World’s Top Eventers for Barbury Horse Trials

This year’s Barbury International Horse Trials is shaping up to be one of the best ever with a record entry of more than 700 horse and rider combinations.

Barbury is celebrating its fifth year on the eventing calendar and in that short space of time has already grown into one of the sport’s most pivotal events, voted the UK’s best Horse Trials in 2005 and 2006.

This year’s event starts in Marlborough on Thursday, and will be the focus for team selection for the some of the 10 nations entered ahead of the European Championships later this year in Fontainebleau, France.

The prestigious CIC*** has 120 of the sport’s most celebrated names entered at present – Zara Phillips, William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Andrew Nicholson (NZ) and this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton winning combination, Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis.

Nicholson has been on blistering form this year with his young string of horses including CCI*** wins at Saumur and Bramham. He brings two horses, Mr Cruise Control and his eighth placed Badminton partner, the Spanish-bred Armada. Fellow New Zealanders Joe Meyer, Dan Jocelyn and Neil Spratt are also names to watch.

A new addition last year was the CIC** class which was popular and this year is no different with a staggering 227 entries across two sections. One of the feature classes, The Retrained Racehorse Event Championship, sponsored by RoR and the National Trainers Federation (NTF), highlights Barbury’s long standing racing connection as it is for horses who have raced or were bred to race and with a first prize of £1500, this will be a hot competition. There are also a number of sections at Novice and Open Novice levels for the less experienced horses and riders to get a taste of the amazing Barbury venue and competition atmosphere.

“We are absolutely delighted with the huge numbers and quality of horses entered at Barbury,” said David Green, Barbury International Competition Director and Australian Team Gold medallist.

“We welcome back last year’s winner Lucinda Fredericks and riders from 10 nations making it a truly international event. Riders want to compete at Barbury because of the wonderful conditions and the great atmosphere. More people are staying at home in Britain this year, so we are expecting a large crowd – there’s action all day so bring a picnic, everyone is welcome, even the dog – its great day out.”

In April this year, St James’s Place Wealth Management announced the continuation of their support of Barbury and Green has also confirmed Mitsubishi Motors, Alan King (National Hunt Trainer based on the Barbury Estate), Knight Frank, Fullers, Masstock Arable and Belvoir Bed will sponsor this year.

“We are very conscious of the difficult economic times everyone faces, so it is particularly pleasing that our title sponsor – St James’s Place – and all our other sponsors have returned this year to support our event. Indeed bookings for the hospitality areas are up on 2008 and some have sold out,” Green said.

Barbury’s event site itself is unique and offers the best spectator viewing of any event across the country. From one position you can watch the action in the main arena and almost every one of fences on the Mark Phillips-designed cross-country courses.

Some 50 trade stands make up the retail village and it is not all for the equine enthusiast.