MAYBACH BARBURY CASTLE HORSE TRIALS

SET TO BUILD ON DEBUT

Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th July 2006 Barbury Castle, Marlborough, Wilts
The Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials - now one of Britain’s Premier League events - is set to build on its debut success of last year with record entries and a packed programme of events.

• Barbury’s natural downland amphitheatre offers some of the most spectacular cross country viewing in the world, receiving accolades across the board on the Event’s debut last year. This time spectators will be brought even closer to the action as the riders jump the last three fences in the main arena.

The current Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials title holder is William Fox-Pitt (Ballincoola)In only its second year or running, The Maybach Barbury Castle Horse Trials has been awarded British Eventing Premier League status, alongside other ‘majors’ including Badminton and Burghley.A CIC*** is the most advanced horse trials event run on a one day format where riders compete in 3 phases – dressage first, followed by show jumping and finishing with cross country.

Over 100 of the world’s top international riders will be battling it out for the prestigious CIC*** Maybach Challenge Trophy;
with over 220 more competitors expected in the supporting Mercedes-Benz Novice Horse Trials.

• Many top British team members will be using Barbury as a final workout before the World Championships at Aachen in August. These include: the Barbury title holder*, William Fox-Pitt riding Tamarillo, Daisy Dick (Spring Along), Mary King (Call Again Cavalier) and Oliver Townend (Flint Curtis) and Sharon Hunt (Tankers Town). They will be joined by team reserves Polly Stockton (Tom Quigley).
• The British contingent will face strong competition from at least 6 other nations including the World’s current ‘number one’ Gatcombe-based Australian rider Andrew Hoy, who returns to Barbury having finished 3rd and 9th last year on Master Monarch and Yeoman’s Point. Andrew will be joined by his
fellow countrymen, Devizes-based Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, currently on top form following high class performances at Luhmuhlen and Chatsworth.

• American rider, Amy Tyron, is flying in from the USA with two entries.

• The Irish will also be out in force for their pre-World Championships workout, with Geoff Curran, Niall Ferguson, Ann Hatton and Philippa Mains from Ireland all having Barbury CIC entries.

•New Zealanders, Andrew Nicholson, Jonelle Richards, Dan Jocelyn and Alex De Luca Oliveira will be ones to watch with Andrew having won the sport’s most recent premier event at Bramham in early June. He will be looking to better his 6th place at Barbury last year, this year riding Fenicio. Jonelle will debut on her very talented horse Mazetto.

• The event will be a nail-biting time for the young British riders (aged 19-21) who will be competing for a place on the team going to the Young Rider European Championships at Pardubice (4-6 August). The shortlisted combinations will be doing their dressage in the main arena, followed by cross country over the novice track, finishing with show jumping at intermediate height. Our shortlisted junior riders (aged 16-18) will also be demonstrating their credentials to Selectors in the Mercedes-Benz Novice classes in a bid to represent Britain at their international championships in Ireland (14-17 September).

• The Toggi Top Score Show Jumping provides a fast, furious and fun spectacle. The contest features a selection of the top riders who will be challenged to clear the most fences in a set time, to achieve the highest score.


• NEW MERCHANDISE 2006 Lots of good shopping too!
for this year will be a range of limited edition Barbury shirts, making up a new Barbury Collection created in association with Toggi. Prices will start at £25. These will go on sale for the first time at the horse trials from the Barbury shop in the shopping village which has been expanded this year to include over 60 trade stands offering everything from gifts and fashions to equestrian goods and rural crafts.

Something for everyone...
• For the football and tennis fans, there will also be live television coverage of the World Cup and Wimbledon at the venue, as well as a range of childrens entertainment for the young family spectators.

• Advance tickets are available until Saturday 1st July, via the web site and box office but may also be purchased at the gate. General admission tickets will be £5 per person on Saturday and £10 per person on Sunday (under 12s free) with a choice of extras available. These include the option to purchase picnic parking tickets or badges for The Maybach Members Enclosure, with main arena viewing,
cctv and it’s own bar and restaurant.

The Event’s official charity is the Marlborough Riding for the Disabled.
Barbury Castle is set in the Marlborough Downs, about 3 miles North West of Marlborough, Wiltshire. Gates open at 8.30am (Sat)
and 8am (Sunday). The venue will be signed from junction 15 of the M4. Motorists are advised NOT to follow the signs for The Barbury Castle Country Park.

For press enquiries contact Sandy Thwaites 01793-710610 or 07779-8019262

Further details at www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01793-877212.