KLmagazine May 2017 9

A stunning setting for aweekend of great sport What more could you want from a Bank Holiday weekend? A greatday out for the family, local colour and world-class sport. HilaryManners previews this year’s Houghton International Horse Trials...

In East Anglia, the HoughtonInternational Horse Trials hasbecome synonymous with thesecond Bank Holiday in May, andthe event (which celebrated its

10th anniversary last year) is now firmlyestablished in Norfolk’s calendar. It’s anevent that has something for everyone;exhilarating sporting action, a stunningsetting, entertainment for both theyoung and old, plus shopping at over70 trade stands.

Last year’s debutant attraction, theVintage Fair, is returning with more

hand-picked exhibitors offering a quirkyand eclectic range of goods whichshowcase the very best in vintageclothing, tweeds, jewellery, bags,glassware, linens and homeware. Avintage tea room will be providingafternoon teas served on authenticvintage crockery and, new for this year,there’ll be a Food Market selling suchdelectables as jams and juices,chocolate and local beer.

Held in the magnificent grounds ofHoughton Hall, one of the mostoutstanding venues within the sport of

eventing, the Horse Trials hosts not onlythe British leg of the FEI Nations Cupseries (where teams from as far afield asAustralia and New Zealand battle it outto top the leaderboard come the finalevent at Boekelo, Holland in October)but also the British Eventing Nationalunder 21 Championships.

Houghton offers spectators thewhole range of talent, from up-and-coming to multi-medal winningOlympians, which is rare in any sport.

“Houghton is a truly spectacularvenue which I’m sure plays a part in the

ABOVE: Nicola Wilson (pictured here on Annie Clover) and Simon Grieve (pictured opposite riding Traveller Royale) are familiar visitors to theHoughton International Horse Trials, which take place in the glorious setting of Houghton Hall later this month

What’s On

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KLmagazine May 2017 11 10 KLmagazine May 2017

What’s On

event’s appeal to riders and spectators,”says Event Director Alec Lochore.“Hosting the FEI Nations Cup is hugelyprestigious, and we’re very proud tohave this class at Houghton, whichensures the attendance of riders from agreat range of countries. I appreciatethe distances that many competitorstravel to come to our corner of NorthNorfolk – hopefully it means we’redoing something right!”

Another draw for competitors isHoughton International’s inclusion inthe Shearwater Insurance Tri-Star GrandSlam. This series comprises five ‘ThreeStar’ classes across the season, and anyrider winning three of the five takeshome a £50,000 ‘winner takes all’bonus. Last year, British No.1 OliverTownend came closest to the big prize,winning both Burnham Market andBurgham. This season Izzy Taylorclaimed the first leg at Belton Park,while Burnham Market was yet againwon by Oliver Townend – his 10th winof this headline class since 2007.

More than 700 horses perform eachyear, but it’s not just about eventing.Running alongside the Internationalclasses are a variety of other equestriandisciplines; British showjumping, Arenaeventing, unaffiliated dressage andshowjumping, Pony Club teamshowjumping, and the ever popularDubarry Burghley Young Event Horsequalifiers, where riders show off thepotential stars of the future.

Away from the horses, a guaranteedcrowd pleaser is the East Anglian Air

Ambulance (EAAA) Charity CamelRacing. This takes place on Sunday28th May, with jockeys made up ofvolunteers who’ve guaranteed to raise£500 for the charity, plus a smatteringof professional event riders – and onlytime will tell as to who shows most skillon a potentially contrary camel!

The EAAA has a fundraising goal of£11million this year alone, a staggeringfigure which reflects the incredibleservice it provides. Each airbornerescue mission costs around £3,500 –and with an average of five missions aday it soon becomes clear why thefundraising target is so high..

“We provide lifesaving medicalsupport to critically ill patients by flyingthe hospital A&E to them,” explainsEAAA Chief Executive Patrick Peal. “Wethen transport them within minutes tothe most appropriate hospital for theirclinical needs, which can make all thedifference between long-term injuryand recovery – and even between lifeand death.”

With Norfolk famed for its coastline,residents and holiday makers are aslikely as equestrians to need theservices of the Air Ambulance; it reallydoes provide a service for all whichmakes it the ideal charity to benefitfrom this year’s Horse Trials.

As ever a range of children’sentertainment will be on offer, fromRazz & Pearl’s Circus Workshops tobouncy castles, while a variety of foodand drink outlets (including a wellstocked bar!) will provide sustenance.

Houghton International runs from25th-28th May, and the box office isnow open, with both camping andpicnic parking tickets also available.Prices for admission start at £8 foradults and £4 for children, with under5’s admitted free of charge.

For more information on any aspect of this year’s Houghton InternationalHorse Trials, and to book advancetickets, visit www.musketeer.co.uk

ABOVE: Pictured here on Mounttemple Mistress at the Houghton International Horse Trials, Jo Rimmer is Manager of Fontmell Parva Stables,eventing and training yard. The former school teacher has produced a number of horses up to CCI*** level and now combines competingwith producing young horses and training riders of all ages.