BADMINTON GEARS UP FOR BANK HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2010 (30th April to
3rd May) has moved the Event forward by a day to culminate on the
Spring Bank Holiday Monday. This was initially to avoid television
clashes with other sporting events but has had an added benefit of
featuring major sport action on a holiday long weekend, with the
famous cross country taking place on Sunday for the first
time.
In traditional form Hugh Thomas’s course will go in the reverse
direction to last year’s route in the Duke of Beaufort’s
magnificent Gloucestershire park. Spectators will enjoy clusters of
obstacles, which have become the feature of modern course design
and course building is well under way.
While most of the international competitors will have their
sights set on selection for September’s World Equestrian Games in
Kentucky, the 2009 Mitsubishi Motors Trophy holder, Oliver Townend,
may not defend his title as he will take whatever horsepower he can
summon to Kentucky the previous week in an attempt to win the Rolex
Grand Slam. However, he will have to weigh this up against another
try for the HSBC FEI Classics series prizes, which depend on good
results in as many of the five Classics events as
possible.
2010 sees the added attraction of the Mitsubishi Motors Grass
Roots Championships on the hallowed turf, in conjunction with the
main event, with the cross country course being designed by James
Willis. This innovation will increase what Hugh describes as the
‘Badminton family’ and add to the inclusive atmosphere of the
Event. The Grassroots cross country will take place on Friday 30th
April, the first dressage day of the international
competition.
As ever there will be an enormous array of trade stands and
watering holes, from pub type bars to the elegance of the Members
Marquee. Badminton has always been a great family weekend with
something for everyone.
Badminton as usual has a designated charity, and for 2010 it is
World Horse Welfare, formerly known as the ILPH, which does superb
work around the globe, especially on the humane transport of
slaughter horses and education in countries where horses are still
working animals.
The public box office opens on Monday Jan 11th when all tickets
are available on this website