Getting Ready for Weston Park Horse Trials 2018

Weston Park 2016
Photo ©Harveywetdog

All being well, and obviously very dependent on the weather at the moment, my next Eventing videoing venue will be Saturday at Weston Park for the Novice Competitions and the Pony Trials. This is my first trip to Weston Park since the last time I was there in Autumn 2016.

Read all the details in the Weston Park Press Release below.

Happy Birthday! - 40 glorious years at Weston Park

World’s best to compete…….

The world’s leading riders including Oliver Townend, William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Harry Meade, and Izzy Taylor will be competing at this highly popular event, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th April.

Situated on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border, the house was built in 1671 and has been the ancestral home of the Earls of Bradford. Today the House and Park is a Charitable Foundation, the family collections of porcelain, antiques and portraits are available for all to enjoy.   It is through staging events such as the Horse Trials that the ongoing restoration and maintenance of this historic Estate is financed.

The superbly constructed course, designed by Janet Plant will run over a thousand acres of rolling wooded parkland and the fences are solid and imposing. Each class runs over a different course designed to be testing but fair.  Janet Plant comments “it is such a privilege to design on this wonderful estate for 35 years! we have very fond memories – lots of laughter, tears, but most of all a great deal of fun!  Once again on Saturday  we welcome the Charles Owen Pony Trial, which we have run for a number of years’ - this has attracted a large number of entries and will prove to be an exciting competition”.

The course for the Novice classes – sponsored by Moores Metals and Landsbrook Stud plus the Charles Owen Pony Trials will run on the central park giving wonderful views from the vantage points which is greatly appreciated by owners and spectators. The Show Jumping will again be situated near the Kidney Pool. There will be a separate arena each day which should produce good going for everyone and the course will be designed by Steve Martin who has a great deal of experience.

Two Advanced Sections:

For many of the top riders in the Advanced sections this acts as an ideal ‘warm –up’ for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May.  The course includes new combinations designed to test the best with escape routes when needed.

These horses will Show Jump from 12 noon and run Cross Country from 1 pm so be sure to be in the park early!  The event are delighted long-standing supporters, David and Catherine Witt, owners of Rookery Park Stud, are kindly continuing their sponsorship of an Advanced section and two Open Intermediate sections and we are thrilled Tile Choice have kindly offered to sponsor the second section – this should be an exciting afternoon.

Once again the hotly contested Open Intermediate Under 21 section, sponsored by NAF and the Open Intermediate U18 sponsored by Racesafe will see our young riders and juniors competing for a place in the British European teams this summer.

Time-table:  

Saturday – Novice and Open Novice plus the Pony Trials 

Dressage 8am; Show Jumping 8.45 am; Cross Country 9.30 am 

Sunday – Intermediate and Open Intermediate: Dressage 8.O0am;  Show Jumping 8.45 am; Cross Country 9.45am

Advanced sections Dressage 9.30 am; Show Jumping 12 noon Cross Country 1 pm

Daily Admission: Cars with a BE membership card – free.   Non-members Adults £10 per person; accompanied Children under 12 years are free.

Come and enjoy a day out, walk round the beautiful parkland looking at the varied and interesting range of trade stands and indulge in some shopping, with everything from country clothing and equestrian products to fashion accessories on show.  Hot and cold fast food facilities are available or bring a picnic to eat while enjoying events in the main arena. There is something for all the family to appreciate. Come and join in the 40th birthday celebrations!

Location: Weston Park is situated at Weston under Lizard, Shropshire on the A5, 7 miles west of junction 12, off the M6 and junction 3 off the M54.