In April 2020, and in the interest of legacy, I penned a Wikipedia entry recording the thoughts and notable achievements of myself as Harveywetdog. I admit I was ignorant of the rules concerning self promotion on Wikipedia at the time; consequently my entry was unfortunately, although arguably correctly, deleted and my account expunged from the system. As a result my original words and links were sadly lost but nevertheless here is an attempt at a rewrite. Perhaps when I'm gone someone will be able to enter it onto Wikipedia on my behalf, to serve as a fitting epitaph for the exciting times I spent on the Harveywetdog Project.
Exciting list of entries for Blenheim Palace International 2026
Next week, all four members of Britain's victorious FEI World Championship team are set to compete at the Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, Oxfordshire. The quartet are no strangers to competing together at Blenheim, having all lined up at the Oxfordshire venue in both 2023 and 2025, although 2026 marks a particularly significant reunion following their World Championship team gold in Aachen last month.
It promises to be a weekend of brilliant competition as the popular 4* event has received a bumper entry of nearly 200 horses split across the Agria CCI4*-L and the prestigious CCI4*-S GFS Saddles 8 & 9 Year Old Class. World individual bronze medallist and reigning European champion Laura Collett has entered Balancero for the CCI4*-L, Gemma Stevens has Chilli's Jester and Tom McEwen is three-handed with Brookfield Quality, Isa and The Fieldmaster.
Three former world champions will be seen at Blenheim this year, in the form of Zara Tindall (2006) riding Classicals Euro Star (CCI4*-L), plus Yasmin Ingham (2022) with Kinda Corvette (CCI4*-S) and Ros Canter (2018), who recently added an individual world silver medal to her other accolades, with Armscote Explorer (CCI4*-S). Ros's Aachen World Championships teammate Tom McEwen will be a busy man as, in addition to his Agria CCI4*-L entries, he has Brookfield Danny de Muze and Shannondale Arnold in the CCI4*-S, bringing his Blenheim tally to five horses. Laura Collett rides Romany Cricket and Gemma Stevens has another exciting Chilli Morning offspring, Chilli Morning lV.
14 nations are represented, with some of the world's highest ranked riders gracing the Blenheim parkland, including New Zealand’s Tim and Jonelle Price, Clarke Johnston and Samantha Lissington, GB’s Tom Jackson and Bubby Upton, Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy. USA rider Olivia Dutton, a recent individual bronze medallist at the inaugural FEI U25 World Championship, also makes her inaugural visit to Blenheim riding the Irish-bred Jewelent in the CCI4*-L.
An innovation this year is The Blenheim Challenge, a team competition between British and international up-and-coming riders in the Agria CCI4*-L. Selected riders from the British Rising Lions will go head-to-head with their counterparts from the international team in a Ryder Cup-style competition that carries a prize fund of £50,000. This will benefit not only riders, but also their grooms, the youth programme of the national governing body of the winning team plus their chosen equestrian charity.
“We are really excited to welcome The Blenheim Challenge,” says Event Director, Katrina Midgley. “It brings a completely new dimension without changing the integrity of the competition. We hope the head-to-head format will give spectators another storyline to follow throughout the three phases and create some friendly rivalry along the way.”
Alongside the top-level competition, the Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials offers something for every generation and every level of the sport. The popular evoke™ Eventer Challenge returns, bringing Pony Club and Riding Club teams together for an exciting test of cross-country and showjumping, while the Connolly’s RED MILLS Retraining of Racehorses competition will showcase former racehorses. New for 2026, the South Lawn will also provide a stunning setting for the Attelage de Tradition carriage competition on Sunday, celebrating the skill and heritage of traditional carriage driving.
Away from the action, families can enjoy an extensive list of activities, alongside exclusive discounted access to Blenheim Palace’s Adventure Play. Fashion will be front and centre, with a newly created Friday Fashion Forecast series of events to start proceedings, and the shopping village welcoming over 200 stallholders, including a specially curated Created in the Cotswolds area, full to the brim with local artisan brands.
“Blenheim is a truly special event,” continues Katrina, “Bringing together the very best of the sport with grassroots competition, family entertainment and everything visitors need for a brilliant day out, in the most iconic setting. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Blenheim Palace and making 2026 our most memorable Horse Trials yet.”
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