Catton Park Horse Trials: what riders need to know [H&H VIP]
Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics
Date: Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 June 2015
Organisers: Mr and Mrs R D Neilson
Contact: event and entries secretary Tissie Reason, 07721 551713; tissiereason@gmail.com
Location: Derbyshire
Entries open: 15 May
Ballot date: 29 May at 12 noon
Entries close: 10 June
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Link to Catton Park entries: www.britisheventing.com/cattonpark
How to get there
Situated between Lichfield and Burton-on-Trent. Postcode: DE12 8LN.
What the organisers say
Oakfield Cross-Country Training is generously continuing its sponsorship of the BE100 owner/rider section, with a £100 first prize.
The dressage is sited in a flat, quiet field on old turf. The showjumping arena and warm-up area are on flat old turf in front of Catton Hall. Paul Thompson is the showjumping course-designer.
The cross-country courses run over hilly, unspoilt parkland and through woods, utilising the natural features of the rolling landscape. The fences are a mix of permanent and portable and include water at all levels. The undulating terrain means that a fit horse is required and that the fences have to be ridden accurately.
Each year some of the jumps are renewed and others are refreshed to keep the courses interesting and challenging.
Every effort will be made to ensure that the going is as good as possible. The pulverised wood, which has been so successful over the past three years, will be used again, together with the aera-vator, where necessary.
All the courses are intended to be inviting and educational, to encourage first-timers at all levels.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “Plenty of space and good arenas. By the river though so flies can be bad here.” “The dressage is on the flat as is the warm-up and easy to get to.” “Good well-built jumping courses.” “The showjumping is always in the same place, usually up to height with good going.” “There is also a bit of an atmosphere here with quite a few tradestands.”
Cross-country — “Challenging hills here, but educational and flowing courses through a lovely park.” “Requires a fit horse and would suggest not first-time tracks.” “The course is across the road with a lovely view. It’s a good galloping course and normally time-faults are quite common, so a quick horse here normally helps you to creep up the leaderboard.”
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
OIU21: 65%
OI: 78%
I: 56%
NRF: 100%
ON: 81%
N: 77%
BE100 Open: 87%
BE100: 88%
5YO: 95%
Download part one of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part one
Buy Eventing magazine’s April issue for our full horse trials guide detailing every event from July to October 2015 or purchase a digital copy of the guide here.
