Highclere to host Australian Final Selection Trial Highclere Castle, Sunday 25 August & Bank Holiday Monday 26 August 2002

The crème de la crème of international event riders – including a squad of shortlisted hopefuls for the top-performing Australian event team - will be descending on Highclere Castle (near Newbury, Berks) to compete in the Advanced Intermediate section on the Monday at The International Horse Trials & Festival of The Horse (25/26 August). The Australian riders will have all to play for as they compete for a place on their national team for The World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain (11-22 September 2002). They include: Andrew Hoy, Matt Ryan, Bill Levett and Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks who will be joined by Phillip Dutton (flying in from the USA) and other competitors arriving from Down Under on 17 August.

Commented David Green who will be playing host to the Australian riders at his Marlborough base: “I have competed for many years at Highclere and recommended it as the final selection trial because of the testing and innovative course and the varied terrain which should give them a good blow out and provide a great final run.”

Australia is one of the top eventing nations in the world today but Britain will also be among the ‘favourites’ at this year’s World Championships having taken 5 Team Golds and 2 Team Silvers in the last 10 runnings of this event. Bicester-based William Fox-Pitt and Surrey-based Pippa Funnell will be amongst the selected British riders down to compete against the Australian squad at Highclere .

Taking up a rare opportunity to compete ‘alongside’ the top personalities in the sport of eventing, will be novice riders and horses taking part in the NEW Pre-Novice classes (including an Open section) to be held at the venue on the Sunday – with the result that spectators will be able to enjoy two whole days of cross country at Highclere for the first time.

This year’s Highclere event benefits from the increased support from Mitsubishi Motors Reading - the cross-country course will include a Badminton-style Mitsubishi pick-ups fence for the first time and Mitsubishi will also be hosting a charity luncheon for The Spinal Injuries Association in a new mobile executive hospitality suite from Golden Corporate.

Further improvements planned this year include a more spectator-friendly layout with the Cross Country Start being routed near the Main Arena for the first time (and The Finish to be located close-by); with the Cross Country commentary being broadcast to Main Arena spectators and across the whole venue.

The event riders will also be joined by a host of other competitors and exhibitors across a wider range of equestrianism to make up The event’s Festival of the Horse on the Bank Holiday Monday. They include: side saddle riders (with a record number of entries for the jumping and Concours d’Elegance classes); Performing Stallions, Dressage-to-Music; American Saddlebreds and Horse Whispering demonstration by Gary Witheford. There will also be affiliated show jumping classes on the Sunday.

The Highclere Castle and Grounds will be open on both days.

Tickets to The Festival of The Horse will be £6 on Sunday and £8 on Monday (Toddlers Free and Children Half Price). These prices include parking. Gates open from 9am daily. No advance booking is required. Highclere Castle is located just South of Newbury, off the A34 Bypass.
For further information visit: www.highclerecastle.co.uk/special_ev.htm or www.britisheventing.com

REVISED TIMETABLE as at 1.8.02:

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