An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on XC at Little Downham International – order or view videos here
It has been another busy year for the team at the Ely Eventing Centre, headed by Tina Ure, that run four British Eventing affiliated events each year.
But it isn’t over yet with their busiest week of the year coming up with two events in less than two weeks.
Little Downham International Horse Trials runs mid-week, with just one day of competition on Tuesday 26th September and, as always, it has drawn a top class field of competitors.
Six of the FEI’s top ranked riders are set to compete, including New Zealand’s Tim and Jonelle Price who are making the trip to Cambridgeshire from their base in Dorset for the Advanced and CCI4*S with four rides. The pair have used this fixture in the past to prepare for the Autumn 5* season and it seems to be the case again with Tim riding the Maryland-bound Falco in the Advanced class.
Piggy March riding Brookfield Cavalier Cruise and Ireland’s Austin O’Connor riding Colorado Blue are two more combinations entered for the Maryland at Fair Hill CCI5* who will be competing here in the CCI4*-S.
2023 Defender Burghley CCI5* champion, Oliver Townend returns to Little Downham, this time with Tregilder in the feature class. The pair had to retire on course at Burghley following a tack malfunction – no doubt tack will be well checked before heading out on Little Downham track!
Japanese riders will be out in force, each now looking for individual qualifications for Paris 2024, and one of last year’s CCI4* winners here, Kazuma Tomoto riding Brookpark Vikenti is back to defend his crown.
Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Pippa Funnell are also among the entries and all owners will no doubt be delighted to know that any EHOA member who is the owner of a competing horse is welcomed into the official’s barn for a complimentary lunch.
Entry to the event is free of charge for spectators, with well-behaved dogs also welcomed so, if you’re near Little Downham on Tuesday, get yourself down there! For those unable to visit, follow our Facebook and Instagram posts for video snippets as we’re filming all competitors on cross country.
