Photo courtesy British Eventing/Adam Fanthorpe
British Eventing has announced that from 2020, Burghley Estate in Stamford, Lincolnshire, will host the British Eventing BE80 Championship for an initial three-year term from 2020 – 2022.
Burghley Park will welcome the BE80 finalists during the week of the international Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and provide a truly unique competition experience for riders at the entry level of eventing. Taking place during the week of the CCI4* competition - the very highest level of eventing - combinations will be riding for Championship glory over the same turf as some of the most famous and successful horses and riders of the sport, including Mark Todd, William Fox-Pitt, Mary King and Andrew Nicholson.
To qualify for 2020, Regional Finals will be staged across the country, each providing those that are eligible with the exclusive opportunity to compete at Burghley over a brand-new cross country course being designed especially for the Championship. BE80(T) Regional Finals will be trialled next year for the 2019 Championships at Kelsall Hill (2), before the Championships head to Burghley in 2020. Full details, including eligibility and qualification, for both the 2019 and 2020 BE80(T) Championships will be announced in the coming weeks.
As with all BE80 classes, competitors at the Championships will be able to access the support of BE Accredited Coaches in the form of cross country and show jumping course walks, help in the show jumping warm up and guidance and advice answering any questions.
BE Chief Executive David Holmes commented that “This is a hugely important development for our members and the sport. Burghley House is steeped in eventing tradition and is a stunning location for a Championship event. We are particularly grateful to Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Director, Elizabeth Inman, and her team, along with Miranda Rock President of Burghley Horse Trials, for their enthusiastic support of this new British Eventing initiative.”
David continued; “Following the successful pilot of the Airowear BE80(T) Championship at Kelsall Hill Horse Trials in September, congratulations must go to our inaugural winners Amy Dixon on board Goodluck II. Our thanks go to the organising team at Kelsall Hill who hosted a fantastic 2018 competition - we look forward to heading back for the Championships at Kelsall Hill next year.”
