MITSUBISHI MOTORS BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS GEARS UP FOR 2007
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2007, which
take place in the Duke of Beaufort’s Gloucestershire park from May
3rd – 6th is the ultimate annual challenge in the demanding sport
of Three Day Eventing. This is the test of all round horsemanship,
which once again came to a greater public prominence when Great
Britain’s current World and European Champion in the sport, Zara
Phillips, won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in
December.
2006 saw the world’s premier event adapt to the shorter format of
competition, without the endurance phases of Roads and Tracks and
Steeplechase. Within the sport, the transition took a couple of
years to be tested and then adopted at the highest level. In some
respects the new format puts a bit more pressure on the riders as
they have to set off round the daunting course with less of their
blood up; they however have adapted to the new format and seem to
prefer it in the modern era.
Event Director and course designer Hugh Thomas hit the right
note with his 2006 track under new rules, and has been working in
the interim to concoct a worthy challenge for the 2007 renewal. The
course will follow tradition and set off round the park the
‘opposite’ way to last year from the main arena.
Yet again sponsors Mitsubishi Motors have generously raised the
prize pot, this year to £250,000, with a record £55,000 going to
the winner, and prize money on a cascade system going down the
order.
Over the recent years Badminton has become increasingly
international, with newer equestrian nations prepared to have a
‘craic’ at the sport’s most prestigious title. In a European
Championship year there is a little less pressure than in an
Olympic or World year, so the cotton wool can come off and all
nations can give it a go. Many of the team and individual
medallists from the World Equestrian Games are expected to be among
the entries that are not due until mid March.
Badminton always has a designated charity and in 2007 it will be
The Spinal Injuries Association, who will have a named cross
country obstacle in their honour and collection points around the
ground.
The main Box Office opens on Monday January 15th. Why not book
online? The website is: www.badminton-horse.co.uk
** ENDS **
Press Accreditation Closes 12th April 2007
Further information: Julian Seaman, Press Officer
41 Gastein Road, London, W6 8LT
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 385 0591
Fax: + 44 (0) 207 386 9820
Email: Julianseaman@gastein.fsnet.co.uk
Also: Mitsubishi Motors Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0) 1285 647200
Email: pressoffice@mitsubishi-cars.co.uk