Hopetoun Horse Trials’ grassroots fixture has been scored from the British Eventing calendar in Scotland.
The shock announcementfrom Hopetoun organisers BEDE was, they said, “not made easily” but came from “logistical issues for both BEDE and the estate”.
BEDE now intends to concentrate solely on its international Hopetoun fixture which with the loss of Blair Castle for 2015 is the only one-, two- and three-star international contest north of the Border this season.
But it’s not all bad news for Scotland’s riders.
Stuart Buntine told The Courier that BE80 and BE90 competitors will get the opportunity to be involved with the international event at the Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun Horse Trials on its opening day of Thursday, June 25.
“We are intending to run what I call a ‘short course’ event for 80cms and 90cms level competitors,” Mr Buntine said.
He explained this format will see horse and rider combinations jump between six and 10 showjumps in an arena, before progressing directly onto a condensed course of around 15 or 20 cross country fences all viewable from the main arena and shopping area.
“We are hoping it is going to be really popular as it will give grassroots riders the opportunity to play a part of the big event,” he said.
Also, stepping in to breach the gap on Scotland’s event calendar Central Scotland Horse Trials has announced it will run twice at Dalkeith for 2015 and “hopefully on a long term basis once again”.
CSHT has always traditionally been scheduled to run twice a year both at its previous home of Scone Palace and again at its new venue of Dalkeith.
Only a clash of dates between Hopetoun and northern English fixture Burgham in 2014 resulted in CSHT being forced to relinquish its July date last year.
Speaking to The Courier this morning, CSHT organiser Bruce Edward said: “Obviously we are delighted to get our second fixture back again, but we aren’t happy that it has come at the cost of yet another Scottish event.
“We had hoped that we would be re-awarded a second date on Scotland’s event calendar as well as the grassroots Hopetoun not instead of it.”
Across the country, riders are taking to social media to both praise the CSHT committee for standing in to provide another run and to air their disappointment at the loss of the popular ‘Little’ Hopetoun fixture.
In previous years, Mr Buntine had said he would not cancel the grassroots Hopetoun fixture, which accommodated BE80, BE90, BE100 and Novice riders, as it was so popular attracting more than 500 riders over two days.
But now, he conceded that BEDE had only run the grassroots event at Hopetoun to help British Eventing to plug a gap in the distinct lack of Scottish venues.
“It was fine when the smaller event ran before the international as it meant we could travel north to prepare the two events together.
“However now the dates have alternated and Scotland has plenty of events, sadly it no longer makes logistical sense.
“I’m not certain Scotland has a large enough BE membership to be able to run a grassroots event every weekend,” he added.
Riders in Scotland are now counting the cost of losing Hopetoun, Brechin and Auchlinleck from their diaries in 2015, whilst Auchlishie which plays host to Kirriemuir remains on the property market.
Only eight other grassroots event venues remain.
Entries for CSHT Dalkeith (1) open on March 13 withfees starting from £70.16, added to a £15 start fee.
Details for the new ‘short course’ competition at the Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun Horse Trials will be made available at www.hopetounhorsetrials.comover the coming months.