Chris Burton with Jeremy Lawton, Managing Director of Shearwater Insurance at Belton 2016
The Shearwater Insurance Tri-Star Grand Slam is set to return in 2017
The unique series that runs across five international events offers a ‘winner-takes-all’ prize fund of £50,000 for any rider who can win three of the five CIC3* events included in the competition. This year sees the return of Belton International, Burnham Market International, Houghton International and Burgham International as competition venues, with the added addition of the NAF Five Star Hartpury International.
Hartpury Event Director, Philip Cheetham says that they are thrilled to have come on board this year to be part of the Shearwater Tri-Star Grand Slam.
“It is a unique and challenging competition offering up a really fantastic prize pot, for the rider who can prove their consistency throughout the season. As the last venue in the series we imagine it could make our event an even more nail biting moment in the Eventing season calendar.”
For those aiming for the European Championships in August, CIC3* competitions will be a focus in 2017 and the results from the 2016 Shearwater Insurance Tri-Star Grand Slam show that many of the top riders are focussed on these influential competitions throughout the year
In 2016 Australia’s Chris Burton won the first leg at Belton International on Nobilis 18, the horse that was to win the CCI4* at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials later in the year. Watch Chris' winning ride at Belton 2016 here
The King of the CIC3* in 2016, Oliver Townend won the Event Rider Masters Series, the CIC3* in Adelaide and two legs of the Tri-Star Series
Oliver Townend was the only other rider to jump clear around the 3* cross country course at Belton in 2016 and he repeated this feat for second place on Note Worthy at the second leg of the Tri-Star Series at Burnham Market while just 0.8 time penalties saw his other horse,Cooley Master Class take the win. Watch Oliver's winning ride at Burnham Market 2016 here
An exciting new contender added to the mix at the third leg at Houghton International Horse Trials with northern based Nicola Wilson winning on One Two Many. Nicola had a great record in previous years at both of the remaining events, Hopetoun and Burgham, having won the CIC3* at Burgham on One Two Many and third on Annie Clover in 2015 and also having won both the CIC3* and CIC2* at Hopetoun on One Two Many and Ngong Hills in the same year, making her a hot favourite. Watch Nicola's winning ride at Houghton 2016 here
Nicola Wilson recieves the Tri-Star trophy and jacket at Houghton International
However it was local rider Emily Gilruth on Topwood Beau who won at the Scottish event of Hopetoun and, although Nicola came close at the final leg at Burgham International with second place on Annie Clover, it was once again Oliver Townend who took the win on MHS King Joules
With just one more win, Oliver could have snaffled the £50,000 and the Shropshire based rider must be the top contender for the Series again in 2017. Nicola also is a regular at the mainly northern based events and is likely to be on great form this year but who else will be the main challengers for the Tri-Star Series in 2017?
No doubt we’ll find out at the first leg of the Series at Belton Park International where An Eventful Life will be filming all competitors on cross country
The dates for the Shearwater Insurance Tri-Star Grand Slam in 2017 are;
CIC 3* Belton International 31st March – 2nd April
CIC 3* Burnham Market (1) 3rd – 15th April
CIC3* Houghton Hall 25th – 28th May
CIC3* Burgham 28th- 30th July 2017
CIC3* Hartpury 10th – 13th August
