Horse trials return to Bicton Arena

Horse trials action returns to Bicton Arena on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 when classes ranging from a BE80 training class to BE100Plus will be staged.

The competition has been specifically framed to encourage grass roots riders, those climbing through the ranks and professional riders with young or inexperienced horses.

Arena manager Helen West said: “We have a lot of entries in our BE80 and BE90 classes, as there is a huge demand for competitions at this level and we hope that every competitor will have a confident giving round across country and learn from their experience.”

The BE100 class has also proved very popular with several well-known combinations entered including Coral Keen who rides Highmead Proposition and her homebred Total Belief, and Devon’s Tim Cheffings, and Althea and Janou Bleekman who have multiple entries.

Eventing legend Mary King has three entered in the five year old class including the full brothers King Robert II and Kings Ginger who were both foaled in 2010 with their dam Mary homebred Kings Temptress, winner of Kentucky in 2011, and sire the this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Motors winner Chilli Morning.

Sponsoring the event is Leonard Coombe Master Saddlers and Country Life, a saddlery shop which has been established for more than 200 years making it one of the oldest tack shops in the country.

Shop manager Jo Ligthelm said: “This is the first time we have sponsored at Bicton Arena and we are very much looking forward to it.

“It’s a wonderful venue in a great setting and manager Helen West is doing so much to create one of the premier competition venues in the Westcountry. We are delighted to support her.”

Also sponsoring is Wyvern Equestrian that is based near Exeter, which has a show unit, and online shop that specializes in saddlery and clothing for the competitive rider.

Patrick Robertson said: “Bicton Arena is a superb venue with a brilliant team. It’s local to us and we attend a lot of shows there with our tradestand so its great to be able to give something back in the form of sponsorship and we are delighted to support all three of its BE competitions.”

Entry to the event is free and a full range of onsite catering facilities are available.