MITSUBISHI MOTORS
BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS RINGS THE
CHANGES
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2008, which take
place in the Duke of Beaufort's Gloucestershire park from May
1st- 4th is the Three Day Event every rider
dreams of winning.
As usual in an Olympic year competition will be very hot, not
just to take home the coveted Mitsubishi Motors Trophy but also to
secure places at the Olympic Games. For the British riders, the
task will be to displace members of the victorious European
Championship team, while several other nations will be watching
their riders' performance with avid interest. The main Box Office
opens for ticket sales on Monday January 14th and online
booking is becoming the norm for Badminton. The website is http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/.
For the first time since the Event's inception in 1949 a
complete reappraisal of the ground conditions on the four mile
Cross Country track has been undertaken, with event director Hugh
Thomas canvassing broad opinion on the requirements needed in the
twenty first century for this ever evolving sport. In the last
three years the emphasis has shifted from being an endurance test
which included roads and tracks and steeplechase, to a shorter but
more technical test. Today's riders expect much more consistency in
the 'going'.
For the first time other users of the park, including followers
of the Beaufort Hunt, have been requested to stay off the
competitive track. The course outside the deer parkhas been fenced
off from sheep since Christmas, while sanding, seeding and
fertilising has been taking place since the summer. An outside
consultant Phil Cole of Cotswold Turf Care has been
appointed. Both the Main arena and the practice areas
are part of the scheme.
In the late autumn rider representatives and other interested
parties were invited to the park to see the work in progress. Event
Riders Association Chairman Clayton Fredericks said, " Hugh has
taken heed of what riders had to say and made a huge effort." ERA
( UK) chairman Nick Gauntlet added, " It's impressive."
And former Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan agreed,
"You couldn't help but be impressed. It looks like a golf
course.
The total prize pot is up again by £27,000 to £278,000 , with a
first prize of £60,000, and good increases all the way down the
line to 20th place.
Badminton always has a designated charity and in 2008 it will be
The Blue Cross, who will have a named cross country fence in their
honour and collection points around the showground.
** ENDS **
Press Accreditation Closes 10th April
2008
Further
information:
Julian Seaman, Press Officer
41 Gastein Road, London, W6 8LT
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 385 0591
Fax: + 44 (0) 207 386 9820
**New email address**: j.seaman2@sky.com
Also:
Mitsubishi Motors Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0) 1285 647200
Email: pressoffice@mitsubishi-cars.co.uk