Tag Archives: equestrian eventing

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Andrew Hoy: Fatherhood has given me a new lease of life On flying form at The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show

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“I’ve had a new lease of life since becoming a father” said Andrew Hoy after winning the Eventing Grand Prix at Bolesworth  International Horse Show. This fiercely competitive pairs competition, sponsored by Cazenove Capital involves showjumpers and eventers joining forces in a thrilling dual sport competition. Andrew’s showjumping partner was Beth Vernon, who left all the rails up in in one of the fastest time, before Andrew completed a short course of arena cross-country fences on to three show jumps to finish. The competition attracted a number of prolific showjumpers and eventers including Chris Burton, Tom McEwen, Alex Hua Tian, Matthew Sampson, Joe Clayton and Harriet Nuttall.

 

Andrew a seven time Olympian, belied his 59 years by storming around the challenging course in the fastest clean round, on Cheeky Calimbo, the horse he has ridden at four star level. “He’s cheeky by name and cheeky by nature” he said after his round, with his 10 month old daughter Philippa sitting on his lap. “I picked him for this class as he is a great jumper and I know him so well. It was a really exciting competition but it was really difficult having to show jump at the end after you have galloped across-country.”

 

Having won four Olympic medal- three gold and one silver, Andrew is one of the most successful event riders of all time. Yet we have not seen as much of the Australian rider at top level in recent years. He explained that he has been quietly working away in the background, producing some new horses. “I have a maximum of 15 horses now and a new generation of horses coming through.”

 

There is one in particular that he is excited about. A nine year old called Vassily de Lassos, who he bought from French International rider, Thomas Carlisle. “I’ve only had him 12 months and when Tom told me about him, he explained that he needed a pony (for company) and was a weaver, so I wasn’t particularly keen.” When Andrew sat on him, he still wasn’t particularly impressed. “But I kept looking at his record which was exceptional. Since 2013, he has only had one showjumping rail in FEI events.”

 

Andrew views him as a horse for the World Equestrian Games later this year and is hoping to run him at Aachen this summer to impress selectors. The impressive French bred horse is by the prolific stallion Jaguar Mail and finished 8th at Blenheim CIC 3* for 8 and 9 year olds. “I couldn’t be more excited for the future with this truly once in a lifetime horse” he said.

 

So no sign of hanging up his legendary boots any time soon then.  “I might be getting older but I am enjoying eventing even more” he smiled.

 

Written by Ellie Kelly

General

NEWSFLASH: A-LISTERS, ROYALTY AND GOLD MEDALISTS FLOCK TO BOLESWORTH

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NEWSFLASH: A-LISTERS, ROYALTY AND GOLD MEDALISTS FLOCK TO BOLESWORTH

(13th– 17th June 2018)

Bolesworth Show 18.06.17

What could be better than watching equestrian sport at the highest level, set against the back-drop of an eighteenth century castle, with an entourage of riders and spectators as dazzling and glamorous as an Oscars after-party?

 

Frankly, The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show is where the party is at this summer. “Bigger and better than ever with a huge variety at top level” says Organiser and founder Nina Barbour and looking at the line up, she’s not exaggerating.

 

This year, there will be five days of thrilling action including CDI 3* dressage, CSI 4* jumping, an Eventing Grand Prix and other fun arena events and demos including a Ride and Drive, Polo demonstrations and a Celebrity Fashion Show. The evening entertainment includes the Cazenove Eventing Grand Prix where Andrew Hoy, Carlos Paro and Alex Hua Tian are part of the entries. As well as the hugely successful Bolesworth Elite Auction for top jumping bred young stock. “It will be hard to beat last year, where the top price was £92,000 for a foal by Big Star, out of Tinka’s Serenade. Although this year’s catalogue has the strongest collection yet” says Nina.

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Nina who has competed internationally in eventing and jumping, is a girl with the ambition and the know-how. Above all, the courage and conviction to dream big and make things happen. The 37 year old, who has also brought equestrian sport to the city of Liverpool, with the New Year’s extravaganza “The Liverpool Show”, has a commercial vision when it comes to managing the family estate of Bolesworth. Outside of Equestrian Bolesworth also plays host to Car Fest North and a number of other renowned outdoor events. She also set up the successful Harthill Stud, with the aim of breeding top quality eventers and showjumpers.

 

In just seven years, Bolesworth International has morphed from a Showjumping event attracting predominantly national riders in 2011 to an internationally acclaimed and important fixture on the FEI calendar as well as the social diary. Nina and her team have successfully lined up an impressive array of sponsors, including Equerry Horse Feeds and Bentley Motor Group, both of whom are local to the Cheshire showground.

 

Testimony to the growing success of the show, leading riders are queuing up to compete, which is why the entries list this year reads like “the little black book of equestrian sport”.

Candy Windsor 4

For starters, there are as many heiresses competing at Bolesworth as there were at the Royal wedding. Eve Jobs, daughter of Steve Jobs, the Founder of Apple and Sophia Abramovich will be competing in jumping whilst HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand, who represented her country in the Asian Games, will be competing in the international dressage competition.  The Princess Nariratana is an international fashion designer and is the daughter of HRH the King of Thailand.

 

Then there will be British show jumpers John Whitaker, Laura Renwick and Amanda Derbyshire will be here. Whilst in dressage, Olympic champions Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester will be riding their exciting Grand Prix horses, Mount St John Freestyle and Hawtins Delicato, which they hope to take to the FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina in September.

Calle Bolesworth

Nina describes her event as being like “a big day out at the races”. The show is certainly becoming one of the key events of the summer social calendar for riders and spectators, whether they are horsey or not.

 

“Each year, we aim to come up with something new that will complement the sport and create a great atmosphere”, says Nina. “For 2018, we have the Bentley Ride & Drive, where riders compete in showjumping and then jump into a £150,000 Bentley Bentayga V8 to race around an obstacle course against the clock.  Music is also really important to us, and this year, we have the new ‘Club Boles’, which is beside the main ring.  We’ll have DJs, Ibiza Classics on the Friday evening and on Saturday night, the fantastic Rick Parfitt Junior will be rocking Bolesworth.  We have a big element of fun to what we do.  We want our visitors to enjoy world-class sport and be entertained as well.”

 

Family entertainment is also Nina’s prerogative with both Bolesworth and Liverpool. She explains why: “One of our big missions has always been to inspire young people to take part in equestrian sport.  We want to help to make sure that equestrian sport keeps growing and we want to make showjumping, dressage and eventing as accessible as possible.  I’m passionate about encouraging children to ride.  Children under 12 get free entry to our show and we also have lots of attractions for families.  We have Freestyle Motocross from the Arena-cross FMX crew all weekend.  There’s mountain bike displays, interactive electric bike zone, pony rides, exotic animals, crazy golf, an assault course, fun fair, inflatables and our Dog Show is always really popular.  One of our big draws is also the shopping, with everything from diamonds to designer shirts and with our Fine Food and Lifestyle Marquee we always celebrate local produce”.

 

Tickets and luxury VIP packages are available from www.bolesworthinternational.com

Written by Ellie Kelly

General

A right Royal affair

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A right Royal affair

Queen at Windsor

Royal Windsor Horse Show, 9-13th May 2018

With Prince Harry getting married and Zara Tindall and Kate Middleton expecting, the Royal family are giving us plenty to celebrate and feel patriotic about.

 

Another Royal occasion of note is the 75th edition of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle from the 9th-13th of May this year. It is an event which Her Majesty, The Queen has attended every year since its creation, in 1943.

 

Today it has become a 5* show and holds the distinguished CHI status, making it one of the most important events in the equestrian calendar. Royal Windsor Horse Show is the only show in the UK to host international competitions in Show Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance. In addition, there are 120 showing classes held over five days.

 

The riders love it too. Even Kent Farrington, current World No 1 Show Jumper said, “This is one of my favourite shows. There’s a combination of an amazing setting, an unbelievable crowd, top course designing and great footing It’s on par with the best in the world.”

 

Royal Windsor was started as a fund raising event during World War II as part of “Wings for Victory Week”, to raise money for Spitfire fighter planes. Over the 75 years the Show has maintained its objective to raise funds for charity. ABF, The Soldiers Charity is supported every year and an equestrian charity is chosen to support by the Committee annually. This year the equestrian charity is the Free Spirit Horse Memorial.

 

The original Show, which required competitors to hack to the Showground as there was no petrol to spare, was held on just one day. Since 1944 the Show has expanded dramatically in terms of length, spectator attendance and competitors. One of the first competitors was HM The Queen who successfully competed in the Single Private Driving Class driving Hans, a Norwegian Pony, to victory in 1944. Other members of the Royal family have also competed including HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Princess Royal, Zara Phillips, and most notably, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. It was the Duke who introduced international carriage driving to the Show in 1972, in which he also competed. He went on to win the Horse Teams class in 1982 with HM The Queen’s team of Bays.

 

Such was its popularity with equestrians and the public alike, that Royal Windsor evolved into a major international event. Last year there were 3,300 entries, including many of the world’s best riders, compared to 884 entries in 1950.

 

There will be some serious show jumping action up to CSI 5* level. This together with a large prize fund, is likely to entice the crème de la crème of the show jumping world. Held in the Castle Arena from Friday 11th – Sunday 13th of May, including a Saturday evening performance with the climax of it all- The Rolex Grand Prix will be taking place on the final day. World No.1 and last year’s Grand Prix champion Kent Farrington, is hoping to return to defend his title.

 

The International Dressage is expected to attract some of the world’s leading horse and rider combinations. The CDI4* Al Shira’aa Dressage Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music will take place on the evenings of Thursday 10th and Friday 11th of May respectively. Riders will have the unique opportunity to be judged by Susan Hoevenaars, one of the judges at the upcoming FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018, an unmissable chance for hopefuls heading to the Games this September.

 

The CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier and one of the most important Driving events in the UK adds to the roster of top international competition at the Show. 2017 saw Boyd Exell score an impressive eighth victory at the Show, and the Australian is certain to be looking to retain his title as part of his FEI World Equestrian Games™ build-up.

 

The visually stunning Windsor Great Park will be the site of the international Endurance on Friday 11 May. A CEI2* event, supported by The Kingdom of Bahrain will negotiate 120km of the countryside of Windsor and Ascot.

 

A huge variety of Showing classes will also share the schedule with the FEI classes, with many of HM The Queen’s horses regularly featuring in the starting line-ups, Royal Windsor Horse Show represents the height of the National Showing calendar. Competitors will be striving to follow in the footsteps of HM The Queen’s Barbers Shop to be crowned Royal Windsor Supreme Showing Champion on the final day of the Show.

 

Spectators can also be entertained by an action-packed schedule of arena displays and other events. Beyond sport, there are 220 high-end shops in the shopping village offering fashion, equestrian and lifestyle goods. Plus a host of food options and watering holes, from artisan food and champagne bars to burgers and beer.

 

Or to book tickets visit www.rwhs.co.uk. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the box office on 0844 581 4960 from the UK and +44 (0)121 7966290 internationally

Written by Ellie Kelly