Somerford Park International 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: Friday 21 – Sunday 23 August 2015

Organisers: Simon and Debbie King

Contact: Debbie 01260 299888; debbie@somerfordpark.co.uk; www.somerfordpark.co.uk

Location: Cheshire

Entries open: 17

Ballot date: 31 July at 12 noon

Entries close: 11 August

Link to Somerford entries: www.britisheventing.com/somerford

How to get there

The event is sited off the A54, midway between Holmes Chapel and Congleton. Postcode CW12 4SW.

What the organisers say

Somerford Park International is a high-profile venue providing exceptional facilities for all.

All international classes’ dressage takes place on a surface, guaranteeing excellent footing from start to finish. National classes are held on a large, flat grass area.

Showjumping and warm-up take place on the Andrews Bowen arena, ensuring perfect going and building confidence for the cross-country.

David Evans designs with DERT/Somerford Park building. Courses are presented to give riders the experience of a championship competition, with the use of large timbers creating a bold inviting track and flowers supplied by Mary Kennerley. All take-offs and landings are man-made with extra sand; and are aera-vated or watered if required. The undulating terrain gives a true test of cross-country riding. There are changes to all courses for 2015 — for a preview see: http://youtu.be/kYwiyei-2j4

What the riders say

Dressage & showjumping — “The dressage is sited on good, flat ground away from the cross-country and showjumping.” “Lots of space to warm up for the dressage.” “The showjumping is on a large, all-weather surface, and is well built and up to height with plenty of questions and technical lines.” “There is plenty of warm-up space.”

Cross-country — “The ground is good and the track is varied. At the higher levels they had softened the lines from previous years a little at the combinations.” “The courses flowed well and provide a good, fittening run.” “The courses wouldn’t be a first-time run, but ride well.” “The two-star is a good test and the intermediate is strong. The newer water complex is very busy with lots of fences from other classes that can confuse the horses.”

Percentage of cross-country clears 2014

CIC2*: 79%

OI: 86%

OIU21: 100%

I: 70%

CIC*: 70%

ON: 78%

N: 83%

BE100 Open: 88%

BE100: 85%

Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two