Badminton Horse Trials cross-country to clash with The King’s coronation

Laura Collett riding London 52 at Badminton Horse Trials 2022. — LAURA COLLETT AND LONDON 52

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The King’s coronation will take place on the same day as Badminton Horse Trials’ cross-country next year.

This week Buckingham Palace announced that the coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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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.

The King’s coronation to clash with Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

Badminton final scores

Badminton Horse Trials runs 3 to 7 May next year and today (14 October) the event’s director Jane Tuckwell said the event is working on its planning to “fit around the coronation” – but until they know more details, they are not able to confirm Badminton’s arrangements for the weekend.

“As soon as our plans are in place, we will communicate the same to all,” she said.

In Jane’s director blog published on 9 October she gave an update on the 2023 event and said it had been a “busy summer, with plenty to reflect on and learn from the 2022 event” and the team was “planning for 2023 in earnest”.

“I have had assurance from Vodafone and O2 that their masts will be in situ next year. The wi-fi will return to the same standard of service – or better – than that provided in 2019,” she said.

“We will be unveiling various new ideas over the coming months, including changes to the cross-country course, which has received its autumn ground improvements, and we are working hard on plans to refine and enhance delivery of the livestream.”

She added that another “big project” has been the cleaning out of the Mount Pond, in the park.

“More than 700 bumper truckloads of debris was removed, which will ensure we have sufficient water for the 2023 course,” she said.

“The debris was transported across the park and ploughed back into an arable field, which will now be rich in nutrients, so we should see a bumper crop there next autumn.”

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How Laura Collett won Badminton: a pillar-to-post victory captured in pictures, plus ‘ride’ London 52 round the cross-country

London 52 – meet Laura Collett’s eventing superstar who had to learn to go across country