Blenheim Palace International moves to Burnham Market – for one year

Following the Covid-19 related cancellation of this autumn’s Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, we are delighted to have been able to step in to run both the CCI4* short format 8/9-year-old-championship, a stand alone CCI4*Short and the CCI4* long format normally hosted by Blenheim.

The Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International will run from 17th – 20th September, a welcome replacement for our covid-cancelled spring International fixture. It will be the first time that the venue has hosted a four-star long format event – which means competitors will be greeted by a number of changes.

Most notably, due to the need for an extended cross country track – a requirement for a long format four star – the cross country start has moved to the normal dressage field. The track runs down through the normal stables field (the stables have been moved), through the main arena and over the drive to join the regular course. Long format riders will also perform their dressage tests in the main arena.

The calibre of entries at the spring Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International is always top class, and this ‘stand in’ fixture is no different. Entries include the current World number one Oliver Townend, who has an astonishly successful record at Burnham Market; reigning World Champion Ros Canter; Ros’ gold medal winning team mates Tom McEwen, Gemma Tattersall and Piggy March – who of course was also the 2019 Badminton winner; 2019 Burghley winner Pippa Funnell, past World and European Champion Zara Tindall and eventing icon William Fox-Pitt.

Riders from 18 nations will be in action, including Kiwi double act Tim and Jonelle Price, Australia’s Sam Grifffiths, Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka and Ryuzo Kitajima, China’s Alex Hua Tian and Sweden’s Ludwig Svennerstal.

We are also hosting its usual lower level national event, Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market (2), the weekend before the star studded international.

In accordance with current government regulations both events will be run ‘behind closed doors’ and are NOT open to spectators. However Horse & Country TV will be live streaming the International classes on both Saturday and Sunday, 19th – 20th.