Statement regarding the Equilibrium Products BE100 Eventer Challenge

We have been delighted to receive an unprecedented number of entries for the Equilibrium Products BE100 Eventer Challenge here at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, which is now in its sixth year of running. We understand that the opportunity to compete at Blenheim is, for many, a once in a life time opportunity, and therefore we have worked very hard to ensure we can run as many grassroots level competitors as possible after receiving this bumper entry.

Our invaluable volunteers have agreed to run a significantly longer day in order to allow an additional two sections of the Eventer Challenge to run, but, with the best will in the world, we cannot work beyond daylight hour limitations! We are also aware that running so many competitors will have serious implications on ground conditions, especially if we are not blessed with good weather.

We have been in serious discussions with our site team about how many riders they believe the ground can take safely. Over the four-day period, we will be running nearly 1,000 amateur competitors in various classes.

In order to provide as many qualified competitors with the chance to compete as possible, we undertook the following ballot procedure in the order it is listed. (NB. This ballot procedure was pre-publicised in the competition rules here): 

·         All entries were checked to ensure they met the qualification criteria

·         Entries were checked to ensure we had received accompanying payment

·         Riders were limited to competing one horse only

·         Horses were accepted on BE Foundation Point merit

Although we understand how disappointing it must be for competitors balloted from this class, qualification was based on Foundation Points earned at any BE100 event between 1st August 2014 and 31st July 2015 (meaning that ‘special’ classes and additional expense were not necessarily incurred).

Each year we cannot predict the number of competitors who will meet the qualifying criteria, thus achieving the minimum criteria of six foundation points across two BE100 classes did not guarantee your place in this class.

Equilibrium Products, the title sponsor for this class, has very kindly agreed to provide prizes for the additional sections we will now be running. Prizes will now be provided for competitors down to sixth place in each section.

Here at Blenheim we understand the importance of supporting amateurs competing at grass-roots level and year on year have expanded the range of classes available for these competitors. We hope to offer our continuing support, enabling a wide range of riders the opportunity to compete at the most prestigious three-star event in the world.