Bicton Hosts A Spectacular Autumn Eventing Finale

The picturesque Bicton Arena in Budleigh Salterton, Devon hosted five days of eventing competition from 23 – 27 October 2024. Over 250 competitors participated in the season’s concluding event which showed off the stunning Grade One Listed parkland and its autumnal colours in spectacular form.  

Chloe Livesey riding Hazel Livesey’s 16.3hh 16-year-old gelding Sportsfield Lord Livesey were victorious in the Symonds & Sampson CCI3*-S. Chloe’s solid dressage score and clear showjumping and cross country phases meant the pair finished in first position on 38.5. Chloe commented, “We came here to finish the season off with him and wasn’t expecting to take home the win. I am really proud of him.”

Ellie Fredericks won the competitive Mitchell & Webber CCI2*-L on the 6-year-old dark bay mare Upper Class Brit who is owned by Ellie’s mother, five-star eventing legend Lucinda Fredericks. The pair completed with no faults to add to their dressage score of 33. “Upper Class Brit is a homebred out of my Mum’s five-star horse, Headley Britannia. We’ve produced her since a 4-year-old and it’s so special for my Mum to have a granddaughter of her famous mare and her daughter take the win,” said Ellie.

Ireland’s Susie Berry riding Mrs Amanda Varley’s Wild Atlantic Way took the top spot in the Succeed Equine CCI2*-S. A strong dressage score set the pair up with fault free showjumping and cross country phases, they were one of only three combinations to make the cross country time, completing on a score of 29.2. Susie added, “It’s so nice to finish the season on a high and I was over the moon with Wild Atlantic Way. He was super all week; he did a lovely test. He is quite established at this level, so it was great to end the season with a confident run.”

Finishing on her dressage score of 30.3, local rider Cheryl Beer won the Redpost Equestrian BE90 Section D riding her own 10-year-old gelding Langaller Alpha Bravo. Cheryl commented on her win, “It is an absolute dream, he was a star! It’s been a challenging few days having several things go wrong including forgetting my numnah and girth and a few mistakes on the long format phases – but I set off on the cross-country course and we had a brilliant ride. It was a lovely course and the going couldn’t have been any better.”

Local rider Keira Parsons and her 17-year-old gelding Saratoga Candyman won the Redpost Equestrian BE90 Section E also completing on her dressage score of 30.5. “It’s been amazing but quite nerve-wracking throughout. I’ve never competed in the long format class before; it was an amazing experience and I’m so excited to have qualified for the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships at Badminton next May,” said Keira.

The Random Strangers team consisting of BE90 Section E winner Keira Parsons with Saratoga Candyman plus Charlotte Cutler riding Holy Street and Ella Matravers with Ballymitty Mac won the team event, with a total score of 98.3.

Axminster based Jane Rogers and her own 17-year-old Corrieview Merlin Magic gave a faultless performance in the Redpost Equestrian BE100 class winning on her dressage score of 29.1. Jane said, “I’m chuffed to bits with Magic, he was a superstar from start to finish. The last 3 Day Event I won was at Aldon and I’ve been trying to win another one ever since!”

Finishing on her dressage score of 30.3, Josie Dix, who is based near Usk with Kat Reybould of Venture Sporthorses, won the Redpost Equestrian BE100 Open riding Mrs Gillian Bulmer’s Rusticoats. Josie commented on her win, “Rusti came to us with an injury for rehab so he could use our water treadmill. Following his recovery, Gillian let me take on the ride six months ago and he hasn’t been out of the top 10 all season. He is a legend!”

In the team event, Army + 1: Captain Holly Day, L/Bdr Ellie Mitchell, Lieutenant Brian Leung and Alison Stewart took the top spot with a total score of 114.7.

Bicton Arena’s Co-Director, Helen West provided a summary of the venue’s concluding horse trials of the year, “What an incredible week we have had here at Bicton. Despite the relentless amount of rain we have had over the past month, we are truly blessed to have had such spectacular weather for five days which has really made this event so special for all involved. Congratulations to all our winners and competitors and a huge thank you to everyone who made it happen, our volunteers, the Bicton event team and our devoted sponsors.”

Thanks also goes to Bicton College for use of the parkland for our long format roads and tracks and to Cheval Safety, Darts Farm, Devoucoux, Equine Products, Protexin, Tack Room Distillery and Wyvern Equestrian who provided special prizes to our various winners.  

Full results can be found here: www.eventingscores.co.uk