Bicton

There will be a true global flavour to Bicton Arena’s first ever International Horse Trials, which take place from April 24 to 26, and are sponsored by Empire Coach Builders. Staged in East Devon on the rolling parkland that forms part of Clinton Estates, the event has attracted a wealth of top international riders including Australia’s Sam Griffiths who was the victor at last year’s Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials; the veterans Sir Mark Todd, among the most celebrated New Zealand sportsmen who has won two Olympic medals and was rewarded with a Knighthood in 2013; and Mary King, MBE, who...

A community bus will help residents from the two towns and the surrounding villages get to the Health and Wellbeing Centre soon to be created from what is currently Budleigh Salterton Community Hospital. It will also help people from Budleigh Salterton and surrounding villages travel to Exmouth Hospital.

The tail-lift minibus will be run and managed by Exmouth and District Community Transport, which already runs three other very successful community minibuses in the area. Residents will be able to phone in advance and book their seat on the bus, which will then pick them up from...

Early January saw record levels of runners in the England Athletics South West Cross Country championships held in the beautiful grounds of Bicton College in East Devon.

This event brings together the top athletes from across the region for a high level competition. Sponsored by Western Event Hire and South West Athletics CIC this event has grown in scale and entry levels over the last few years since being organised by South West Athletics Academy.

Western Event Hire supported the many volunteer officials that help to make these events such a major success by providing...

Bicton Arena has announced that Empire Coachbuilders, a firm of horsebox manufacturers based in Worcestershire, are the new title sponsors of its two international horse trials next year. The Devon venue will stage two CIC, or international, competitions in 2015, the first in April and the second in August with another affiliated event taking place in July. The new sponsorship deal means there is a substantial prize fund for the CIC two star classes. Arena manager Helen West said: “This is wonderful news as we are now able to offer prize money that is very much worth winning and we hope it...

Bicton Arena in East Devon, part of Clinton Estates, has been awarded international status for its April Horse Trials next year which means the venue will now host two CIC competitions in 2015 with the second taking place in August. A new competition has also been added to the calendar with an affiliated event (BE80 – 100) now running in July. With opportunities rare for riders in the Westcountry to compete at one or two star level, and thus gain qualification the next level of international competitions, the events are seen as valuable additions to the British Eventing calendar....

Bicton Arena has announced it has been awarded international status for its August 2015 horse trials.

The venue will run CIC and CIC2 classes. Both are regarded as a necessary stepping stones for riders wishing to compete at international level in the UK and Europe.

Arena manager Helen West said: “We canvassed competitors and the support we have received in our quest to gain a CIC for the area has been overwhelming. We then took our case to British Eventing, the sport’s governing body, who agreed with us that there is a lack of opportunity in the South West.

“It...

Zara Phillips was among the competitors at Bicton Arena on Saturday where an additional day was added to its two-day competition after Withington Manor in Gloucestershire was cancelled due to bad weather.

Phillips, a member of the Great Britain Olympic team that won a silver medal at London 2012, returned to competitive riding last weekend following the birth of her first child in January. At Bicton she rode two horses going clear across country and show jumping on both Mr Murt and CG Master Lux and finishing with top ten placings.

Arena manager Helen West said: “Zara was...

NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer, has appointed Laura Holman under a Business and Administrative Apprenticeship scheme coordinated by Bicton College.

The year-long scheme awards apprentices with an NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration alongside a comprehensive training schedule with a suitable business partnership.

Richard Pym, Agent for NFU Mutual in Crediton, said: “We can see great potential for business growth in our area and this apprenticeship scheme allows us to pursue that potential and maintain the high levels of service received by our members.”...

Motivated by rising food and fuel costs and concerns over Genetic Modified crops, Bicton College has taken the ‘food fight’ into its own hands.

From melons, aubergines and grapes, to lemongrass and the highly profitable Thai Basil, Bicton College horticulturalists and volunteers are determined to produce high quality, chemical free fruit and veg.

Andrea Rye, a Horticulture Instructor at Bicton College is proud to promote natural growing. “We don’t use any chemicals in our growing and encourage natural growth so our food tastes just as it should and we are working towards...