New international classes have been added to the British eventing season, at Burnham Market Horse Trials (17-20 September), giving a “much-needed” boost to the 2020 calendar.
Following agreement by the British Eventing (BE) fixtures panel and approval from the FEI, a new event at the Norfolk venue will hold a CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses.
BE chief executive Jude Matthews said the additional classes were “excellent news”.
“It will give combinations a much-needed opportunity to gain important minimum eligibility requirements following the sad cancellation of this year’s Blenheim Palace Horse Trials,” she said.
“The classes will move back to Blenheim Palace in 2021, but BE – and I’m sure many competitors and owners – are very grateful to Alec Lochore and the team at Burnham Market for hosting them this year.”
It was announced in April that this year’s Blenheim had been cancelled owing to the coronavirus, with BE stating at the time it was not prudent to move forward with planning with the level of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and social distancing.
BE was given the green light on 19 June for the sport to return in England, with Aske (North Yorkshire), Tweseldown (Hants), and Barbury (Wilts) scheduled as the first events to run, on 10/11-12 July. The sport is to operate under a “new normal” with online scoring, print-at-home numbers, and limited numbers on site among the changes.
Further details on Burnham Market along with the fixtures calendar for September and October will be announced by BE in due course.
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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.
