Windsor cancels next year's horse trials
Equestrianism: Next year's Windsor Horse Trials have been cancelled to allow time for major changes to the event's format and extensive work on its venue.
The Windsor Horse Trials have been cancelled next year to allow time for major changes to the event's format and extensive work on its venue.
The trials will run again in May 2004 as a two-star three-day event, the same status it has held for the past 10 years, but Windsor will also stage a one-day international team event contested by Great Britain, the United States, Australasia and the Rest of the World.
Windsor's new director Mike Tucker wants a new cross-country course, to be designed by Jonathan Warr, a new site for the main arena and new sponsorship. His decision to abandon next year's trials was also influenced by a clash of dates with two major international competitions a three-day event in Saumur in France and a World Cup qualifier in Germany. Windsor's new event will take place on May 27-31 2004.
The concept of a one-day team challenge has been prompted by the news that the horse trials in the Athens Olympics will be a shortened version of the discipline. Agreement on the shorter format was reached at the IOC executive board meeting in Mexico last week, after the International Equestrian Federation offered a proposal to counter concerns about the expense of staging the three-day event at Olympic venues. Eventing had been earmarked for possible exclusion from the Olympics in 2008.
Mark Phillips, manager of the US team, has described the Windsor rejig as "very exciting". And Britain's team manager Yogi Breisner said riders were "all very enthusiastic about the new concept".
The trials will run again in May 2004 as a two-star three-day event, the same status it has held for the past 10 years, but Windsor will also stage a one-day international team event contested by Great Britain, the United States, Australasia and the Rest of the World.
Windsor's new director Mike Tucker wants a new cross-country course, to be designed by Jonathan Warr, a new site for the main arena and new sponsorship. His decision to abandon next year's trials was also influenced by a clash of dates with two major international competitions a three-day event in Saumur in France and a World Cup qualifier in Germany. Windsor's new event will take place on May 27-31 2004.
The concept of a one-day team challenge has been prompted by the news that the horse trials in the Athens Olympics will be a shortened version of the discipline. Agreement on the shorter format was reached at the IOC executive board meeting in Mexico last week, after the International Equestrian Federation offered a proposal to counter concerns about the expense of staging the three-day event at Olympic venues. Eventing had been earmarked for possible exclusion from the Olympics in 2008.
Mark Phillips, manager of the US team, has described the Windsor rejig as "very exciting". And Britain's team manager Yogi Breisner said riders were "all very enthusiastic about the new concept".
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Davis Qualifies for Last 16 in Glasgow
- Malone Finds His Feet in Time to Lead Quins Turnaround
- Ryan Sacrifices Lamb's Gifts As Gloucester Alter Attacking Instincts
- Selfless Cipriani Takes the Gloves Off to Help Lewsey Give the French a Beating
- Skrela Lands Spoils As Bath Throw Away Famous Victory
- Corry's Hard Labour Sentences Ospreys to Punishing Defeat
- Ballesteros Confirms Brain Tumour
- American Dream Comes to London As Nba Looks to Break New Ground
- Gelsenkirchen Track Ruled Unfit for Speedway Finale
- Ireland Seethe As England Travel Business Class