Blair Castle Horse Trials 2007
The award-winning Blair Castle International Horse Trials is gearing up to host the European Eventing Championships for Young Riders from Thursday to Sunday 23/26 August, 2007. Already a hugely popular event with competitors and spectators, this year’s Blair Castle will offer two days of cross-country competition on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 August.
The CCI riders will complete their dressage on Thursday, cross-country on Friday, when a new start and finish loop has been introduced to their course, and showjump on Saturday. Those competing in the CCI two and three star classes and the EYREC will ride cross-country on Saturday and showjump in the main arena on Sunday. |
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The EYREC is for competitors aged between 18 and 21 and represents the cream of up and coming talent across Europe. Already entries in principle have been received from 13 European countries including Russia, Hungary and Denmark.
The Championships are without doubt an extraordinarily good indicator of future medal success – many of Britain’s current leading senior riders won medals at Young Rider Levels such as Pippa Funnell.
Britain has an enviable record in these Championships, having taken 22 team and 25 individual medals since the Championships began in 1981 . Britain’s Zara Phillips, current Senior European and World Individual Gold medallist, won individual Silver at the 2002 Young Rider Championships.
The 2006 team were incredibly successful, taking both team and individual Gold medals at Pardubice in the Czech Republic. In 2007, Britain will have an even stronger hand than usual – not only are they the defending champions competing on home turf, but the home nation is allowed to enter 12 riders instead of the usual six.
Looking forward to 2012, Blair Castle is one of only two events in Scotland which will host the London 2012 Roadshow. The display bus which travelled over 3400 miles round the UK last year, hits the road again this summer to raise awareness of not only the Olympic Games but of the benefits of sport in general. It is to be at the horse trials on Friday 24 August.
Celebrity Guest
Olympic curling champion, Rhona Martin is to attend the horse trials on Sunday to set the two-legged runners off on the Cross Country Challenge sponsored by Rugby Plus.
Competitors have a choice of three races, which make full use of the hilly terrain surrounding Blair Castle, 6km, 3.5km or a 2km fun run. Competitors are encouraged to run and raise money for a charity of their choice but if unsure of which charity to support the organisers hope they will consider running for the horse trials nominated charity for 2007 – the Riding for the Disabled Association.
Rhona will also be spending time on the Bruadar stand on Sunday where tastings of the unique Sloe Malt Whisky Liqueur will be free. Bruadar sponsors the Country Fair which will feature its usual range of outdoor sports such as off-road driving, falconry and gun dog training. A new addition this August will be the spectacular Jumpin’ Jake’s Farmer Ted Show, one of the UK’s leading quad bike stunt riders.
The popular Food Hall will offer a huge range of Scottish and locally produced fair, while the tented village packed with over 250 shops selling everything from clothing and jewellery to fine art and furniture makes the event a shoppers dream.
Showjumping
Showjumping enthusiasts have even more than usual reason to look forward to at this year’s event with the main arena on Saturday hosting a top score competition and the Scottish Regional Qualifier for the first BSJA National Area Team Championships to be held at Arena UK on 28 October.
Highland Ponies, hunters and working hunters including the finals of several nation-wide qualifiers all take place on Thursday with the NPS Scotland finals show on Friday, so whatever your taste in horses there will be something to suit!
All the information is available at www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk
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