An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing 2019 - find out more
Five British Championships will be contested this weekend at one of the most famous venues for British Eventing, Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. The home of the Princess Royal will host the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing with the Magic Millions British Open, Smith & Williamson British Intermediate, Dodson & Horrell British Novice, the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup and the ROR/NTF Retained Racehorse Championships all taking place
Last year’s winners Chris Burton, Tom McEwen and Francis Whittington are returning to defend their titles with Chris riding Lawtown Chloe in the Magic Millions British Open, Tom McEwen defending his Smith & Williamson British Intermediate title with Braveheart B and Dreamaway and Francis Whittington hoping to keep the Dodson & Horrell British Novice crown with Brother Bertie
Chris will be up against some classy competition including New Zealander Jonelle Price and her 2018 Badminton winner, Classic Moet, Oliver Townend riding four horses, including five-star winners Ballaghmor Class and Cooley Master Class, Tom McEwen riding on home soil with Belton winner Figaro Van Het Broekxhof and Izzy Taylor, second here last year but the actual British Open Champion, will be competing PSH Gazelle
Top British riders will be out in force across the classes including William Fox-Pitt, who has 16 Gatcombe titles to his name, Pippa Funnell, Alex Bragg, Harry Meade as well as riders from the Netherlands, Italy, New Zealand and France
The TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup provides a terrific example for amateur riders to sample the prestigious cross country course designed by Captain Mark Phillips, which offers such excellent spectator viewing in the bowl beneath the house, and the Retraining of Racehorses class puts past heroes of the turf in the spotlight.
Away from the eventing, there is plenty of action to take in. A new feature, a military tug of war competition will take place during the weekend bringing battles of a different kind to the arena, as well as some old favourites; the Shetland Pony Grand National, the Pony Club Mounted Games, a Parade of the Duke of Beaufort Hounds, Ye Olde Redtail Falconry Display and this year a very special celebration for The Pony Club’s 90th Birthday
Francis Whittington and Purple Rain - 2018 Dodson & Horrell Novice Champions
