Belsay International (1) Horse Trials Cross Country Videos
Belsay Castle and Hall in Northumberland will be playing host to 12 nations at its first ever CCI4* event this week.
This year’s replacement for Chatsworth International, Belsay’s first 4* competition has attracted more than 100 entries, including some of the biggest names in the sport.
This bumper entry for the RBC Brewin Dolphin CCI4*-S includes a pair of CCI5* winners with Olympic gold medallist and last weekend’s Badminton winner, Ros Canter bringing her 2023 Pau CCI5* winning horse Izilot DHI, while Caroline Harris will ride D Day, winner of the French CCI5* last October. Other famous names across the classes include Britain’s Piggy March and Bubby Upton, Irish Olympian Aoife Clark, Italian Olympic rider Giovanni Ugolotti, China’s Alex Hua Tian, up-and-coming USA star Cosby Green and leading Scottish eventer Wills Oakden.
Australia and New Zealand are well represented with five Australian combinations and 10 New Zealanders taking part in the 4*.
Australia’s Isabel English is making the trip north with Cil Dara Dallas, Lissa Green has two entries in Igor B and Go On Biats and Bill Levett also has two in Sligo Candy Cane and Weston General
Jonelle Price is riding three, Capitaine De Hus Z, Chillis Morning Star and Senor Crocodillo while Tim, who has been jetting around from Kentucky to Badminton in recent times, has a slightly less busy time with just CHIO 20 in the 4*. Abigail Long is riding Henton Audacious, James Avery has MBF Connection, Kelli Frewin is riding Hidden Gold, Vicky Browne-Cole rides Cutting Edge and Samantha Lissington brings forward Billy Alberto and Delarado.
The event sponsored by leading London law firm Forsters LLP and wealth management company RBC Brewin Dolphin also features a CCI2*-S, and national Advanced and Novice classes.
Keep an eye out for Bubby Upton in the CCI2* riding a new addition to her stable this year, the German-bred Auckland 7. This will be their first 2* together but the pair finished second in the Novice at Osberton (1) recently and Bubby has high hopes of the eight-year-old she sourced from one of her friends from European Pony days in Germany.
New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone has the in-form Rocket Man, who has already had two top 10 finishes at 4* this year, and Sparky Lad in the Chaser Communications sponsored Advanced class but he’ll be up against a strong field with Ireland’s Austin O’Connor, Emily King and Tom Jackson.
While Belsay (1) has attracted top partnerships from all over Britain - and further afield - there are also a host of local riders hoping to make an impact in this beautiful setting, which features the historic Belsay Castle as a backdrop. Northumberland’s Jack Mantel and Katie Magee will be fresh from completions at their Badminton CCI5* debuts, while others to watch include Emma Carmichael, Laura Fenwick, Harry Mutch and Will Murray.
A new cross country course, designed by Adrian Ditcham, and event layout has been put in place for Belsay (1) and we’re looking forward to filming competitors on cross country across all classes during the event!
The CCI4* competitors take to the dressage arena on Friday and Saturday with showjumping and cross country on Sunday. Entry lists and scores can be found here
