Five-star eventing has come to Devon for the first time with the Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials, and anticipation is building for Britain’s first CCI5* in two years, with all 32 horses presented passing the first horse inspection.

Zara Tindall, the 2006 world champion, riding Class Affair, will kick off proceedings at 9am tomorrow morning by performing the ‘guinea-pig test’ in Bicton Park’s beautiful grass TopSpec Main Arena in front of an international ground jury comprising New Zealander Andrew Bennie as president, Britain’s Jane Tolley and Seppo Laine from Finland.

Then the trailblazing competitor, David Doel, one of the four two-horse riders, will ride the first competitive dressage test, at 9.30am.

Next in is Olympic team gold medallist and world number one Oliver Townend, who already has a CCI5* win under his belt this year, at Kentucky in April. His first ride is the experienced MHS King Joules.

Devon-based Irishman Padraig McCarthy, the world silver medallist, is also double handed, with HHS Noble Call his first ride. The McCarthys are renowned for producing horses, including MGH Grafton Street, the 2019 Burghley winner and second mount of Pippa Funnell.

Pippa, winner of the last CCI5*-L in Britain, Burghley in 2019, has already won a prize: she was judged the best-dressed female rider at the first horse inspection, taking home £250 from Hi Ho Silver. The smartest man was 22-year-old Harry Mutch, who also received £250 from Hiho Silver. New Zealander James Avery’s Mr Sneezy was judged the best turned out horse, with Frankie Murrell deservedly receiving the groom’s prize from Smart Grooming.

Rider experience ranges from 52-year-old William Fox-Pitt, winner of five of the world’s six CCI5* events, to 2019 Badminton winner Piggy March and world number two Tim Price from New Zealand to 21-year-old Felicity Collins, who will be aiming for a first five-star completion with RSH Contend Or, and CCI5* first-timer Sarah Dowley, who works in frontline healthcare in Ireland.

“It has been an honour for Bicton to host the only five-star competition in the UK this year,” said Event Director Andrew Fell. “We’re looking forward to three days of competition which we’re sure will be enjoyable, challenging and live up to the expectations of a prestigious five-star competition.

“It’s a big thank you to everyone that has supported us in the build-up, especially the main stakeholders of our sport, who were instrumental in getting this event off the starting blocks, and our fantastic family of sponsors, without whom this would not be possible.”

Tickets are available on the gate (www.bicton-arena.co.uk) and the competition will be livestreamed on Horse & Country (https://horseandcountry.tv/pay-per-view/eliteeventing). For start times and live scores, follow www.eventingscores.co.uk.

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The Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials (2-5 September) promises to be a thrilling competition with an entries list that is a mix of established horse-and-rider combinations and exciting new prospects.

The newly crowned Olympic gold medallist and world number one Oliver Townend will travel to the beautiful Devon venue, which is hosting Britain’s only CCI5*-L this year, with MHS King Joules, sixth at Pau last year, and five-star debutant Tregilder.  The world number two, New Zealander Tim Price, has the 2018 Burghley winner Ringwood Sky Boy, and Piggy March, fourth in the FEI World Eventing World Athlete Rankings, rides her 2019 Badminton winner Vanir Kamira.

Pippa Funnell, winner of the last CCI5* on British soil, Burghley in 2019, brings Majas Hope and Billy Walk On, William Fox-Pitt, who has won five out of the world’s six CCI5*s, rides Oratorio II, and Nicola Wilson, who won Bicton’s inaugural CCI4*-L in June, will be attempting to go one better on the supremely talented JL Dublin.

The reigning world champion, Ros Canter, is entered with CCI5* debutant Pencos Crown Jewel, who was placed at Bicton in June, and the world silver medallist, Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy, has Leonidas ll and HHS His Noble Call.

The nations of Great Britain, Sweden, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand will be represented in the quality field of some 40 runners, who will tackle a cross-country course created by hugely experienced and imaginative CCI5* course-designer Captain Mark Phillips.  He has reversed the direction of the international track created for the inaugural CCI4* in June and, as expected, has produced some proper championship fences while mitigating Bicton’s undulations with a less intense test than that of Burghley.

Having produced at short notice a highly successful CCI4* competition in June, the team at Lord and Lady Clinton’s Bicton Arena have pulled out all the stops to answer rider and owner demand for a British CCI5* after the cancellation of Burghley.  Chedington, Dr Geoffrey Guy’s state-of-the-art equestrian facility in Dorset, which supported the CCI4*, is also backing this one-off five-star and, with Elite Eventing, has made it possible for a prize fund of €125,000.

“Thanks to Chedington, Elite Eventing and the dedication of the team here at Bicton, we have been able to seize the opportunity not only to put on Devon’s first five-star event, but to create a competition truly worthy of that status,” said Bicton Arena Manager Andrew Fell. “It’s going to be a memorable weekend.”

Limited tickets are on sale for dressage (Friday, 3 September), cross-country (Saturday, 4 September) and show jumping (Sunday, 5 September). The first horse inspection will take place on Thursday, 2 September.  Visit https://www.bicton-arena.co.uk/chedington-bicton-park-5-horse-trials/ for further information.

The whole competition is also live-streamed through the Elite Eventing channel on Horse & Country with the dressage phase free to watch https://app.horseandcountry.tv/eliteeventing

 

Having just run the four-star in June, I was struggling to make this five-star Burghley replacement look very different. So although riders set off in a familiar direction the course is reversed for this inaugural Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials in Devon.

The Chedington Flowerbed (1) is a friendly starter to help settle the nerves before making the first of several climbs up to the Clippersharp Log Table (2) which again should not hold too many fears. There is then a long gallop down to the Empire Picnic Table (3) before climbing back up to the Blackberry Cottages (4).

The holiday is over as riders come to the first question at the EHOA Dewpond (5). Positive riding is required as the brushes are quite daunting on the angle with the water in between. Horses then climb again to the Chedington Oxer Triple Bar Combination (6). There is time for horses to catch their breath at the top of the hill before the first 2 metre top spread, 4 strides to the next Oxer and then 3 strides to the skinny Triple Bar.

If riders didn’t understand that they were now at a five-star, they will as they come down the hill to the Voltaire Brush (7) before a quick turn to the Berenberg Blue Cabin (8) at the top of the Derby Bank. Its then all about control on the steep descent down to the Top Spec Corners (9). Anyone a little out of control might think of doing a circle before attempting a left corner, 4 or 5 strides to a right corner, both very missable!

There is then something of a holiday and a chance to make up time as riders leave the Arena over the Chedington Table (10) before disappearing out on the Bicton Park Gardens loop over the Bicton College Monkey Puzzle (11), the Dartmoor Beef Picnic Table (12) and the Jewson’s Table (13).

However as they come back to the Main Arena and the Clinton Devon Estates Cliffhanger (14), control and accuracy are very much needed. Firstly to jump the frangible rail clear, down the big drop and then 3 or 4 strides to the massive Triple Brush at the bottom. There is though an alternative for the feint hearted. The Burghley Table and Arena Rails (15) are not so difficult and more of a speed bump before climbing back up out of the Main Arena.

All will have their heart in their mouth as they descend to the Ariat Challenge (16). Again they have to jump the frangible rails clear before bouncing over the ditch and then bouncing again to the 1.45m arrowhead brush.

Riders can then gather their thoughts as they gallop to the W. H. Bond Sawbench (17) but will need to be wearing their five-star pants as they approach the daunting Western Counties Tall and Narrow (18). There is no time to relax though as horses get to the top of the hill they are met by The Burghley Brushes (19), four consecutive Triple Brushes, something none of them will have ever seen before. There is though alternatives for those thinking discretion is the better part of valour.

There is no let up as riders come down to Vardag Oxer & Corner (20). Again the 2m Oxer looks enormous and there is then a forward 4 or more conservative 5 strides to an awkward looking corner.

A long gallop follows down to the HTSG Wilma & Crumble Stumps (21). Riders just need to take their time here over a not so easy piece of ground before galloping back to the NFU Water (22). Riders will ponder long and hard here but may well opt for the slightly slower bending lines as 3 of the 4 brushes are very missable.

Its then a long gallop back up the hill to the last question on the course, the Fisher German Mounds (23). Another bending line but the brushes are tall and not very inviting.

All will enjoy the gallop down to the St James Place Double Brush (24) before the last climb to the Clarke Willmott Brush (25) and the final NAF Finale (26).

There is more terrain on this five-star course than any other in the world, therefore some of the let up fences are more forgiving and there is less intensity than say Badminton or Burghley. The overall examination though is very much five-star and will produce a worthy champion that Burghley can be proud of.

 

 

 

 

With less than one month to go until all eyes are on Bicton Park, who will be your favourite horse and rider combination to take top honours at the UK’s only five-star eventing competition in 2021, the first to take place in two years?

Entries are open for the much-anticipated one-off fixture, the Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials taking place at Budleigh Salterton, Devon on 2-5 September.

Tickets for this special event will be on sale Tuesday 17^th August so keep an eye on Bicton’s social media channels and website for all the details.

For those who can’t make it in person, all the action will be available to watch live via a dedicated Elite Eventing channel on Horse & Country’s streaming service, H&C+. The trot up and first two days of dressage are free to view. The cross country, Sunday trot up and showjumping phases can be watched with a Weekend Pass, available for £25, or £20 for H&C+ members. All Weekend Pass holders will be able to watch all of the content on-demand for 90 days following the event. For more information visit www.horseandcountry.tv.

Elite Eventing TV is an innovative new concept that creates a direct link between the eventing audience and a tangible stream of financial investment in the sport of Eventing. Designed by the team behind the Event Rider Masters series, Elite Eventing TV is now taking that experience to create a dedicated Pay Per View (PPV) live streaming model. Revenues created from the sale of Live Stream PPV passes will be reinvested back into the sport via the ‘Elite Eventing Premium’, a brand-new additional prize money fund to be distributed between the Top 10 placed Bicton 5* competitors. For more information visit www.eliteeventing.tv.

Chris Stone, who owns Elite Eventing and has teamed up with H&C to enable the live-streaming of the event, added, “Elite Eventing has been created to make a direct link between the top riders and horses in this amazing sport, and the fans who appreciate the skill, bravery and passion they demonstrate. We try to give the fans great value for money with top quality presentation of our sport, and in turn we invest the money they spend back into the sport. We are thrilled to trial this model at Bicton and hope to expand it in the future.”

H&C CEO Heather Killen commented, “We’re delighted to be working alongside the teams at Bicton and Elite Eventing to bring this special event to the widest possible audience. With H&C+ we’ve been able to show more live eventing than has ever previously been possible and this, combined with our eventing focused masterclasses, rider profiles, documentaries and other programming, speaks to our commitment to this vibrant and passionate community.”

Bicton Arena Manager, Andrew Fell said, “We are extremely grateful to both Chedington and Elite Eventing for enabling us to put on a competition at five-star level for those riders, owners, and supporters who have endured the disappointment of not having an event of this level in the UK since 2019.”

Bicton Arena is pleased to welcome members of the media to apply for accreditation to the Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials, 2-5 September 2021.

JB Promotions are managing and overseeing all press activity.  Applications for media accreditation will be limited, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch with April Coate or Charlotte Goodby –[email protected].

Closing date for applications is Friday 13 August.

Terms & Conditions can be found here.

Bicton Arena in Devon is delighted and honoured to announce that it has received the go-ahead to host Britain’s only five-star horse trials this year, on September 2-5.

After an acclaimed first CCI4* in June,  the Bicton team,  led by Helen West and Andrew Fell,  applied to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to run a replacement CCI5*L as a one-off to meet competitor and owner demand for a competition of this level after the unprecedented cancellations of both Badminton and Burghley due to the pandemic.

The Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials should prove a great boost to the sport after two difficult seasons and will be an opportunity to see the highest level of competition in this country for the first time in two years.

Bicton has again secured the generous sponsorship from Chedington,  plus a prize fund of €125,000.  The event will be live streamed by our supporting sponsor The Eventing Channel.  The hugely experienced international course-designer Captain Mark Phillips will be creating a new cross-country track,  built by Adrian Ditcham,  in Bicton’s beautiful Grade l-listed parkland.

Bicton Arena’s new Manager,  Andrew Fell,  who will be taking over from Helen West said,  “We are thrilled to have been given this opportunity by the FEI to ensure Britain has a five-star competition this year.  It should be a great morale boost after so much disappointment.  Bicton is the home of Lord & Lady Clinton who have been so supportive of the Sport and this will be an exciting time for Clinton Devon Estates.

“Bicton is already blessed with loyal supporters, great facilities and a stunning setting and we are now full steam ahead with our aim of producing a competition truly worthy of CCI5* status.”

Dr Geoffrey Guy of Chedington adds: “We have always felt that Bicton is a wonderful site that deserves to host a high level of international competition and are so pleased to be part of what will be a historic event.”

Helen West,  Appointed Chief Executive for British Eventing and Advisor to Bicton Arena for the five-star event, comments “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Bicton and the South West, following the success of the four-star event we put on earlier this year we know that we are ideally placed to make this a huge success.

“For me, this is a shining example of what can be achieved with a collaborative approach.  This whole vision was fuelled by owners, riders and organisers alike who have worked tirelessly to get this off the ground.  The recognition of this achievement comes at an important time for me as I step into my new British Eventing role.  It is fantastic for the Sport as a whole and I look forward to exciting times ahead.”

Limited numbers of spectator tickets will be available shortly.

Olympic selectors were given lots to think about — and plenty of good news — in the star-studded CCI4*-S at Bicton International Horse Trials, supported by Chedington, which featured more than 100 starters from 12 nations.

British riders longlisted for Tokyo filled the first five places after the final cross-country phase, with Tom McEwen heading a stellar leaderboard on the much-coveted jumper Toledo de Kerser, owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Ali McEwen. Tom finished on his dressage score of 23.0, having finished bang on the optimum time of 7 minutes at the culmination of a superb all-round performance.

Kitty King put up a spirited challenge in second place on the striking grey Vendredi Biats, finishing two seconds inside the optimum cross-country time and a mere 0.1 off the winning score.

The world champions Ros Canter and Allstar B made it look easy in third, also remaining on their dressage score, of 24.6. Laura Collett’s run of brilliant form continued with fourth place on London 52 and the world number one Oliver Townend was fifth on his dual Kentucky winner, Cooley Master Class.

The stylish Australian horseman Christopher Burton, who is based at the Dorset yard of the sponsor, Chedington, was, appropriately, the best-placed non-British rider, sixth on the mare Quality Purdey.

There were 40 clear rounds, with nine inside the optimum time, and 66 completions from the 89 cross-country starters.

Tom, 30, who is based at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, has competed Toledo de Kerser, a 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding, at international level for seven years, winning team gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the CCI5*-L at Pau, France, in 2019.

“I am thrilled to bits,” said Tom. “I’ve had several rides this weekend and to pull off such an important result on this horse is amazing really, and shows how special he is.”

“I was delighted with the cross-country. It was just what we needed at this point of the season — there was no hiding behind it — and the organisers had tried their utmost with the going.”

Kitty King joked: “Tom could have been gentlemanly and been a few seconds slower! But ‘Froggy’ [Vendredi Biats] felt brilliant; he has become so much more consistent in the dressage, which is exciting. I couldn’t be more proud.”

Ros Canter’s 16-year-old “Albie” is coming to form at exactly the right moment. “It’s been a long three years for him,” said Ros, a reference to the birth of her daughter in 2019 and then the pandemic. “At the start of the season, he was a little lethargic, but now he really wants to be here and not in the field.”

The Bicton team, led by Helen West, organised this sporting bonanza in just seven weeks, and thanks are due to the Horse Trials Support Group and Event Horse Owners Association, who both provided funding towards upgrading the cross-country, as well as Chedington, whose invaluable support made a CCI4* at this much-loved Devon fixture possible.

“Chedington is delighted for Nicola Wilson, Tom McEwen and Bubby Upton who showed excellence in all three phases to claim the three titles in our first partnered event with Bicton,” said Dr Geoffrey Guy of Chedington.

“Chedington Equestrian are passionate about creating opportunities for horses and riders to train and compete under the best conditions and, this weekend, Bicton has provided an absolutely world-class setting for a very important fixture for horses and riders. Chedington is delighted to have played a part in this and looks forward to working with Bicton in the future to continue to be able to offer the highest calibre of events in the UK.”

“What a fantastic competition we have had,” concluded Helen West. “It has been an absolute pleasure to host Bicton’s first 4-star. There have been some outstanding performances — huge congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all our sponsors, especially Chedington who has been instrumental in awarding our deserved winners an epic prize fund.”

Full results on www.eventingscores.co.uk and catch-up viewing on www.horseandcountry.tv.

 

The future looks bright for British eventing after a sparkling performance by the three young riders heading the CCI4*-L u25 at Bicton International Horse Trials, supported by Chedington.

Bubby Upton emerged the winner — and the national under-25 champion — on her cross-country runner-up Cannavaro, with Heidi Coy second on Russal Z and Yasmin Ingham third on Banzai du Loir, the least experienced of her three rides. The trio received many plaudits for their sympathetic horsemanship throughout the weekend and look set to be stars of future senior British teams.

Bubby, 22, had sealed her victory on her mother Rachel’s Dutch-bred, 14-year-old Cannavaro by the time she was last to go on her cross-country leader, Cola lll, who hit three fences to drop to fourth.

“I’m finally a British champion!” said Bubby, who is a former Junior European Champion and a much-medalled member of Britain’s youth teams. “Six times I have been in the lead for a national title, but never won it.

“Cannavaro is a class jumper and this shows he’s got a future. He has a heart of pure gold. Cola was just a little bit flat, but it’s his first mistake this year.”

Heidi Coy, 21, admitted that the journey back to her home in the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire would seem that little bit shorter after such a successful week, with three horses in the top 14.

“She’s only little, but she’s feisty and she answered every question,” Heidi said of David Ottewell’s nine-year-old grey mare, who showed early promise with 15th place in the prestigious Young Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, France, in 2019.

Yasmin Ingham, 24, was full of praise for her youngster, Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s Banzai du Loir: “For him to jump like that after the cross-country we had yesterday was fantastic. It shows he’s got a huge future.”

For full results, visit www.eventingscores.co.uk, and for a replay of the action, visit www.horseandcountry.tv

 

 

Nicola Wilson looks to have another star in the making with Jamie and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, a horse that shone in all three phases of the CCI4*-L at the Bicton International Horse Trials, supported by Chedington.

The pair led from the start, sealing victory in the best possible style with an immaculate clear show jumping round in which Nicola had no margin for error.  Although Piggy March and Vanir Kamira, the second last to jump, went out of contention with an unlucky four rails down, the pressure was still on: Ros Canter and her rising star Lordships Graffalo, the runners-up, and Gemma Tattersall on Santiago Bay, third, had both already performed beautiful clear rounds to clinch the British one-two-three.

In fact, it was a British top 16, with France’s Arthur Duffort the best of the many overseas riders in 17th. Kirsty Chabert (nee Johnston) was fourth on Classic Vl, Laura Collett was fifth on Mr Bass and Sarah Bullimore finished sixth on Courouet.

Gemma Tattersall, the only rider to have two horses home inside the optimum cross-country time, was also seventh on Chilli Knight.

Nicola Wilson has won European and world team gold and an Olympic team silver medal on Opposition Buzz, plus European team gold and individual bronze in 2017 on Bulana, with whom she is longlisted for the Tokyo Olympic Games. She bought JL Dublin as a four-year-old at the Holsteiner sales in Germany; the pair have been placed at CCI4* level at Bramham in 2019 and at Burnham Market last year.

“JL Dublin normally gets very excited and squeals in the warm-up, but today he really had his brain in gear and I thought and hoped that this might be our day,” said Nicola, who was keen to heap praise on the organising team at Bicton Arena. “They have done an amazing job all round, from the cross-country course to the arenas and footing.”

For full results visit www.eventingscores.co.uk and for a catch-up of the showjumping phase action, visit www.horseandcountry.tv.