The clock is counting down to this year’s Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park (2-4 August 2013), which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

 

Following Great Britain’s success in the London 2012 Olympic Games and the epic Rolex Grand Slam battle at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, equestrian sport is on a high – and there is no better place to see the world’s top riders in action than at Gatcombe Park, home to HRH The Princess Royal and her family.

 

Last year’s Festival may have fallen victim to the prolonged wet summer, but planning is already well underway for this year’s event, which is presented by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA). British Eventing (BE), together with the Festival organisers, have taken the decision to allow riders who were due to compete in last year’s Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship, the Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship and the British Eventing Open Championship, to rollover their entry to 2013. This means that competition for this year’s championship titles is likely to be particularly hot.

 

The feature class is the British Eventing Open Championship, which this year will be run as a CIC***. This much-coveted international competition always provides a hard-fought battle. New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson took the top two spots in 2011 with Nereo and Avebury, and he has been on scorching form so far this year with wins at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) and at Chatsworth International Horse Trials. Other past winners of the title likely to be among the starters are British team stalwarts Mary King, William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell, plus the 2011 Badminton winner Mark Todd (NZL).

 

Also taking place over the weekend is the Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship as well as the Novice Championship, where equine stars of the future get their chance to make an early mark.

 

In addition to the top-class eventing, spectators can enjoy plenty of exciting arena attractions and a great shopping village. Taking centre stage on Sunday will be National Hunt legend Kauto Star, who will be taking part in a retraining of racehorses dressage demonstration with Laura Collett.

 

Other highlights will be a Dressage to Music display, Scurry Driving and the ever popular Shetland Pony Grand National all of which will take place in the main arena on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Young eventing stars of the future will be showcased in the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifying classes for four and five year olds that take place on the Friday, while up-and-coming jockeys will battle it out in the BETA Pony Club Inter-Branch show jumping on the same day.

 

The Hamptons International Garden Club enclosure, overlooking the main arena, will be returning this year with catering provided for the first time by the renowned Muddy Duck catering company.

 

Festival Director Tim Henson commented: “This year’s Festival is looking very exciting and is sure to be a highlight of the summer eventing calendar. We have a number of new arena attractions, plus some new tradestands in the shopping area - there really will be something for everybody.”