in May.

“He’s a super athlete, but we’ve still got to get the full package,” said Tim, referring to the Contender gelding’s slightly inconsistent record showjumping. “Because his dressage is so smart, we’re going to be in a good position quite regularly and then we’ve got to find a way to hold on to it, but I believe in him. We just have to learn a bit more and bring it out of him. I think he’ll jump a lot of clear rounds in the future.”

Tim has been riding Joe and Alex Giannamore’s 12-year-old for a year and a half and describes him as a “fabulous cross-country horse”.

“So hopefully we’ll jump round and have some fun. The ground’s good enough and I think it will be a great fitness and conditioning run ahead of Burghley Horse Trials as his second five-star.”

Gatcombe Horse Trials: Pippa Funnell in double contention

Pippa produced two excellent tests to take second and third spots, riding Billy Walk On and Majas Hope respectively. As best-placed Brit, she has put herself in line for the national title.

Billy Walk On confirmed his return to form after a lacklustre trip to Badminton Horse Trials – he has finished second at five-star but also twice retired across country at CCI5*. Today (6 August), he showed his wellbeing with a little buck in the extended canter, still posting a good score of 24.4.

“It was just him being happy,” said Pippa of the Walkinshaws’ 13-year-old. “That’s actually really nice from him because he lost a little bit of spark at Badminton. He wasn’t his normal self there from day one, and I don’t know what it was about. But I was happy enough with his test here – he had a little buck but I don’t mind that.”

Pippa was almost more pleased with third-placed Majas Hope’s performance, after scoring 29.2.

“It’s nice to do a good test on Hope because he has been my difficult one,” she said. “Not because he blows up but he finds dressage really difficult. Mentally he starts giving up on you, saying, ‘I find this hard,’ so you have to do things to make him have fun, and feel as though he’s not doing dressage. If you don’t do enough he’s too fresh, but you can’t drill him or he goes behind the leg.”

Pippa was encouraged that even at 15, the horse – owned by herself and Marek Sebastak – is still learning.

“Every time I do a test I try something different,” she said. “The difference today was that for the warm-up we just lunged him and then I cantered around off his back as if we were going cross-country. It worked really well – by his standard that was a good test. We missed one change because he was a bit too forward, but the highlight for me was that he didn’t drop behind the leg.”

McEwen and Townend press the dressage leaders at Gatcombe Horse Trials

Just one showjumping rail covers third to 13th ahead of showjumping tomorrow (Sunday, 7 August).

Tom McEwen and Oliver Townend continued their run of form at this Gloucestershire event to take fourth and fifth after their respective Evelyn Partners British Intermediate and Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship victories earlier in the day.

Tom filled fourth spot on Barbara Cooper’s Braveheart B on 29.6, while Oliver sits in fifth with the Chamberlaynes’ Dreamliner on 30.1. Helen Wilson and My Ernie round off the top six on a score of 30.6.

You might also be interested in:

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How to watch the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe on TV

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Andrew Downes conjured a masterful display to ride half the course at Gatcombe Horse Trials with a broken bridle at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

He was competing across country on his first horse in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship, Cooley Foxtrot, when the horse’s cheekpiece snapped at fence three. He continued right up to the four-part Biowave water combination at 12, where the bit dropped out of his mouth and Andrew pulled up.

“I felt it pop after fence three – the cheekpiece just broke,” said Andrew. “I thought I should pull up immediately but it actually felt all right. So I thought I’d do one jump and once I’d cleared fence four and five, it was fine, so I decided I may as well carry on. It was like he was holding on to it!”

“It didn’t feel perfectly normal – a bit wobbly – but the horse is very straight, so it wasn’t terrifying and he jumped absolutely fine,” Andrew added. “To be honest I forgot all about it for the next few fences until the bit dropped out of his mouth at the water, and then I did have to pull up. He must have opened his mouth and it fell out.”

It’s surprising the bit didn’t fall out earlier given how much ground the horse covered without opening his mouth.

“It’s a sort of hackamore combination, so there was nothing really keeping it in place, he just kept his mouth shut!” said Andrew after his Gatcombe Horse Trials broken bridle experience.

The eight-year-old Cooley Foxtrot, owned by his rider and Jane Moss, had been jumping beautifully until the round unravelled in the water, but Andrew had better luck with his second ride, Ringfort Reve Du Moulin, also owned by Jane. The seven-year-old jumped clear with 15.2 time-faults to complete.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Oliver Townend scored a one-two in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing this afternoon.

The British Olympic gold medallist won the class on Sir John Peace’s Finley Du Loir, who held his two-phase lead despite 3.6 time-faults across country, and finished second on Chris Gould’s Samiro Cruze MC, who made the time.

Speaking about the seven-year-old winner Finley Du Loir, Oliver said: “I said he was green [after the showjumping], so that was a big bonus. He’s a high-class horse – we’ve only had him this year but he’s been high-class all the way through. He’s very green, at times a little bit naughty, but if all he did was dressage he could be a very good dressage horse, if all he did was showjump he could become a jumper. He is very, very good.

“He’s new to the sport but he was quick enough today to win the novice championships and his form all the way through is very good. He’s just learning the ropes on the cross-country so with him being careful sometimes he goes a little bit high, but at the same time it’s all looking very positive.”

Tom McEwen’s 3.2 time-faults on Falaise De Riverland, owned by Magdalena Gut, Vicky Bates and David Myers, meant he moved up one spot from fourth after showjumping to finish third.

“She was super. I wouldn’t say it was an unlucky rail in the showjumping, but it’s a shame to have the rail because she jumped a lovely round,” said Tom. “This was a bit of a test to see for the future to see if she’d dig in, if she’d enjoy it and she absolutely loved it. She got a little bit tired, but at no point did she should lose her jump. She’ll have learnt an awful lot.”

As usual at Gatcombe, the time proved tight in this class. Only five pairs made the 5min 16sec target over Mark Phillips’ Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship course.

Hungarian rider Noémi Doerfer was second going into the final phase with her own Serengethi, but the Festival of British Eventing debutante had 9.6 time-faults to drop out of the top placings.

You might also be interested in:

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Student leads British intermediate championship after showjumping shakes up the order

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tom McEwen won his third Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship in a row this morning at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

The British double Olympic medallist was second after dressage and showjumping on Luna Mist and headed out early onto the cross-country in the Evelyn Partners-sponsored class. He was initially shown on the scoreboard as having been penalised for being too far under the 5min 53sec optimum time, but his time was then amended to 5min 50sec, giving him a penalty-free round.

“I’d only just scraped in inside the time – as everyone knows, no one makes the time here, so it would have been a bit freaky if I’d been too fast,” said Tom.

Of Martin Belsham’s nine-year-old mare Luna Mist, Tom said: “She had a lovely showjumping round and then was faultless across country. She cruised really well and even cantered all the way up the hill home. She’s made it feel relatively simple – she’s got huge amount of potential and a very exciting future.”

Luna Mist was ridden by Italy’s Paulo Torlonia, who is based in the yard next to Tom’s at Gatcombe, last year.

“He did a great job and she’s just really elevated this year and been really good. Next for her is the four-star long at Blair so there’s no better way to do fitness than round the Gatcombe hills,” said Tom.

The rider also paid tribute to the Gatcombe team for their work in producing good ground during this dry summer.

“If you walk from the start to fence one or from one to two, which are the only bits I’ve really been slow enough to see a footprint, you can see such a clear print and the horses just feel super comfortable the whole way around,” said Tom, who is based elsewhere on the Gatcombe estate and said there had been some rain earlier this week, which has also helped the going.

Tom won this class in 2019 on Dreamaway II, who has since been placed at four-star, and in 2018 on CHF Cooliser, who is now competing at five-star and was the runner-up at Pau Horse Trials last year.

The leaders after two phases, student Henrietta Ewell and her own Zaino, had 20 penalties at the Evelyn Partners Corners at 6abc, when Zaino seemed not to read the initial question of an angled hedge and ran along it. They retired later on Mark Phillips’ course.

There were only three clears in the time – for Tom, runner-up Oliver Townend, and eighth-placed Josie Proctor on Imogen Coughlan’s Bee Naround. Oliver was second riding John Peace and Charlotte Cole’s Crazy Du Loir, who moved up from third after showjumping, and also took third on Sir John Peace’s Caunton First Class, whose two time-faults allowed him to rise from sixth going into the last phase.

Georgie Campbell landed fourth on Lance and Diana Morrish’s Global Quest, New Zealand’s Tim Price was fifth on Viscount Viktor (owned by Barbara Cooper, Ginny Rusher and Glynn Norcutt) and Daisy Berkeley finished sixth on Diese Du Figuier, owned by his rider, her mother Caroline Dick, Camilla Case, Martha Ivory and Penelope Makins.

Australia’s Bill Levett was fourth after showjumping in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship on his wife Jenny’s RNH Tom Tom R, but was eliminated after cross-country for jumping the wrong fence at number nine, the TopSpec Log Pile.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Oliver Townend holds pole position in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing heading into the final cross-country phase.

The British Olympic gold medallist took an early lead with Finley Du Loir on a dressage score of 22.4 and then showjumped clear in the Dodson & Horrell-sponsored class. Oliver’s leading ride is a French-bred seven-year-old, by Quartz Du Chanu, owned by Sir John Peace.

“He’s top, top class, but he’s green as grass – he’s probably the greenest horse in the field by a country mile,” said Oliver. “He only started his eventing campaign this year. He’s never seen people, he’s never seen crowds, he’s only seen one intermediate. He’s come here for the experience and whatever comes after that will be a big bonus.”

In his seven runs this year with Oliver, Finley Du Loir has had three wins, two in novices and one in the CCI2*-S at Floors Castle.

Noémi Doerfer, 23, also showjumped clear to move up from third after dressage to second on her own 10-year-old Serengethi.

“He was really good yesterday, really good today – so now it’s fingers crossed we can do the same out on the cross-country,” said Noémi, who is half German, half Hungarian and rides for Hungary.

Serengethi is dressage-bred by Sir Donnerhall and Noémi also started out in that discipline.

“I bought him as a three-year-old and then after a year or so I decided I quite liked jumping and eventing so I started doing that,” said the rider, who moved to Britain from Germany three years ago. “We started eventing together and did everything from 90 upwards, getting better and better. I’m very happy to have him.”

Tom McEwen and Falaise De Riverland, owned by Magdalena Gut, Vicky Bates and David Myers, were second after dressage on a score of 23.1, but dropped down to fourth after having the green and white oxer at fence four down. The same fence also put paid to a clear for Coral Keen, fourth after dressage on her own and Ginnie Wellings’ Impuls V, so she has slipped to seventh ahead of the cross-country in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A 20-year-old student holds the lead in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship after the showjumping phase this morning (6 August), at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

It was all change at the top of the Evelyn Partners-sponsored class in the second phase of the competition, over a challenging track designed by Mark McGowan.

Oliver Townend led the dressage on Charlotte Cole and Sir John Peace’s 10-year-old mare Crazy Du Loir, who is already a double three-star winner this season. She punched in a score of 26.3 in the first phase, but four faults at the bogey fence, the rustic and turquoise vertical into the treble, dropped her to third.

Oliver was also second after dressage on John Peace’s Caunton First Class, who knocked the parallel at fence two, another rustic and turqoise fence. Caunton First Class now holds sixth place.

Meanwhile Exeter University accountancy and business student Henrietta Ewell, 20, jumped a super clear on her own eight-year-old Zaino to move up from fourth after dressage to take the top spot.

“I’ve had him since he was a three-year-old and he’s half Andalusian,” said Henrietta. “We’ve worked really hard his dressage with Alex Harrison, so I was very pleased to get that mark.

“We’ve been out jumping Foxhunters and some bigger tracks, a few 1.25m opens, but I’d never actually jumped a clear at advanced before.”

Work on preventing Zaino running down distances was key to Henrietta’s clear today and the pair will now be looking to restore confidence across country after a fall in the CCI4*-S at Houghton.

There were only six showjumping clears inside the time in the class. A clear from Tom McEwen and Martin Belsham’s Luna Mist elevated them from fifth after dressage to second going into the cross-country, while fault-free rounds from Australia’s Bill Levett (RNH Tom Tom R) and Ireland’s Aoife Clark (Sportsfield Freelance) mean they hold fourth and fifth places at this stage.

Ibble Watson was third after dressage on her own Aristoteles S Z on 28.3, but unsurprisingly withdrew before the jumping phases of the Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship as the pair were members of the gold medal-winning team at the young rider European Championships last week.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing (5-7 August 2022), and either haven’t visited before or have forgotten what delights are on offer, here is our complete guide to what should be on your Gatcombe Horse Trials’ things to-do list.

Watch top-class eventing action

You can look forward to a feast of eventing action at the Festival of British Eventing. Classes range from the Corinthian Cup, which is a restricted amateur novice championship, all the way up to the British Open Championship, which attracts world-class horses and riders each year. In addition, there will be the intermediate and novice championships, plus there will be the RoR/NTF retrained event horse championship, where you can see horses who have either raced on the Flat or over fences in the past now thriving in their new careers.

Go shopping!

You will be able to shop until you drop at the Festival of British Eventing, with over 100 trade stands to get stuck into. Whether you are in the market for something to buy your horse or yourself, there will be plenty to choose from.

Don’t miss the Shetland pony Grand National

This spectacle never ceases to amaze as tiny ponies go head-to-head with their young jockeys on board. The racing is fast and furious, and the louder the audience, the faster the ponies go, so pick your favourite and cheer them home.

See potential stars of the future in action

The Festival of British Eventing will also be holding a qualifying round for the four- and five-year-old Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse class, which has its final at the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials in September. This series is popular among riders looking to introduce their young horses to the atmosphere of big events and it is as the shop window for future stars of the sport. The horses are judged on four categories; dressage, showjumping, conformation, and quality and suitability and potential.

Give the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds a cheer

This pack of hounds are kennelled at Badminton House and are out four days a week from November to March (and even more during Autumn hunting from late August). Under the mastership of the Duke of Beaufort and Matthew Ramsden, and kennel huntsman Nick Hopkins, they are a popular and traditional part of the countryside and perform a vital service for farmers, so make sure you show them your support.

Check out Ye Olde Redtail falconry display

There is so much on the Gatcombe Horse Trials things to-do list, but Ye Olde Redtail Falconry display team will definitely be worth watching. They have been giving professional falconry displays for more than 30 years and you will be able to catch them at this year’s Festival of British Eventing to witness their skills in action.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Defending champions Jonelle Price and Classic Moet head up the Gatcombe entries for the British open at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing next month (5-7 August).

This is the first time the Festival of British Eventing has run since 2019, as Covid-19 caused its cancellation in 2020 and 2021. New Zealand pair Jonelle and Classic Moet, who is now 19 years old, won the showcase class three years ago, when Ben Hobday and Shadow Man II took the national title.

The ballot date has passed for the event, but entries are not yet closed so more runners may come forward, but as things stand there are 21 entries for the Magic Millions British open.

Oliver Townend has three horse in the mix – Olympic team gold medallist Ballaghmor Class, plus Lukas and Dreamliner. Oliver’s Tokyo team-mate Tom McEwen is entered for the class on CHF Cooliser and Braveheart B.

Others to watch in this class include Jonelle’s husband Tim Price with his Olympic ride Vitali and Pippa Funnell’s two rides Majas Hope and Billy Walk On.

It is fairly common for riders to ride a top horse in the British open and compete in the first two phases only, so not all these horses will necessarily run across country. Ballaghmor Class, for example, has twice done dressage and showjumping in the advanced class at the festival – which is not running this year – but not run across country.

Oliver also holds a strong hand in the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championships, for which he is entered on Crazy Du Loir and Caunton First Class, who did a one-two in the CCI3*-L at Houghton in May.

Oliver has four Gatcombe entries in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship, while in this class fans will also have an opportunity to see Gemma Stevens (née Tattersall) making one of her first high-profile outings riding under her married name. She will pilot Chilli King, a full brother to last year’s Bicton Horse Trials five-star winner Chilli Knight.

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Planning a visit to Gatcombe for the Festival of British Eventing? Check this out…

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Gatcombe Park, which is the country residence of Princess Anne in Gloucestershire, hosts The Festival of British Eventing (5–7 August 2022). Finding hotels near Gatcombe Park will help you make the most of your visit to the venue, whether you’re there to spectate, support or compete.

We’ve included a great selection of accommodation by type – not just hotels near Gatcombe Park, but guesthouses, B&Bs and holiday lets, too, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Distances are calculated in driving distance to the estate (GL6 9AT).

• Hotels near Gatcombe Park
• Guest houses, inns and B&Bs near Gatcombe Park
• Holiday lets and apartments near Gatcombe Park

Hotels near Gatcombe Park

The Ragged Cot, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.9 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Amberley Inn, Amberley

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.9 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Burleigh Court Hotel, Burleigh

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.2 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Egypt Mill Hotel, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

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Wild Garlic Rooms, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Premier Inn Stroud

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.9 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at premierinn.com

Travelodge Stonehouse

Distance to Gatcombe: 9.3 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at travelodge.co.uk 

Guest houses, inns and B&Bs near Gatcombe Park

The Queen Matilda Country Inn, Avening

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.8 miles | Type: Inn | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at booking.com

The Old Lodge, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.7 miles | Type: Inn | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Highview B&B, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.8 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at booking.com

Vineyard Barn, South Woodchester

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.2 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

The Light House, Tetbury

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.7 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at booking.com

Oak House No.1, Tetbury

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.7 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Holiday lets and apartments near Gatcombe Park

Little Culver, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.4 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

No 35 West End, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.4 miles | Type: 1-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Hyde Tyning Cottage, Stroud

Distance to Gatcombe: 6.6 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at booking.com

Folly Cottage, Avening

Distance to Gatcombe: 2 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

The Coach House, Box

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.1 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Bluebell Cottage, Box

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.6 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

The Studio at No.6, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.1 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Ridings Farm, France Lynch

Distance to Gatcombe: 6.2 miles | Type: 5-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Fountain Street Apartments, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.3 miles | Type: 2-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Railway Cottages, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.4 miles | Type: 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Weavers Cottage, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.4 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Trade Digs, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.5 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Penrith Lodge, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.5 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Garden House, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: 6-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Stone Cottages, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Combe Cottage, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.4 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Cotswold Stone Cottage, Brownshill

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.1 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Springfield Coach House, Chalford

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.1 miles | Type: 4-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

The Garden Cottage, Amberley

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.5 miles | Type: 1-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

October Cottage, Chalford

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.7 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing 2021 at Gatcombe Park (6-8 August) has been cancelled because “as with many other major public events this summer, the financial risk of committing to an occasion of such magnitude and infrastructure during a pandemic is too great,” said a statement from the event.

Event director Peter Phillips, whose parents, the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, started eventing in Gatcombe Park in 1983, said: “We had desperately hoped that we would be able to pull off the 2021 festival because we know how much everyone was looking forward to it.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision, but the situation with the pandemic is still too volatile. In these restricted circumstances, the event simply isn’t viable, and nor could we guarantee that it would be good value for the competitors, spectators, trade stands and loyal sponsors who normally make the festival such a great occasion. We also very much looked forward to hosting the Pony Club championship for the first time at Gatcombe Park.”

Any 2020 ticket holders should email info@festivalofbritisheventing.com to secure a refund.

Article continues below…

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The Festival of British Eventing 2021 had been due to host the British open, intermediate and novice championships, as well as the restricted novice championship branded the Corinthian Cup and the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers’ Federation retrained racehorse event championship. The Pony Club open eventing championships were also due to be held at the Festival for the first time.

“The news will be a deep disappointment to riders, owners, spectators and volunteers alike, for whom the festival is a much-loved annual showcase for the sport, from Olympic riders to ‘Corinthian’ amateurs,” said the event statement.

This is the second year in a row the Festival has been cancelled owing to Covid-19.

• Do you have a special memory from the Festival of British Eventing you’d like to share with fellow readers? You can do so by writing to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name and nearest town, for the chance to feature on the letters page in a future issue of H&H magazine

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The prestigious Pony Club Championships will have a new home in 2021, with seven of the organsation’s nine disciplines coming together, while the open eventing championships will be held alongside the Festival of British Eventing and two new spring festivals are in the pipeline. H&H finds out more about the plans...

PLANS have been unveiled for the 2021 Pony Club Championships including a new venue – while the open eventing will take place at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe.

Following the abandonment of the 2019 championships at Cholmondeley Castle to rainfall, and the 2020 cancellation owing to the pandemic, next year’s event will take place at Offchurch Bury, on 13 to 22 August.

Pony Club chief executive Marcus Capel told H&H the event will host seven of the nine disciplines with mounted games, polocrosse and tetrathlon on the first weekend, followed by eventing, showjumping, dressage and polo.

“Primarily it’s about trying to keep the sports together at a unique event – and for our volunteers it means rather than going to different events across the country, we can bring the whole Pony Club family together,” he said.

“Despite the challenges with Covid-19, it’s very important we have that aspiration for our competitive members. It’s a pinnacle to qualify for the championships, with past champions going on to be Olympians.”

Mr Capel said it had been “devastating” to call off last year’s championships, which ran at Cholmondeley for eight years.

“A huge thanks to Cholmondeley estate and Musketeer Event Management. The estate were very good to us last year and we were able to give a refund to our members because of their generosity and Musketeer’s work with suppliers.”

Pony Club tetrathlon chairman Tim Vestey told H&H the tetrathlon championships ran at Offchurch Bury in 2018 and 2019, and he believes there will be “huge enthusiasm” for next year’s national championships at the site.

“It may prove to be a template for the future, but at this stage it’s a one-off exercise and we will be going out to tender for a three-year deal towards the end of the year for the 2022 to 2024 championships,” he said.

Other developments for 2021 include a spring festival, incorporating an arena eventing final, at two venues: the Scottish National Equestrian Centre (6–7 April) and Arena UK (9–11 April).

The 110 open eventing championships will take place at the Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe Park (6–8 August 2021).

“The 110 open eventing championships should have happened at Gatcombe this year. The aim is to give aspiration to our top-level eventing members to compete at a festival like that,” said Mr Capel.

“Our branches are working so hard to deliver activity despite the challenges this year and because of this we’re seeing membership grow despite everything going on.”

Festival of British Eventing event director Peter Phillips told H&H the team is “thrilled” to be hosting the Pony Club at the festival.

“The Pony Club is such an important part of our sport and we are delighted to be able to give these young riders the chance to compete at this level and to experience being part of the festival’s weekend of celebration of national championships,” he said.

H&H 29 October 2020

UPDATE: 25 June 2021

Following the April announcement that the festival had been cancelled owing to the pademic, BE announced on 18 June that the championships will now be held at Wellington International Horse Trials (28-30 August).

“Our relationship with the Pony Club is such an important one for the continuation of our sport and we are delighted these championships can be held alongside such a high-profile competition,” said BE chief executive Jude Matthews.

Pony Club chief executive Marcus Capel said Wellington is a “fantastic event” and he looks forward to seeing the organisation’s “talented” members out on the course.

“I would like to thank BE, David Sheerin and the Wellington team for helping us provide such an opportunity,” he said.

Wellington general manager David Sheerin added that the team at the venue is keen to give Pony Club senior members a “worthy experience” after such a challenging set of circumstances.

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The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe has been cancelled.

Event director Peter Phillips said the event, which was due to take place on 8-9 August, cannot go ahead this year owing to “Covid-19 restrictions and other related issues”.

Plans for an extended competition later in the year have also been shelved.

Mr Phillips thanked “everyone for their cooperation and understanding in bearing with us in what has been a challenging and uncertain time for all”.

“We were simply not able to guarantee the medical cover and other key resources to ensure the safety of our competitors, volunteers, officials and estate staff which is paramount to all of us at the festival,” he said.

“It was hoped that we could plan a five-day competition later in the year. But following lengthy discussions with British Eventing, there was still uncertainty regarding the latter part of the fixtures calendar at the time this decision had to be made.

“There was too great a risk for us that not enough would have changed in the world to plan an alternative competition.”

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Refunds are available on request, otherwise tickets for this year’s event will be rolled over to 2021.

Qualifications for the 2020 novice restricted, intermediate and open British Eventing Championships will be carried over to the 2021 festival.

Combinations qualified for 2020 novice regional finals will instead be able to compete in these next year.

All qualifications being carried over will be subject to eligibility as per the rulebook.

“We would like to thank all our sponsors and partners in the festival for their continuing support and look forward to welcoming everyone to the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing 6 – 8 August 2021 (subject to confirmation from British Eventing),” said Mr Phillips.

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If the Magic Millions British open championship today (Sunday, 4 August) lacked in numbers — only 15 went forward to the cross-country — it lacked nothing in drama.

With two fallers — Francis Whittington and Sam Griffiths — and four other riders picking up jumping faults, it was New Zealand’s queen of speed Jonelle Price who claimed the honours on her former Badminton winner Classic Moet, owned by Trisha Rickards.

“Gatcombe is her cup of tea, and you only enter the open if you’re giving it a crack,” said Jonelle. “I did kick myself for the rail we had down showjumping — she jumped a beautiful round — but I obviously wanted a cut at it.”

Second to her after a super round and very smart dressage score was Ben Hobday on his own and Jane Chambers’ super elegant Shadow Man II.

“I told people he was world class, and now they’ll believe me,” said Ben, pleasantly surprised to find that besides being £8000 richer than yesterday, he is also the new British national champion. This lovely rangy chestnut ate up the ground: “That final loop really zaps them, but he kept running.”

Third after another spirited round was Nicholas Lucey on Proud Courage: “This is my best placing yet,” said Nick. “To come in the top three in the open championship is a big thing. It always seems to go best when I’m really going for the time.”

Owner-riders rule Corinthian Cup

The TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup — a true restricted class in which real amateur riders have a chance to shine in front of Gatcombe’s crowds — was dominated by owner riders. All three of them Pony Club members, appropriately enough given the Club’s 90th birthday celebrations held at Gatcombe this weekend.

Winner Saskia Davies came sixth in this class last year on her 14-year-old Singing Usk. She capitalised on careful course walking to plan the best lines by flying round nine seconds inside the time. Meanwhile the two riders lying in front of her both picked up refusals at the water.

“I try to do as little as possible competition wise to keep him fresh, and he’s always so consistent,” said Saskia, a keen member of the Ledbury Hunt branch of the Pony Club. She has three horses and works part-time for an events company.

Anna Stillwell rose five places to finish runner-up on her own six-year-old Rhode Island 19, despite a heart-in-mouth giant leap out of the final water — “That was just him being green and six.” Anna is a working pupil with Vicky Tuffs, and this is only her first season of novice eventing.

Third was 16-year-old Sophie Byford on her mother Karen’s Handsome, whom she’s produced from a four-year-old herself. They’ve had a light season of preparation for this class while Sophie studied for her GCSEs.

“He’s been by no means easy, but they’ve grown together,” said Karen.

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Appropriately, given her racing pedigree and love of the thoroughbred, Tina Cook won the RoR/NTF championship, which curiously involves a final round of showjumping the day after cross-country. Having secured her victory over Jodie Amos and Highland Patriot, in customary fashion, Tina then regaled reporters with impressive knowledge of winner David Cricket’s pedigree.

“He’s got an incredibly famous, tough mother in [eminent steeplechaser] Lady Cricket and is by Shirocco, who’s very fashionable at the moment,” she explained.

After a brief racing career with Alan King he joined Tina and now belongs to a team of Tina’s most loyal long-term owners in Jane Lawson, Jim Chromiak, Bridget Biddlecombe and Sarah Pelham. Sarah also owned Tina’s most famous ex-racehorse, Miners Frolic, and still has him retired at home aged 22.

“I’ve never had a more laid back ex-racehorse and he absolutely loves his new job,” added Tina. “He’s only seven, and I hope he’s done enough to go to Le Lion.”

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in next week’s H&H (dated 8 August).

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History repeated itself at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe today (Saturday, 3 August), with last year’s winners of the novice and intermediate championships retaining them a year later, on different rides.

Francis Whittington won his third Dodson & Horrell British novice championship title in four years on Sarah Arrowsmith’s beautiful dark brown Brother Bertie. The 11-year-old gelding was formerly his owner’s own eventer, and has competed here with her previously in the Corinthian Cup. He came to Francis this season owing to the amount of travel Sarah was doing for work.

One of only two inside the time, he made it comfortably, and was able to throttle back over the last two fences.

“He gallops like nothing else,” agreed Francis, “and this class was really the goal for this year.”

Second and third went to mares. Susan Eggleton’s 17hh seven-year-old mare Grafennacht, by Grafenstolz, with William Fox-Pitt, was pipped into the runner-up spot by just three seconds.

“Not quite fast enough!” rued William. “She’s very precocious and consistent and this was quite a soft target for her.”

Vittoria Panizzon was third on Mandy Morrison’s pretty eight-year-old Dutch-bred Gebaliaretto, on form having won three of her previous four outings.

“She was my 50th birthday present,” said Mandy of the horse they’ve had three years. Recently upgraded to intermediate, she will now aim for three-stars.

Louise Harwood took a nasty fall from Brechfa Baruch when he also left a leg at the coffin at 18, falling on landing. She was taken to hospital where she was found to have broken her arm.

McEwen takes intermediate title

The Dodson & Horrell intermediate championship went, as last year, to Tom McEwen who lead from beginning to end on Barabara Cooper’s Dreamaway II.

“He’s a lovely horse but this was a huge step up for him,” said Tom.

The runner-up was Harry Meade on Red Kite, a Wesphalian he bought as a four-year-old and who is now owned by Alexandra Robinson and Nigella Hall.

“He’s absolutely not bred for the hills and yet he’s the best galloper,” said Harry. “He can also be a monkey, but he’s incredibly brave.”

Third was Tom Rowland on Naomi Watkins’s Very Good Tempo, a ride he took on only last last year.

Tom got to know his owners as he teaches sometimes at their riding school. Though feeling the victim of third-itis — this was their fourth such placing on the trot — Tom is hugely excited by him: “He’s a really good horse, and not at peak fitness yet, but there’s so much more to come.”

This was the first time Tom really pushed him across country, and apart from a hesitation over the log into the first water, he answered every question with confidence.

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Tomorrow sees the conclusion of further championships at the Festival, including the RoR/ NTF retrained racehorse Eevent championship, the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, and the showpiece class, the Magic Millions British open, for which there have only been 25 entries.

Check back tomorrow for a further update from the Festival. Full report in next week’s Horse & Hound (dated 8 August).

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Opinion

The Festival of Eventing got off to a great start under new management and a new title sponsor. What luck that Magic Millions, Gatcombe’s first Australian title sponsor, had a home-grown champion in Chris Burton, not to mention weather that must have felt like home from home.

The new layout, with the sponsors getting the plum site above the arena, and the owners and press being beside the collecting ring, makes good sense, although I had to tease Peter Phillips about his re-siting of the Saturday night rider party from beside the arena to a marquee in the lorry park. He has assured me that it will return to its original, more popular position!

A smaller overall entry did not detract from some great competitions. However good you make the going — and it was mostly excellent, especially up in the dressage and warm-up areas, which were the best they’ve ever been — the continued heatwave has affected the running of horses, especially if they are aimed at the World Equestrian Games (WEG). Mark Phillips had again produced an interesting course but, for me, having competed at Gatcombe since the 1980s (and, admittedly, with the benefit of being on my feet this time), it’s not what it was. It used to be such a huge challenge, especially that big drop to a bounce of hedges on the far side of the valley, which felt like bungee jumping.

There were quite a few turns, a useful way to achieve distance without incorporating more hills, although turning back is tiring for horses especially in the heat. Some horses found the “roundabout” of fences disheartening, but most are now so well trained that they’re used to turning away from home.

Even if it isn’t quite the rider-frightener of the old days, the British open is still a pressurised competition in which the most surprising of combinations can come unstuck. Both Happy Times (Sam Griffiths) and Cillnabradden Evo (Oliver Townend) were retired after stops and it must have been so frustrating for Tom McEwen to miss a fence when going beautifully on Strike Smartly.

There were some tired horses, but Chris Burton’s winning partner, Polystar I, whom he rode so beautifully and economically, has quite a lot of thoroughbred blood, which helped him to finish so well.

Do selectors really have a choice?

Type of horse is a hot topic as selectors await detail on the length of the WEG cross-country this week, after news it might have to be shortened due to issues with the ground preparation on one section. Mark Phillips, the designer, tells me that it will be the full 10 minutes and that he expects the new turf placed on the hill section, which comes at eight minutes, to be well established by the time of the championships.

Although my preferred course is naturally the traditional long, galloping track that we saw at Kentucky in 2010, the length shouldn’t really make any difference to selection. Surely the point is to take the best horses you’ve got? Even if the track was under eight minutes, it would still be intense and that requires a horse with plenty of thoroughbred blood.

Also, do many nations have, in reality, such huge choices? Only in the last week have we seen three very sad losses to squads due to horse injury — for Britain, Nicola Wilson’s European Championship star Bulana, plus, for the Kiwis, Clarke Johnstone’s lovely horse Balmoral Sensation and, for Australia, Sammi Birch’s super Hunter Valley.

If anyone can build a true championship course, it’s Mark, but the FEI’s apparent desire to reduce the test at top level is not good news overall. Eventing needs some stronger voices.

Ref Horse & Hound; 9 August 2018

With two of eventing’s best speed demons on his tail in the British Open — and new Australian sponsors Magic Millions egging him on — Christopher Burton clinched his second British Open title with the fastest round of the day at the Festival of British Eventing on Trisha Rickards’ Polystar I.

Once Oliver Townend marred his impressive dressage mark of 19pen on ERM specialist Cillnabradden Evo with two showjumps down, Burton snuck ahead with a jumping clear and had no intentions of giving way. Riding economical lines across country with his foot to the floor he finished easily ahead, 9 seconds quicker than the next fastest combination.

“I just love that horse — he is a delight to ride,” said Christopher. “I find you ride better and faster when you run in reverse order like this.”

Izzy Taylor’s £12,000 second place on her Blenheim ERM winner Be Touchable was some compensation for two previously sticky rides in the same class. She was then taken away to be dope tested before her final ride.

“This weekend Burto just beat me comprehensively, but when I look back on it later, Be Touchable will be one of my horses of a lifetime,” she said. “He’s so consistent.”

In third place was Ludwig Svennerstal with Stinger, his Wiesbarden three-star winner and reserve ride for WEG. They rose from 15th after dressage with a double clear and quick time.

“It’s hard to ride fast here over a tough track and terrain, but they’ve done what they could with the ground — you have to be realistic this summer.”

Emily King on the in-form Dargun — her under 25 winner at Bramham — also leapfrogged up the leader board, from 13th after dressage to finish fourth in her first British Open.

ROR/NTF Retrained Racehorse Event Championship

Andrew Downes clinched this valuable class by just 0.1pen on perhaps the most prolific ex-racehorse currently on the circuit, the aptly named Gold Nugget, owned by Jane Moss.

“He’s a funny horse — he shows no interest in racing another horse, but he’s very quick cross-country,” said Andrew, who retrained him straight out of training. Crowned last year’s RoR Elite Eventing Champion, he is now advanced and aiming for Blair.

Unusually, this class involves a second round of showjumping the day after the first showjumping and cross-country rounds.

Fractionally behind him was Dream Big, who started eventing with New Zealand’s Lizzie Green before joining Tom McEwen’s yard when she moved back home. Her owner, Magda Gut, first came across the mare while working for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who had her in training.

“She’s doing intermediates this year and is improving every time out with Tom,” said Magda.

“At one stars she’s been caught out by water but she was very good here,” said Tom.

TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup

In the third running of the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, a novice championship for riders who have not competed at intermediate for at least five years, East Sussex’s Lucy Wheeler took the spoils on Graham Jack’s Belgian warmblood King Creole VD N Ranch.

Lucy works in a hunting and racing yard and events in the summer months. She has ridden this horse since a youngster.

“He’s quite arrogant — you cannot argue with him — he’s just had to grow up and this season he hasn’t been out of the top six,” she explained.

Runner up was showjumper Morgan Kent, who is in her first season eventing, with Felda, who beat former Mitsubishi Cup finalist Harriet Ford and According To Archie on the same score by dint of her time being closest to the optimum.

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The advanced class was taken by Ireland’s Elizabeth Power on her own and Kate Horgan’s Soladoun, albeit after nine others withdrew before cross-country including the two riders lying first and second.

“He got a knock and missed the whole spring,” said Elizabeth. “He really needs all the corners and arrowheads today before Burghley.”

Second was local rider Becky Wolven on DHI Babette K, who contested the intermediate championship here last year.

“She’s small but nippy and has such a long stride — she’s the sweetest horse.”

Full report from the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 9 August

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Eventing’s biggest names were out in force at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing as the first champions were crowned today in the novice and intermediate finals.

Gatcombe local Tom McEwen turned in textbook cross-country rounds on all his five rides today, with three in the top 10 in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship and his first ever festival title in the Smith and Williamson Intermediate Championship on Vicky Bates and David Myers’ CHF Cooliser.

His day had started less auspiciously, with his first and second places overnight after dressage in the novice championship slipping away through ‘four fault-itis’. But Cooliser’s win soon eclipsed all that, her third successive victory on the trot.

“She got a bit tired up the final hill, but she was super — as last year, she’s coming into her own in the second half of the season,” said Tom.

One place behind them, by virtue of turning in the fastest round of the class, was Alexander Bragg with former William Fox-Pitt ride Shannondale Percy owned by Sarah Hughes.

“I only got him at the end of February but we’ve really clicked now,” said Alexander. “A double clear here is really special.”

Australia’s Sam Griffiths missed Gatcombe last year after a serious neck injury earlier in the year, but was third in this class with another mare, Gurtera Cher, who used to be competed by Sam’s former head girl. Like his other top mare Paulank Brockagh, she is by Touchdown.

“It didn’t really go my way today, we hit a few holding strides,” said Sam, “but she’s a really fast horse and is really coming good this year.”

Pippa Funnell, who had lead going into the final phase, finished sixth with Maybach, after a stylish clear with a few too many time faults.

Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship

Wreathed in smiles about his Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship win was Francis Whittington, on board the handsome DHI Purple Rain, owned by Beryl Chapman, Belinda and Amy Drummond and Ro Audley.

“This has been our objective all year,” said Francis of the normally erratic show jumper. “He’s a big horse and it’s taken time for his brain to grow into his body. He’s very sensitive and if he gets crowded in the showjumping warm-up he can get very tense.”

He voiced the view of many riders that Mark Phillips’s cross country involved “one too many twists and turns. The ground is fast but it really takes it out of them. I don’t really think the time is doable.”

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Cornwall’s Katie Hancock came closest, just one second over to catapult her up 19 places to finish second behind Francis on her own Coddstown Pet. The pair also finished second last year here in the Corinthian Cup.

Katie hunts the mare with the Four Burrow — her father is senior master — and fits her eventing in around a young daughter and working three days a week for a recruitment firm.

“I rode a hard as I could from beginning to end — I knew from last year you have to gallop hard as you can down the hills as well as up,” said Katie.

Third was David Doel on the eight-year-old Galileo III.

Tomorrow sees the conclusion of the Topspec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup for amateur riders, the RoR/NTF Retrained Racehorse Event Championship, the BE Trophy for advanced horses and of course the Magic Millions British Open.

Full report from the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing will be published in Horse & Hound on Thursday 9 August

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

When you’re looking for someone to do a dressage demonstration at one of the top dates in the British Eventing calendar, and you’ve got Valegro’s boots to fill, who do you go for?

For the organisers of the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe this weekend, it was an obvious choice.

Newly-registered British Dressage super-mule Wallace The Great will continue his quest for long-eared world domination by strutting his stuff in front of thousands of people.

Rider Christie Mclean and Wallace were invited by festival organisers to give the demonstration – which last year featured retired world-beater Valegro with Charlotte Dujardin – on Saturday and Sunday, 4 and 5 August.

“When I was invited, they told me that last year it was Valegro and this year it’s Wallace; I can’t believe it!” Christie told H&H.

“We’ll be part of the dressage demo; there will be another horse in the arena and I think we’ll just be asked to walk, trot and canter – then they want us to do a meet and greet afterwards so people can get selfies with Wallace. It’s the ears, you can’t resist them!”

Christie said she has been told to expect a crowd of thousands.

“I’ve never ridden him on grass, so I’ll be making some extra effort to school him on grass beforehand, and make sure I’ve got full control, and that he’s not going to disappear with me or put his head down to eat!” she added.

Christie is still almost unable to believe Wallace’s rise to fame, from being banned from British Dressage (BD) competition in June, to national and global media superstar, to winning his first BD class last month.

“I don’t know when or where or if it’s all going to end,” she said, “But I’m really excited. He’s so much fun to ride.

“I was jumping about when I found out, saying ‘Oh my god, I’m going to Gatcombe’; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and even my parents are coming from Weymouth to watch because they know they’ll never see this again.”

Christie added that the demo will prove dressage is accessible.

“It’s good that we’re at the bottom level,” she said. “My lower leg doesn’t stay in one place and I haven’t got the best core, but people will be able to see that it’s not all prancy ponies, British Dressage is also for everyday people.

“And alongside the novelty of Wallace, I hope it will show that you don’t have to have the physique of a grand prix combination; mums and people who work in offices and don’t have access to the gym can do it too.”

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The rider had hoped to take part in team quest affiliated competition with Wallace The Great

Event director Peter Phillips said: “We are delighted that Wallace The Great and Christie will be taking part in the dressage display, here at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing this weekend.

“We are so impressed with their achievements this year and we are very much looking forward to watching Wallace show off his moves in the main arena.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Whoever was in charge of putting together the schedule for this year's Festival of British Eventing had a tough gig. The promise of top class eventing might have pulled in the punters, but once they'd arrived at Gatcombe Park, it was a whirlwind of Pony Club showjumping, the Shetland Grand National and dog agility. We're tired just thinking about the weekend...

Don't miss the full report from The Festival of British Eventing in this week's issue of Horse & Hound magazine (10 August 2017)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Gemma Tattersall is the new British Open champion – and extended her lead at the top of the Event Rider Masters series leaderboard – after winning the CIC3* at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe aboard Arctic Soul.

It came down to cross-country speed, and the 14-year-old ex-racehorse Arctic Soul has to be one of the fastest event horses in the world. He raced round Gatcombe’s tight contours for just 1.2 time-faults and leapt from 11th after showjumping – where he knocked down two fences – to take the prestigious title and the £16,000 Event Rider Masters winner’s cheque.

“That horse is simply mental!” said Gemma after cross-country. “He’s so fast and brave. I dared myself at every fence and he answered every question, as normal. He really deserves this win.”

Gemma, who won the first leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters series at Chatsworth, is now 13 points ahead of Sarah Cohen – fifth here on Treason – in the series. Sir Mark Todd, who took fourth at Gatcombe aboard Kiltubrid Rhapsody, is in third spot in the table.

Continued below…

First female Event Rider Masters winner crowned at Chatsworth

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Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal achieved his best Gatcombe result with second on Balham Mist. The pair had risen from 17th after dressage to seventh with one of just three showjumping clear rounds, and a fast cross-country round for 6.8 time-faults meant they rose to the runners-up spot.

“He’s never been placed in a three-star before, so to be second here is super,” said Ludwig. “I felt as though I was riding as quickly as I could [across country], but he was very honest and rideable.”

This year’s British sensation Alexander Bragg took third on Zagreb, who tired a little towards the end of Mark Phillips’ track.

Brazilian duo Marcio Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer, leaders going into the final cross-country phase, collected 21.6 time-faults and finished seventh.

Both Bill Levett (Shannondale Titan) and Oliver Townend (Note Worthy), fourth and fifth after showjumping, fell across country.

Corinthian Cup winner

Quorn hunt stud groom Lorna Collins won the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, the amateur novice class.

She led from start to finish on the six-year-old Blackrock Ricardo and, despite 6.8 cross-country time-faults, just held off Katie Hancock and Coddstown Pet.

“He was super across country – he was just a bit strong early on and then went a little green at the water fences, so we lost a bit of time,” said Lorna, who was supported by her husband, Quorn huntsman Peter Collins, all weekend.

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 10 August.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Oliver Townend is in the lead in the Event Rider Masters’ class at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, and is on course to repeat his 2016 victory.

Riding Andrew Cawthray’s Note Worthy, Oliver scored 38.7 to take pole position in the CIC3*.

Bill Levett is second on 39.2 with Shannondale Titan, and Brazilian rider Marcio Jorge is third on Lissy Mac Wayer with a mark of 40.

“He did a clear round in his test, but I still think there’s more to come from him,” said Oliver, who won the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championships on the horse in 2015.

Intermediate championships

Oliver scored a fourth victory in the intermediate championships today with Angela Hislop’s Khoi Traveller, an American ex-racehorse.

The pair were only 29th after dressage with a score of 33.3, but the jumping phases were particularly influential today and, despite a pole down in the showjumping, they rose 11 places to start the cross-country in 18th place.

The time round Mark Phillips’ cross-country track is always tight, and Oliver was the fastest of the class with just 4.4 time-faults to secure the victory.

“Speed’s a big thing at Gatcombe and he’s got plenty of that,” Oliver observed. “It didn’t feel as though we were going ridiculously quick and he stayed very well – I was impressed with him in all three phases today.”

Matt Heath was second on Hazel Livesey’s Sportsfield Lord Livesey, having led going into cross-country.

“I’m over the moon with him – he just got tired on very soft ground,” said Matt.

Tom McEwen took third on the mare Royal Roxey.

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Novice championships

Ben Hobday won his first Gatcombe title – the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championships – with his own Shadow Man II, having led from start to finish.

“He’s perfect – everything you could want,” said a delighted Ben. “He’s athletic, intelligent and kind; I do very little on him because everything’s easy.”

William Fox-Pitt took second place with Catherine Witt’s The Graduate, while Hayden Hankey made a welcome return to the eventing ranks with third place on You’ve Got The Lux. Hayden was the fastest of the class across the country with just 3.6 time-faults.

“I didn’t have a single sticky jump – all I have to do on her is see a forward stride,” said Hayden.

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Dressage superstar Valegro is to appear at the Festival of British Eventing next month (4-6 August) – in a solo parade.

The multiple Olympic medallist, who holds the world record scores for all three grand prix tests, will appear in Gatcombe Park’s main arena on the Sunday, 6 August, from 1.30-2pm.

“The world’s greatest ever dressage horse will be making a ‘star’ appearance at the Festival of British Eventing,” said a spokesman for the event.

“Valegro, who has risen to a celebrity status far beyond any other horse in recent history, will be parading in hand to give his fans an opportunity to soak up his electrifying presence.

“He officially retired in an emotional send-off at Olympia in December 2016 and since then has been making special appearances at events around the country – which he loves!”

Visitors to Gatcombe on 6 August will be able to meet Valegro in his stable, by the main arena.

“So don’t miss out on the perfect opportunity to pat the dressage superstar and even pose for a selfie with him,” the spokesman added.

The culmination of the three-day festival also features the CIC3* British Open Championship and the fifth leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters series.

Among the entries received for the three-star are Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul, Izzy Taylor on Perfect Stranger, Mark Todd on NZB Campino, Chris Burton on TS Jamaimo, Ben Hobday on Ciletto H and Emily King on Dargun.

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The record-breaking dressage star is to turn his

‘It’s not acceptable’: four-star rider chased by dog at Gatcombe

Olivia Wilmot was riding in the advanced section

Valegro turns his hoof to jumping… and this time it’s for real

‘I told Charlotte he could jump and she

The event also features the British novice, intermediate and amateur championships, a Burghley young event horse series competition, Pony Club showjumping and arena eventing.

On the Sunday, visitors will also be able to enjoy the Shetland Pony Grand National, mounted games, dressage to music and displays by the Riding for the Disabled Association and Atkinsons Action Horses.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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A four-star event rider has expressed her frustration after being chased by a dog on the cross-country at Gatcombe (see video, above, by Harveywetdog).

Olivia Wilmot was riding Zebedee De Foja in the advanced section at the Festival of British Eventing on Friday (5 August) when the incident occurred.

The pair had reached the end of a galloping stretch and were approaching fence 17 when a dog ran under the string.

The loose animal ran up to Zebedee, biting his tail.

Olivia managed to pull up her horse and the dog was eventually caught.

“Something didn’t feel quite right,” Olivia told H&H.

“As I was approaching the fence I could hear people shouting and saw this dog trying to jump up at me — he still had his lead attached.”

After the dog was caught, Olivia was able to complete her round and went on to finish seventh.

“Luckily my horse was very well behaved, he didn’t kick out or do anything,” she said.

“But he lost his concentration and I had to jump the long route of the next fences.

“It’s not acceptable at that level, as a rider it’s something you shouldn’t have to deal with.

“There are enough things for riders to focus on eventing, without having loose dogs to deal with as well.”

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Tim Henson, Festival of British Eventing event director, reminded visitors, officials and competitors that dogs should be kept securely on a lead at all times.

“We state this on every admission ticket, on various signs located around the event and our commentators reinforce this advice during the day,” he said.

“It is most unfortunate that on this occasion a dog became loose on the cross country course.

“We immediately asked our commentators to emphasise the message more strongly as it is extremely important to us that horse and rider combinations are safe.”

A BE spokesman added: “It is the responsibility of the owner to keep their dog on a lead and under control at all times and in addition some events have implemented additional policies, for example fining owners should dogs be found off a lead.”

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The Festival of British Eventing (5-7 August), held virtually in the back garden of the Princess Royal at Gatcombe, was full of action, surprises and for some, disappointment.

Oliver Townend claimed his first British Open Championship title aboard Cillnabradden Evo. Spectators held their breaths as the tiring horse approached the final cross-country fence where he fell with Andrew Nicholson last year, but Oliver nursed the 10-year-old home.

Oliver also won the fourth leg of the Event Rider Masters competition which was held in conjunction with the British Open, taking home a cheque for a healthy £16,000 as a result.

The intermediate championship was won by Alexander Whewall riding Chakris Star, who has only finished outside the top 10 once this season.

Francis Whittington won the novice championship aboard Evento by the narrowest of margins thanks to a speedy clear across country.

The Corinthian Cup, a national restricted novice championship was won by crane hire manager Andrea Clark and Murphy’s Bonanza.

But the weekend wasn’t just about eventing; there was plenty of other exciting action unfolding bathed in glorious sunshine. Here’s some thrills and spills you can’t afford to miss…

Don’t miss the full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Friday 12 March. H&H is on sale Friday next week to allow for a full report on the Olympic eventing to be included.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Great Britain’s Oliver Townend was crowned the British Open champion at the Festival of British Eventing, presented by BETA, at Gatcombe this afternoon (7 August).

Oliver partnered Cillnabradden Evo (above), the horse Andrew Nicholson was riding when he suffered his serious fall here last year, and triumphed by 6.3 penalties.

The duo lay second after dressage and jumped a double clear, but Cillnabradden Evo tired towards the end of the undulating cross-country track and picked up 10.4 time faults.

“Coming home I thought the win had gone; I was just trying to look after him,” said Oliver, who was crowned British National champion here in 2013, when he rode Armada to second place behind New Zealand’s Jock Paget and Clifton Lush.

“He [Cillnabradden Evo] has got a bit of a chequered cross-country history, but he’s a great jumper and I enjoy riding him. It feels great to win.”

France’s Thomas Carlile piloted Upsilon into the runner-up spot.

“He’s only an eight-year-old and I thought that with all the top riders being in Brazil we might be able to pull a good result off here,” said Thomas, who was riding at Gatcombe for the first time.

This was also the first time he had contested the Event Rider Masters (ERM) CIC3* series, which ran in conjunction with the British Open.

“I think the series is fantastic. It’s pushing the sport towards being a professional discipline and persuading owners to invest in the sport,” added Thomas.

Ireland’s Elizabeth Power was surprised to find herself in third on Soladoun, having gone into the final cross-country phase lying 16^th.

However, Soladoun pulled off the quickest clear around Mark Phillips’ 25-fence track for 1.2 time faults. They survived a hairy moment when Soladoun struggled to stay on his feet in the first water at 12.

“That’s where those three seconds went — for a moment I thought I was going in the water too,” said Elizabeth.

“I really didn’t think I’d [finish] on the podium. I brought this horse to Gatcombe because he’s a speed horse and that’s what you need here. I used his speed today.”

Australian Paul Tapner now leads the ERM series on 87 points after finishing fourth today aboard Yogi Bear VIII.

“I bought a new house yesterday, so I need the money,” joked Paul, who confirmed that he has rides for both the fifth leg of the series at Blair Castle later this month and the finale at Blenheim in September.

The reverse-order cross-country phase unfolded with its usual excitement, but there was disappointment for several riders who set out of the startbox with a good placing in their sights.

Sara Squires, lying fourth after two phases on Sula Blue, was eliminated for three refusals, while Izzy Taylor and Briarlands Matilda, lying second, dropped to 13^th following a refusal at a triple brush (fence 20b).

Matthew Heath, handily placed in fifth, picked up 20 penalties when One Of A Kind II glanced off a corner at 17c.

Dressage leader Andrew Hoy did not go across country after Cheeky Calimbo crashed out of the reckoning with five showjumps down this morning.

Clark’s winning Bonanza

Andrea Clark and Murphys Bonanza (above) were crowned the TopSpec Corinthian Cup novice restricted champions.

Andrea, from Nottinghamshire, is a full time crane hire manager and she finished on her first-phase mark of 32.1.

“I’m in shock,” smiled the 44-year-old. “We’ve come here with some good results in the bag, so I was hoping for a double clear and the top 10. Winning is incredible.”

Chemistry student Yvie Jeanne finished second aboard Oh Star II Z, ahead of Emma Corner and Iamwotiam.

For the full results click here.

Don’t miss the full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Friday 12 March. H&H is on sale Friday next week to allow for a full report on the Olympic eventing to be included.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A new face came to the fore at the Festival of British Eventing, presented by BETA, at Gatcombe Park this afternoon (6 August).

Alexander Whewall, who runs a yard of 13 horses near Bristol, piloted Lisa Coward’s Chakiris Star (above) to victory in the intermediate championship.

“I can’t believe it,” smiled Alexander. “This is my first big win — my family and friends are crying in the lorry park.”

Alex and the 10-year-old Chakiris Star lay equal fourth after the dressage and recorded a quick double clear for eight cross-country time-faults. This was good enough to pip Oliver Townend and Master Trump by 0.9 of a penalty.

“This course suits my horse because he’s little, nippy and not strong,” added Alexander, 28, who trains with Lizzel Winter. “When I heard all the time penalties that riders were getting, I knew if I could keep him moving he could do it. I tried not to take too many pulls.”

Gatcombe’s undulating terrain makes it notoriously difficult to achieve the optimum time, and Master Trump pulled off the quickest clear for 3.6 time-faults.

Oliver was also the fastest rider to navigate the advanced track, a class he won on Dunbeau and finished second aboard Samuel Thomas II. He also piloted Dromgurrihy Blue into third.

Two-phase intermediate leaders Caroline Harris and Billy Bumble finished fourth after picking up 18 time-faults, while Emily King and Dargun slipped one place to third with 14.8 to add.

Louisa Lockwood, lying third, retired Shannondale Quest after two run-outs across country.

Whittington’s a winner

Francis Whittington claimed the novice championship riding Sarah Arrowsmith’s seven-year-old Evento.

“I was disappointed when I saw that I’d got [cross-country] time-faults — I thought maybe I’m getting old! — but then I saw that we were the fastest,” said Francis, who climbed to the top of the leaderboard from fifth after dressage despite Evento tipping one showjump and accruing two cross-country time penalties.

“He naturally really gallops and his stride is amazing,” added Francis of the horse he started campaigning last season. “There were places [on the course] where I could have let him go on and he would have put in one less stride, saving a second. But he’s seven years old and he doesn’t need to be pushed like that yet.”

Selina Milnes finished second on Iron IV, ahead of France’s Arthur Duffort riding Oaklands First Time.

Sharon Hunt and Veyga led after dressage, but wound up 12^th with 11.6 cross-country time penalties to add.

A Cheeky lead

The British Open championship, incorporating the fourth leg of the Event Rider Masters CIC3* series, kicked off today and Andrew Hoy (Cheeky Calimbo) are the overnight leaders.

It’s been a good day for Oliver Townend, who lies second with Cillnabradden Evo, while Izzy Taylor (Briarlands Matilda) is in third.

This class showjumps at 11.45am tomorrow, ahead of the reverse-order cross-country phase at 2pm. Watch live here.

The Corinthian Cup, a restricted novice championship for amateur riders, also takes place tomorrow. Rebecca Woolley currently holds the lead on Zeno Das Gluck.

For results click here.

Don’t miss the full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Friday 12 March. H&H is published on Friday next week to allow us to include the Olympic eventing report.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now