Event Rider Masters comes to Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market

Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International will open the 2020 Event Rider Master (ERM) Series. This prestigious and lucrative series was launched in 2016, the champion that year current World Number 1, Oliver Townend. As the hardest rider to beat at Burnham Market – not only did he lead both four star sections from pillar to post last year, his tally of four star wins at the venue stands at 12 since 2007 – there is little doubt that he will start as favourite for this ERM leg.

Running over the first half of the 2020 Easter weekend (Thursday 9th – Saturday 11th April), Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International attracts the world’s best event riders to North Norfolk. Good ground and well built, challenging cross country courses make it a perfect prep run for competitors heading to the spring Five Star events, Badminton and Kentucky, as well as for those with less lofty targets.

The horse trials has been running at Sussex Farm, just outside the popular holiday destination of Burnham Market and within easy reach of the stunning coast line, since 1999. It was awarded international status in 2003 and now hosts a range of classes from national BE90 through to international CCI4*-S. Organised by Alec Lochore’s Musketeer Event Management team, Alec is both Event Director and cross country course designer. 

“We are delighted to be hosting the opening leg of the ERM. It’s a perfect fit for us – the world’s leading riders descend on our corner of North Norfolk every spring, so to be able to offer them an ERM class as well as our regular three- and four star and national classes is the icing on the cake,” Alec commented.

“I have worked with the ERM team previously, up at Blair Castle, so seen first hand the excitement the class generates, with its generous prize money and live streaming opportunities. I’m really looking forward to showcasing our event to an international audience.”

The prize pot for the ERM class is £50,000, with an additional £50,000 shared between the top three riders at the end of the season. Each phase of every leg will be live streamed, and available free of charge.

Musketeer Event Management will again be supporting East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), its official charity for 2020. EAAA operates two state of the art helicopters and two rapid response vehicles which serve the people of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, also encompassing residents of Essex and Hertfordshire during the hours of darkness. Their services are called upon on average eight times a day, and only kept airborne thanks to donations.

Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials offers a fantastic day out for all the family. Alongside the top-class competition, there will be over 50 shops and, for children, bungee trampolines, bouncy castles and a climbing wall. Razz and Pearl will be performing circus workshops on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th April, making it a great family day out.