A Year to Remember for Badminton Horse Trials
When: 1st May-5th May 2019
Where: Gloucestershire
Preparations are now well underway for the 2019 Badminton Horse Trials, the last year in which title sponsors, Mitsubishi Motors, will support the event.
The shock announcement, that car manufacturer Mitsubishi will discontinue support of one of the industries leading events, was released towards the end of 2018.
The new season of eventing will welcome a special year for Badminton Horse Trials when the newly marked 5* event will mark it’s 70th anniversary.
Proving innovation remains at the forefront of business strategy, organisers have confirmed e-tickets have now been made available with the aim to ‘speed up entry to the showground allowing for admission to be bought right up to the day of the event’.
For spectators, who turned up in unprecedented numbers in 2018 there are further enhancements. The popular Lakeside area has been revitalised along with the Members and Deli enclosures and the 2018 newcomer to the burgeoning shopping village, The World of Food and Wine is expanded.
After a successful premiere in 2018 the fans will be able to submit questions to the top three riders each day on a stage by the Media Centre.
Entries are yet to be confirmed, but it is expected riders likely to be entering are those from the victorious British world champion squad, alongside the usual contingent of the World’s top class combinations.
The camp site, which now has over 1,300 pitches is complemented just up the road in 2019 by a Glamping field as often seen habituated by the A listers at big music events. This will certainly lend extra style to the Badminton experience.
For the very knowledgeable, Badminton has, along with the five other top Events of its type, had its rating upgraded by the international federation the FEI from 4* to 5*, though for practical purposes this will have no effect on Eric Winter’s course, of which he has been the designer for the past two years. Badminton remains the dream of riders the world over.
The 2019 event will be ‘kicked off’ with the Mitsubishi Motors Cup (amateur) competition. This will take place on the Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Box Office opened to existing customers earlier this week and the ticketing kiosk will be available to all comers on Monday 14th January.
For more information please visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk
