Editorial

British Riders Set for Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

April 1, 2015

Five British athletes were set to compete at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover at the end of April 2015 (23–26 April), including the previous year’s winner, William Fox-Pitt.

Sitting at the beginning of the season, the CCI4* event provided the first big test for athletes in the 2015 calendar, with the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials following just two weeks later and a home European Championship to come in the autumn.

The British Contingent

After taking the top spot in 2014 with Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero, Dorset’s William Fox-Pitt headed to Kentucky once more in search of the lucrative title, this time with three rides: his 2014 winning ride Bay My Hero, Parklane Hawk (also owned by Catherine Witt) and Freddie Mac, owned by Lady Best and Jane Kier.

North Yorkshire’s Nicola Wilson, his 2014 teammate, was entered with her 2014 WEG ride, Mary and Barry Tweddle’s Annie Clover, as well as James and Jo Lambert’s Watermill Vision. American-based Briton James Alliston was also entered, with Parker and Tivoli.

Gloucestershire-based Zara Phillips was set to contest her London 2012 and WEG 2014 ride, High Kingdom, owned by Gleadhill Stud Ltd, while Francis Whittington of East Sussex partnered Easy Target, owned by Catherine Witt.

Eventing Performance Manager Yogi Breisner commented: “Rolex is a very prestigious event and it’s exciting to go there with so many good British combinations.” The athletes were supported by the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme.

The Build-Up to Blair 2015

A number of three- and four-star events were due to take place across the United Kingdom over the following six months, paving the way to a home FEI European Championship for Eventing at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland (10–13 September):

  • Bacon.co.uk Burnham Market International Horse Trials, Norfolk: 2–4 April
  • Belton International Horse Trials, Lincolnshire: 17–19 April
  • Mitsubishi Motors Badminton International Horse Trials, Gloucestershire: 7–10 May
  • Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials, Derbyshire: 15–17 May
  • Houghton Hall International, Norfolk: 28–31 May
  • Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials, West Yorkshire: 11–14 June
  • Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun International Horse Trials, West Lothian: 25–28 June
  • Barbury Castle International Eventing and Show, Wiltshire: 9–12 July
  • Burgham International, Northumberland: 31 July – 2 August
  • The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire: 7–9 August
  • NAF-Hartpury International Horse Trials, Gloucestershire: 13–16 August
  • The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Lincolnshire: 3–6 September