Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials rings the changes
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2008, which takes place in the Duke of Beaufort’s Gloucestershire park from May 1st-4th is the Three Day Event every rider dreams of winning.
As usual in an Olympic year competition will be very hot, not just to take home the coveted Mitsubishi Motors Trophy but also to secure places at the Olympic Games. For the British riders, the task will be to displace members of the victorious European Championship team, while several other nations will be watching their riders’ performance with avid interest. The main Box Office opened for ticket sales on Monday January 14th and online booking is becoming the norm for Badminton. The website is www.badminton-horse.co.uk.
For the first time since the Event’s inception in 1949 a complete reappraisal of the ground conditions on the four mile Cross Country track has been undertaken, with event director Hugh Thomas canvassing broad opinion on the requirements needed in the twenty first century for this ever evolving sport. In the last three years the emphasis has shifted from being an endurance test which included roads and tracks and steeplechase, to a shorter but more technical test. Today’s riders expect much more consistency in the ‘going’.
Other users of the park, including followers of the Beaufort Hunt, have also been requested to stay off the competitive track. The course outside the deer park has been fenced off from sheep since Christmas, while sanding, seeding and fertilising has been taking place since the summer. An outside consultant Phil Cole of Cotswold Turf Care has been appointed. Both the Main Arena and the practice areas are part of the scheme.
In the late autumn rider representatives and other interested parties were invited to the park to see the work in progress. Event Riders Association Chairman Clayton Fredericks said, “Hugh has taken heed of what riders had to say and made a huge effort.” ERA (UK) chairman Nick Gauntlet added, “ It’s impressive.” And former Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan agreed, “You couldn’t help but be impressed. It looks like a golf course.”
The total prize pot is up again by £27,000 to £278,000, with a first prize of £60,000, and good increases all the way down the line to 20th place.
Badminton always has a designated charity and in 2008 it will be The Blue Cross, who will have a cross country fence named in their honour and collection points around the showground.
