Interview: Stuart Buntine - Belton and stability in the sport

      Event Director Stuart Buntine at Belton House as Belton International prepares to kick off

 

The flags were flying against a Spring-blue sky at Belton House on Thursday afternoon as final preparations were being made for Belton International. As one of the key British Eventing Spring events, Belton can be subject to fickle weather but this year the Event Director and cross country course designer Stuart Buntine was in shirt sleeves as he headed out to inspect the course with the Ground Jury

Stuart is all smiles today; the weather forecast is good, the event has an exceptional entry list, the preparations have all gone well and he is confident of a very good event for both spectators and riders at Belton House this year. He does have concerns in other areas however after a period of unrest and strife within the sport of eventing, including the recent resignation of the British Eventing CEO David Holmes who will be leaving at the end of the month

“We really, really need some stability in our sport to take it forward” says Stuart “What worries me particularly is this constant upheaval of people running our sport and somewhere along the line we’ve got to get some stability so that the sport can unite and move forward”

 

Stuart Buntine