Blair Castle Horse Trials loss and eventing concerns under discussion

The cancellation of Blair Castle Horse Trials, pictured, has come under discussion at the British Eventing Scotland AGM. — Ros Canter and Izilot DHI at Blair Castle 2021.

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

The cancellation of Blair Castle was a major talking point at the British Eventing (BE) Scotland AGM on 20 March – as concerns continue for the sport in Scotland.

H&H reported this week that Blair Castle Horse Trials had announced that this year’s event will be the last. A Blair Castle statement said the land on which the event is held “is increasing its involvement in regenerative agriculture and in future the land will require to be managed all year round in a way that is in accordance with its environmental aims”.

“It’s a case of, let’s explore that if that opportunity comes up. Blair is a huge event, and to transpose it straight onto another event is a fantastic notion, but let’s see if that’s even possible by finding a venue in the first instance. There would be the requirement for quite a considerable amount of investment because there is so much infrastructure now at Blair, which one takes for granted,” he said.

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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

‘Nothing for riders to aspire to’: loss of Blair Castle and other eventing concerns come under discussion

Discussing Blair’s cancellation at the AGM, it was agreed that this was “not a BE problem” but an eventing problem.

Blair event director Alec Lochore said that land management and farming is changing UK-wide.

“Now that the farm subsidies are changing, and the way that farmers use the land, I think that is a challenge for everybody; farmers, landowners, and therefore the sport,” he said.

“I tried on a couple of occasions to make a claim for the sport to continue [at Blair] and it is with regret that there is a line in the sand.”

It was discussed whether a new Scottish venue could be found to “replicate the Blair experience”, and Alec said there is “not a yes or no answer”.

BE chief executive Rosie Williams agreed with Alec and said it is “a nigh-on impossible thing to transport something with 35 years of history and just put it somewhere else”.

Ms Williams said BE is “not shying away from the fact we need to do something”, and reiterated that there will be a full fixtures review, that will undergo public consultation, plus a governance and membership categorisation review.

The meeting concluded with a presentation to outgoing BE Scotland chairman John White. Recruitment will begin for his replacement.

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