Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials Set to Build on Debut
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials - now one of Britain’s Premier League events - is set to build on its debut success of last year with record entries and a packed programme of events this weekend, 8 and 9 July in Marlborough, Wilts.
Barbury’s natural downland amphitheatre offers some of the most spectacular cross country viewing in the world, receiving accolades across the board on the Event’s debut last year. This time spectators will be brought even closer to the action as the riders jump the last three fences in the main arena.
The current Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials title holder is William Fox-Pitt (Ballincoola)In only its second year or running, The Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials has been awarded British Eventing Premier League status, alongside other ‘majors’ including Badminton and Burghley.A CIC*** is the most advanced horse trials event run on a one day format where riders compete in 3 phases – dressage first, followed by show jumping and finishing with cross country.
Over 100 of the world’s top international riders will be battling it out for the prestigious CIC*** Maybach Challenge Trophy; with over 220 more competitors expected in the supporting Mercedes-Benz Novice Horse Trials.
Many top British team members will be using Barbury as a final workout before the World Championships at Aachen in August. These include: the Barbury title holder, William Fox-Pitt riding Tamarillo, Daisy Dick (Spring Along), Mary King (Call Again Cavalier) and Oliver Townend (Flint Curtis) and Sharon Hunt (Tankers Town). They will be joined by team reserves Polly Stockton (Tom Quigley).
The British contingent will face strong competition from at least 6 other nations including the World’s current ‘number one’ Gatcombe-based Australian rider Andrew Hoy, who returns to Barbury having finished 3rd and 9th last year on Master Monarch and Yeoman’s Point. Andrew will be joined by his fellow countrymen, Devizes-based Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, currently on top form following high class performances at Luhmuhlen and Chatsworth.
American rider, Amy Tyron, is flying in from the USA with two entries. The Irish will also be out in force for their pre-World Championships workout, with Geoff Curran, Niall Ferguson, Ann Hatton and Philippa Mains from Ireland all having Barbury CIC entries.
New Zealanders, Andrew Nicholson, Jonelle Richards, Dan Jocelyn and Alex De Luca Oliveira will be ones to watch with Andrew having won the sport’s most recent premier event at Bramham in early June. He will be looking to better his 6th place at Barbury last year, this year riding Fenicio. Jonelle will debut on her very talented horse Mazetto.
The event will be a nail-biting time for the young British riders (aged 19-21) who will be competing for a place on the team going to the Young Rider European Championships at Pardubice (4-6 August). The shortlisted combinations will be doing their dressage in the main arena, followed by cross country over the novice track, finishing with show jumping at intermediate height. Our shortlisted junior riders (aged 16-18) will also be demonstrating their credentials to Selectors in the Mercedes-Benz Novice classes in a bid to represent Britain at their international championships in Ireland (14-17 September).
The Toggi Top Score Show Jumping provides a fast, furious and fun spectacle. The contest features a selection of the top riders who will be challenged to clear the most fences in a set time, to achieve the highest score.
For the football and tennis fans, there will also be live television coverage of the World Cup and Wimbledon at the venue, as well as a range of childrens entertainment for the young family spectators.
Further details at www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01793-877212.
