Event Rider Masters heads to Europe in 2017

The Event Rider Masters (ERM) has confirmed its 2017 calendar, which will consist of seven legs, including expansion of the series from the UK into mainland Europe.  It has also announced that a total of £400,000 will be awarded in prize money across the series

The 2017 Event Rider Masters calendar has been confirmed as:

Leg 1 - Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials (UK) 13^th – 14^th May

Leg 2 - Internationales Wiesbadener PfingstTurnier (Germany) 2^nd – 3^rd June

Leg 3 - St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials (UK) 8^th – 9^th July

Leg 4 - Haras de Jardy (France) 15^th – 16^th July

Leg 5 - Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe Park (UK) 5^th – 6^th August

Leg 6 - Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials (UK) 26^th – 27^th August

Leg 7 - Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (UK) 15^th – 16^th September

Last year the inaugural ERM featured six legs in the UK but in 2017 it will consist of seven legs and will extend its presence at two of Europe’s top popular competitions at Wiesbaden in Germany on 2^nd - 3^rd June, and Jardy in France on 15^th - 16^th July. 

In 2017 the world’s leading event riders will be competing for the increased guaranteed ERM series prize money fund totalling £400,000, establishing the series as the most valuable in the sport of Eventing.  Each ERM leg is worth £50,000 with an additional £50,000 series bonus. 

The seven event venues located in England, Scotland, France, and Germany provide a spectacular setting for each leg of the ERM while the growth into mainland Europe is the first step of a planned expansion. The one venue missing from the line-up in 2017 is Bramham International which was part of the Series in 2016. ERM say that the intention of the series is to feature on other continents in the future, establishing it as a global sporting series and a first for the sport of Eventing.

Last year Britain’s Oliver Townend made a big impact on the second half of the ERM riding Cillnabradden Evo, with the horse developing into a remarkable performer in the series. The pair were unbeatable at leg’s four and five and nearly secured a third consecutive win when finishing a close second in the sixth, crowning him with the first ERM title.  Jonelle Price (NZ) finished in second and in third was Paul Tapner (AUS).

Chris Stone, CEO of Event Rider Masters commented;

“It’s a great achievement that the Event Rider Masters will now have two legs in mainland Europe”

“It’s a very exciting time for the series and we hope for the sport of Eventing, and we cannot wait to get going with the first leg on the 13^th May”.