Aston-le-Walls postponed due to waterlogging

Aston-le-Walls horse trials has become the latest casualty of the start of the eventing season. The organisers have abandoned all this weekend’s competition (1-2 March) at the Northamptonshire venue due to “prolonged wet weather and heavy overnight rain”.

However, the event has already been rescheduled for the end of next week (7-8 March). The primary reason for the abandonment is a “waterlogged lorry park”, and therefore access to the event, rather than the cross-country course itself.

“The course is looking good,” said organiser Nigel Taylor. “It’s more of a concern that all the cars and lorries would have to be towed out of the lorry park, which would lead to lots of mud on the road — which is dangerous. But with a few dry days and a bit of wind, it should dry out quickly.”

All entries will automatically be transferred to the rescheduled date. Competitors who are unable to compete next Friday or Saturday should inform the entries secretary by 5pm on Tuesday 4 March, to be refunded their full entry less the abandonment insurance fee.

British Eventing chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith said: “We would like to thank Nigel and Ann Taylor and the team at Aston-le-Walls for their support and flexibility with regard to rescheduling their event and giving members the additional opportunity to compete following the recent spate of abandonments.”

Moreton (1-2 March), Tweseldown (6-9 March) and Somerford Park (8-9 March) have already been called off.

Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on dogs of all shapes and sizes. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs, one a street dog from Gambia who was abandoned at three weeks old. Now, her constant companion, whether by her feet at her desk or walking cross-country courses, is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.