Olympic eventing champion Blyth Tait makes course-designing debut
Olympic gold medal-winning event rider Blyth Tait is making his debut as a course-designer this year.
The Kiwi rider, who has ridden at four Olympics, will be taking on the BE90 and BE100 tracks at Burgham.
This is the first time Blyth has been involved in course designing.
“I have ridden at Burgham a number of times,” said Blyth, who won the CIC2* at Burgham in 2014 with Bear Necessity. “I’m a big fan of the event and am excited to be working with the team as a cross-country designer for the first time.”
Blyth joins the Northumberland event’s current designer David Evans.
“It’s a great thing when new designers come through from riding at the very top level, they bring an exciting new dimension and perspective to design.” he said.
The first of Burgham’s two international events takes place next month (25-27 March), with the second in July (28-31).
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Both events host classes from BE90 through to open intermediate, alongside CIC2* and CIC3* classes.
This year’s event joins the tri-star grand slam series, which offers a £50,000 prize for any rider who can win any three CIC3*s at Burnham Market, Belton, Houghton, Hopetoun or Burgham.
“This is a progressive concept and a move towards the modernisation of our sport,” said Burgham director Martyn Johnson. “It provides a well-deserved acknowledgement of the hard work and investment made by our professional riders and owners.”
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- Champion event rider Blyth Tait ‘downgraded’ by new rules
- Walk the 2015 Burghley cross-country course with Blyth Tait
British Showjumping will once again be running classes at the July event, including a speed class hosted in the main international arena and a new 1.05m amateur championship.
Plans are also in place to introduce a wider variety of trade stands and rural craft tent.
For more information visit: www.burghamhorsetrials.co.uk
Ref: H&H 25/02/16
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.