Somerley 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: Wednseday 1 – Thursday 2 April 2015
Organiser: Suzie Cotterill
Contact: 020 7731 2045; secretary for all enquiries Chris Carpenter, 01590 623371 / 07970 729897 (8am to 8pm only); jriverbank@aol.com; www.somerleyparkhorsetrials.co.uk
Location: Hampshire
Entries open: 25 February
Ballot date: 11 March at 12 noon
Entries close: 22 March
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Link to Somerley Park International entries: www.britisheventing.com/somerleyparkinternational
How to get there
M3 to the A31 past Ringwood, then take the B3081 towards Verwood, then the right-hand fork to Alderholt. The entrance for horseboxes is two miles on the right after a sharp right bend. Do not enter from A338 with horses as there is a weak bridge with a weight limit!
What the organisers say
Our main sponsor is Humberts.
There will be special memorial sections for Somerley’s late organiser Adele Schardt, with enhanced prize money (to be confirmed).
This is a compact event with no phase more than 5min from the lorry park, atmospheric main ring and water complex.
The dressage is in a large, flat field with plenty of room. The CIC2* will be held in a separate area in the main park.
The showjumping is on old turf in a very large arena. Fences and warm-up will be moved if the ground becomes cut up.
Eric Winter’s cross-country tracks run mainly over well-prepared parkland; the CIC2* and intermediate courses run in front of the house. The ground is well draining sand over gravel.
Permanent and portable fences provide a variety of educational questions. The tracks are up to height and bold, but straightforward too; suitable for first-timers.
The BE100 and novice suit young horses and the less experienced. The intermediate is a good galloping track with educational elements. The CIC2* is longer with more combinations and questions.
Percentage of cross-country clears 2014
Fixture cancelled in 2014
Download part one of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part one
Buy Eventing magazine’s March issue for our full horse trials guide detailing every event from March to June 2015 or purchase a digital copy of the guide here. The second half of the guide will be in our April issue (on sale 20 March) and online to buy digitally after publication
