Many of the world's leading showjumpers - including a London 2012 gold medallist, two of America’s stars and the reigning Bolesworth Grand Prix champion - will converge on Cheshire next month for the Ashford Farm CSI**** Bolesworth International.

 

Organisers have revealed a stellar cast for the four-day show in the grounds of Bolesworth Castle from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21.

 

Leading a star-studded British contingent will be Olympic gold medal-winning team rider Nick Skelton, four members of showjumping's legendary Whitaker family - John, Michael, Robert and last year's Bolesworth Redrow Grand Prix winner William - their Nations Cup colleagues Spencer Roe, Guy Williams and Holly Gillott, plus hot prospects Jessica Mendoza and Yazmin Pinchen.

 

 A strong Irish representation includes London 2012 individual bronze medallist Cian O'Connor, recently-crowned Royal Windsor grand prix champion Dermot Lennon, last year's Hickstead Derby winner Trevor Breen and global stars Billy Twomey and Cameron Hanley.

 

Considerable anticipation, meanwhile, surrounds a mouthwatering overseas challenge headed by Australia's former Global Champions Tour series winner Edwina Tops-Alexander, as well as showjumping stars of America, Lauren Hough and Laura Kraut.

 

Elsewhere, young Belgian rider Jos Verlooy, Dutch ace Jos Lansink, Germany's prolific winner Philipp Weishaupt, Swedish challenger Angelie von Essen and Colombia's Daniel Blumen all add to an intriguing, high-class mix .

 

With more than £250,000 in prize money on offer, visitors to Bolesworth can expect to witness world-class showjumping at the sport's elite level, while a number of two-star classes also feature on an exciting Bolesworth schedule, together with national and amateur sections.

                

And top-class entries are not confined to the showjumping at Bolesworth, with Thursday's intermediate dressage to music competition - sponsored by Equestrian.com and offering a £7,500 total prize fund - attracting London 2012 British team gold medallist Laura Tomlinson and 2013 European team bronze medallist Michael Eilberg, among others.

 

And Friday's Express Eventing class - riders compete in a combined, quickfire dressage to music, cross-country and showjumping competition often described as equestrian's version of T20 cricket - will also showcase an international line-up including Lucy Jackson, locally based Chinese Olympic Event rider Alex Huatian and Victtoria Panizzon.

 

This year's Bolesworth International will run at four-star level for the first time. The event will include the usual Bolesworth standard of hospitality and extensive shopping facilities.

 

In addition to the main events, other highlights include a Gladiators Knock-out competition featuring stars like Hunter, Jet and Ace from the iconic ITV series, a Saturday night concert headlined by top British band Scouting for Girls, and an eagerly-awaited young horse auction under the Bolesworth floodlights.

 

Source: British Showjumping