Event Name: Belton Park International
Location: Belton Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, NG32 2LS, United Kingdom
Date: 29th – 31st March 2019
Organiser: Bede Events
Entries Open: 11th February 2019
Classes: Au25, N, OI, OIu21, I, A, CCI-S 4*, ONu18, CCI-S 3*
Find out more: Bede Events website
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at Belton International – find out more here
After a difficult start to the season in 2018, everyone held their breath to see if Belton Park International would run unscathed and indeed it did, much to the relief of Stuart Buntine of Bede Events (watch our interview with Stuart here)
The organisers were not the only ones to be relieved as Belton Park International is ‘the big B before the even bigger B – Badminton’.
The main CCI-S 4* class is the Grantham Cup, sponsored by Lycetts, which was established in 2006 as the perfect pre-Badminton Spring run for riders. Belton is to Badminton as Queens is to Wimbledon, attracting a truly international class to tackle the galloping parkland track which is traditionally up to height and width. The atmosphere both in the arenas, which are known to be quite ‘electric’, and on cross country certainly prepares those heading to the even bigger atmosphere at Badminton a few weeks later
The event is also the first leg of the 2019 TriStar Eventing Series £50,000 Grand Slam as well as the chance to win exciting prizes in a series of accumulator leagues at Grass Roots, Novice, Intermediate levels
It was an emotional win for Ireland’s Jonty Evans last year when he finally won his first big International (listen to our interview with Jonty here) on ‘the people’s horse’ Cooley Rorkes Drift. Jonty is now recuperating but is happily back on board Cooley Rorkes Drift following a serious injury in June 2018 and everyone is hoping to see the defending champion back at Belton, if only as a spectator this year
This event is also known as the ‘Equestrian Festival for Families’ - a great day out for spectators with the Family Zone offering rides and games to be enjoyed by all in the fairground and action for the family pooch as well in the dog agility area
The more mature members of the family can enjoy a tipple in the Gin Den and this year sees the launch the first Bede Street Food Festival offering a multitude of flavours including Mexican, Asian and Italian cuisine.
Tom Jackson and Carpa Du Buisson Z at Belton 2018
