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Press Releases
February 2007
The Ballygraffan International Horse Trials
‘Equestrianism is booming…it’s official’
DATE: Saturday 28th – Sunday, 29th APRIL 2007
LOCATION: Ballygraffan, Comber, Co. Down
‘Equestrianism is booming…’ maybe it was Zara Phillips winning the gold medal at the World Equestrian Games and then receiving the immense accolade of ‘Sports Personality of the Year 2006’, whatever the reason, it’s official. Equestrianism is one of the fastest growing leisure activities.
Ballygraffan International Horse Trials proves this, as it enters its fourth year, the event moves from strength to strength both in terms of a sporting competition and as a great day out. The two-day event welcomes increasing numbers of international & local riders to take part in Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross-Country competitions.
The superb world-class course is set in the Strangford Lough Conservation Area in the scenic undulating drumlin country of Co. Down. This year the course will see the addition of several challenging new fences along with other design improvements that will confront riders and entertain spectators in a spectacular show of skill and agility. Riders will compete in CIC* and CIC** classes, across 2.5 miles of demanding track.
One of the beauties of the setting is that there are several prime positions that are easily accessible for spectators to get a great view of the proceedings. Visitors will also enjoy the return of the very successful Market Village that has proved to have something for everyone, delicious products homemade food-traders and a fascinating eclectic selection of gifts.
WHAT’S NEW
This year, the event will run over Saturday and Sunday, giving everyone
more time to come along and enjoy a great time out in the beautiful setting
of this event.
The Hospitality Marquee has a Spectators café area that will provide
a tasty and affordable family menu all day long.
Another ‘NEW’ addition to the proceedings will be the ‘FANCY
DRESS CHARITY FUN RUN’, Alex McKeag, who is part of the Ballygraffan
course building team, will lead a bunch of local lads around the course
in fancy dress, for all to see!
Ringleader Alex McKeag said,
“This run has been threatened for several years…it’ll
be a bit of fun, and we’ll be raising some funds for Chest Heart
& Stroke, which is great”
So, along with the main attraction of a superb world class sporting competition, there is a lot more for all the family to enjoy at Ballygraffan this year.
NOTES TO RELEASE:
Understanding Eventing:
Horse Trials, more popularly known as ‘Eventing’ provides
a competition, which is the equestrian version of the modern pentathlon,
requiring courage, determination and all round ability on the part of
the rider and systematic training of the horse. It is a sport in which
the UK and Ireland are highly successful on the world stage and is one
of the few in which women and men compete on equal terms. Each event includes
professionals and amateurs (pro-am); at all events, world-class riders
compete against amateurs.
The Course:
The morning after last year’s event, international course designer
Hugh Lochore was at work designing this year’s course and many changes
have been made to both classes. There are twelve new fences in total and
these have been expertly constructed by world- renowned course-builders,
The Willis Brothers, of Badminton and Olympic fame, who have developed
the course from scratch.
Profiles:
Hugh Simpson: Ballygraffan Land Manager/Course Manager – Has always
worked closely with the Willis Brothers developing the course. He sourced
all the materials and came up with many inventive suggestions, though
he had never even seen a cross-country fence just a couple of years ago.
The Willis brothers have embraced him as part of the team, and value his
support and ideas.
The fence named after him is; ‘Hugh’s Rock’ –
a cross-country fence made up of a huge rock that was dug up in the construction
of the course, it can be seen from the Killinchy Road, and has become
a land-mark in the area.
“There’s no way this event could happen without Hugh…”
June Burgess, Landowner and Host.
William McKeag:
Owner of the Old Mill, which is incorporated into the course. He also
works with the Willis Brothers when they are at the course.
FACT:
.…the ‘Irish Sport Horse’ has been responsible, along
with their highly trained riders, for winning the World Equestrian Games,
the Athens Olympics 2004, 3day Event and many other significant competitions.
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