Ian Stark qualified for the CCI3*-L at Blair Castle in August at Rockingham International in May
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
Land Rover Blair Castle International 2022
The big guns have thrown their hats in the ring, with some of the world's leading riders and legends of the sport putting in their entries to this year's Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials in Scotland from 25th - 28th August.
World Number One Oliver Townend has six horses listed in the four-star 'short' competition, including his Tokyo Olympics gold medal winning ride Ballaghmor Class. He has another one entered in the four-star 'long', two in the three-star 'long' and two in the two-star 'long'. That's a lot of dressage tests to remember.
Fellow Tokyo team gold medallist Tom McEwen is also returning to Blair, with an impressive – albeit shorter – string of horses. Tom has one in the four-star 'long', two in the four star 'short' and one in the three-star 'long'.
Multi-medal winner and defending Burghley champion Pippa Funnell has entered two runners in the four-star 'short', a class where Harry Meade has three horses entered. And let's not forget former multiple Badminton winner and past Blair Castle cross-country designer Ian Stark, based in nearby Selkirk, who will again be partnering Chatsworth Diamond, this year in the three-star.
The 68-year-old Olympic, World Championship and European Championship medallist Ian Stark still enjoys competing, when his schedule as top-level course designer allows, and he qualified for the CCI3*-L at Blair Castle in August on board the Duchess of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Diamond at Rockingham International in May
However, he admits that “I still feel sick every time!” as he chatted to Ruth Gregory at the end of his cross country ride at Rockingham – watch that video here
If you haven't already bought your tickets for Blair, don't miss out on what is going to be a fabulous few days of sport. There are currently just shy of 400 horse and rider combinations running in the international classes and a further 300 in the national classes (and that’s just the eventing...).
The show also hosts National British Showjumping, Highland Ponies, NPS Scotland, Ridden Clydesdales and Veterans, Hunter showing and Pony Club Games. And when you’ve had your fill of equestrian action, the shopping, dining and entertainment will also be fantastic.
VIP hospitality packages are still available, as are tickets to the Persie Gin Charity Tasting evening (Friday) and the Charity Whisky Tasting evening (Thursday) in ‘The Old Nag’ Whisky Lounge by Robertsons of Pitlochry and Spirit of Perthshire.
General admission prices start at just £15 per person for one day, plus parking. If you want to make more of a holiday of it, a four-day season pass is £60 or a weekend pass is £39, both plus parking. All ticketing and hospitality information is available on the Blair International website
Always time for a restorative tipple at Blair Castle ....
