Entries for the Childeric Saddles Little Downham Horse Trials are closing today as the event prepares for its second fixture of the 2021 season, in what is its 20th Anniversary year of running affiliated eventing.
The fixture offers competition for all levels of eventing with a full range of classes from BE90 to Advanced, including a 5-Year-Old qualifier, showing just how inclusive both the sport and the event are.
The popular Cambridgeshire fixture is often hailed for its exemplary ground conditions, running across grade 1 peat in the heart of the fens. Despite the dry conditions the going is expected to be exceptionally good with Tina Ure’s team working around the clock and investing close to £10,000 in ground preparation, that will include a lengthy irrigation process.
Running hot off the heels of the May International fixture (Nov/CCI2S/CCI3S) the Novice and Intermediate tracks promise to be different at both fixtures offering local riders the chance to compete at the venue in both May and June.
The Ely venue has been a popular fixture for both amateur and professional riders over the past 20-years. The event has welcomed 5* Champions, World Number 1’s, European, World and Olympic Gold Medallists. This season is no different with reigning Little Downham 4* and Pau 5* Champion Laura Collett targeting the May International and Tom McEwan and Toledo de Kerser already entered for the June Intermediate.
“Little Downham is always part of our eventing plan, it’s one of those events where you’re guaranteed good going and good courses all year round. We’re using the May International as a prep run for Houghton and will be returning in June with a number of Novice horses looking to benefit from their educational courses” commented British 5* rider Imogen Murray.
The venue’s 2020 fixtures received much praise regarding the slick and safe running of the events, management of the warmup areas and the going. Volunteers and officials also praised the event for being among the leaders in the technical revolution of the sport, embracing their own judging app development to minimise contact points and further the sustainability for the future of the sport.
“Our national level events in July and August last season ran very smoothly, along with our new Train For Eventing fixtures with March. We’ve invested heavily in the ground following the October International, with repairs and improvements in the infrastructure on-going. We’re very much hoping that riders of all levels will support this fixture which will in turn enable us to keep reinvesting in the sport.” – Tina Ure, landowner and organiser at Little Downham.
At the moment, the event is planning to run behind closed doors but hopes to be able allow additional connections of horses and riders to attend.
