10:40am Sunday 14th March 2010
Skipton Horse Trials – the largest equestrian event in Craven – is preparing for its 2010 programme.
There will be two fixtures this year after the organisers were granted an additional date by the sport’s governing body, British Eventing.
The fixtures will take place over the weekend of June 26 and 27 and August 7 and 8.
The event has also signed a new title sponsor, Askham Bryan College, one of the country’s leading land-based education establishments.
Philip Grant, who is responsible for marketing at the college, said: “It is imperative that, in these demanding and challenging times, the industry bands together to support one another.”
Skipton Horse Trials has been busy in the closed season, building its new website at skiptonhorsetrials.co.uk.
This year, British Eventing has awarded two different qualifying classes. In June, the horse trials will hold the Lycett’s young horse, four and five-year-old qualifiers and, in August, there will be the Mitsubishi Motors BE90 Grassroots regional qualifier.
Event organiser Paul White said: “We’re very excited about developments. We’ve got the new website up and running and we’re Tweeting regularly to build support.
“The addition of the qualifiers in addition to our normal classes will strengthen the event. We will now have more qualifying classes than any other Yorkshire horse trials.
“We’re pleased international course builder Gary Podmore will be back again and we’ll be making large investments on the cross-country course once again.
“We aim to attract as many visitors and trade stands as we can. The June event is during National Picnic Week so we urge families to bring a picnic and take in the breathtaking views and thrilling sport while enjoying lunch on the hill.”
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