The future of one of the UK’s top equestrian events has been thrown into jeopardy after losing its Perthshire venue.
Staged in the grounds of Scone Palace for more than two decades, the Central Scotland Horse Trials received the ”bombshell” news last week that they would not be welcome back next year.
The organisers of the event, which attracts riders from as far afield as Sweden and Germany, have spoken of their ”surprise and disappointment” at the decision by the palace to sever their longstanding relationship.
Dating back to 1952, the Central Scotland Horse Trials is second only to Badminton as the UK’s oldest trials and attracts an international field of competitors.
Since 1990, the event, which is held in April and August each year, has been a permanent fixture at Scone.
Run by a dedicated band of volunteers, organiser James Oakden said they had been left reeling by the decision by the palace.
In a letter to the trials, the palace said that following a review of the events held in the grounds and challenging weather conditions, it was felt that they were unable to accommodate the equestrian event.
”I was extremely surprised and very disappointed,” said Mr Oakden (50), a farmer near Newburgh. ”It leaves us as a sporting organisation in a very difficult place. We have to try and find and alternative venue.”
Mr Oakden said his understanding was that either side had to give 12 months’ notice and he had been trying to convince them to give the event this breathing space.
”It is the biggest horse trials of its nature in Scotland,” said Mr Oakden.
The April event regularly attracted a field of 500 UK and international competitors and the August event slightly less, he said, while a May pony club meeting that they organised at Scone was also popular.
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The volunteer committee are now faced with finding a new site in time for April, in the hope of making it a viable event.
Mr Oakden said they had paid a significant rent for the privilege of using Scone and had always fully reinstated the ground after the trials.
”We have spent thousands in the last five years upwards of £25,000 on groundworks to make the event successful. That is money lost,” he said.
This year’s April trials was partially cancelled due to the weather and the August date was also a victim of the terrible summer.
Mr Oakden’s wife Sarah said the removal of their venue after 22 years had ”come out of the blue” and had devastated the huge committee of volunteers who were so passionate about the trials.
A spokesman for the palace explained the background to their decision.
”Scone Palace will be unable to host the Central Scotland Horse Trials in 2013 and beyond for a variety of reasons,” the spokesman said. ”The recent wet summers have created challenging conditions for many outdoor events and their venues and Scone Palace has revised its events strategy accordingly.
”We have enjoyed working with the horse trials over the years and wish them all the best in the future.”
The future of another major Scone Palace fixture, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair, has been the subject of discussions. It was cancelled this year for two of the three days after exceptional rainfall.
”Discussions with Scone Palace have taken place with a view to holding the event there next year,” said a spokesman for the GWCT.