Course designer Giuseppe Della Chiesa and James Willis of Willis Bros, course builders
Preparations are underway for the first British CCI4* of 2016 at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials which takes place this year from 4th -8th May
Bucking the trend with tradition, Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s third cross country course will not change direction in 2016 but will be following the same basic anti clockwise route as last year, which is generally considered a bit less challenging than the other way. However there will be lots of new fences or elements of fences and an ingenious change of route down in the Vicarage Fields.
This will be the 25th anniversary of Mitsubishi Motors’ sponsorship of Badminton, one of the longest in the sport, and it has also been announced that Mitsubishi has agreed to extend the sponsorship until 2019. The Cirencester based company originally took over the sponsorship in 1992, initially for three years but their support is still going strong in 2016.
The sponsor is donating a copse of 25 trees to be planted prominently on the Badminton estate and has also commissioned a pair of rocking horses from Stevenson Brothers, based on the Duke of Beaufort’s favourite horse, Countryman III on whom he finished second at Badminton in 1959.
The famous quarter of a century old Trophy, designed by the Wiltshire-based sculptress, Judy Boyt will soon be polished and ready for the next winner on the roll of honour – who will it be in 2016?
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Chilli Morning winner the Badminton Horse Trials 2015 receives the Mitsubishi Motors Trophy from Lance Bradley, MD of Mitsubishi Motors UK and The Duchess of Beaufort
