Pippa Funnell and Redesigned at Burghley
British eventing star Pippa Funnell will feel very much at home this weekend as she competes at the South of England Horse Trials, an event run by her mum Jenny and brother Tom. Jenny has been organiser of The South of England Horse Trials since this event started 35 years ago and went on to form South Eastern Equestrian Services with the late George Nolan back in 1984. She now organises both the South of England Horse Trials (1) which will take place this weekend and the South of England International (2) which takes place in September as well as Eridge Horse Trials.
Pippa will be competing this weekend on several horses but her horse in the top class, the Allen & Page Advanced Intermediate, is Redsigned, one of her mounts aimed at Badminton. Pippa will have some competition from another British legend, Tina Cook riding Star Witness and two other Badminton bound combinations who are also be competing in this class – Francis Whittington riding Easy Target and rising star Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul
Aussies Chris Burton and Brook Staples will be back
There are a few Antipodean riders taking part this weekend including Chris Burton, Sam Griffiths, Emma Dougall, Lucinda Fredericks, Brook Staples and New Zealand’s Dan Jocelyn. One of the horses Lucinda will be riding is her young stallion Britannia’s Mail, progeny of the great Headley Britannia who recently had to be sadly put down after a riding accident at home.
As well as the eventing there will be plenty of trade stands with yummy things to buy and eat or visitors can eat and drink in comfort in the Showground’s Norfolk Pavilion while watching the tense show jumping phase.
The South of England's cross country runs over the Showground and adjoining farmland and provides three separate tracks for BE 100, Novice and Open designed by Scott Brickell. We’ll be bringing you updates and An Eventful Life’s video team will be there to capture all of the cross country action and you can find out more about how to buy or view our UK cross country footage by clicking on the banner below
