Members of the 2008 Beijing GB Olympics Team have entered the Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials at Wilton Park from Saturday to Sunday, 26th - 27th July 2008.
The Queen's 27-year-old granddaughter, Zara Phillips, who has been forced to pull out of next month's Olympics because of an injury to her horse, is almost certain to compete at Wilton, as will joint course designer Lucy Wiegersma, whose Olympic mount "Shaabrak" incurred a setback during training and was forced to withdraw from the GB Team.
Other international competitors will include Katherine Becker (USA), Leonard Goerens (France), Dan Jocelyn (New Zealand), Julia Kiruchina (Russia), Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand), Fred Scala (Ireland) and Theresa van Rijckevorsel (Sweden).
Other riders may include the GB Olympics Team members William Fox-Pitt and Daisy Dick, who have both enterred the event.
Their attendance depends upon the health of their respective Olympic mounts "Parkmore Ed" and "Spring Along".
William is a regular competitior at Wilton and is a European Gold, World Bronze and Olympic Silver medalist. Daisy was called up to the Great Britain three-day event team for the Beijing Olympics at the beginning of July.
Anthony Ffooks, Organiser of Wilton Horse Trials, added: "We are again delighted to be welcoming Zara and Lucy for certain, as well as a host of other International riders to the Wilton Horse Trials.
The trials will display both the fun side of horse ownership with the combined disciplines in Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country.
"Wilton Park is the ideal venue for a great day out for all of the family. Last year the event was rained off and we are keeping our fingers crossed for good weather. I am hoping for a record crowd of spectators to see some of the finest eventers in the World."
Whitehead Vizard partner Andrew Hodder said: "Whitehead Vizard are pleased to have had a long association with Wilton Estate. The popularity of Wilton Horse Trials, with competitors and spectators alike, reflects the growing importance of equestrian sport and its supporting industries in the South West. It is real pleasure that some of Britain's greatest Olympians have enterred the event.
Wilton Park stands on the site of a ninth century nunnery founded by King Alfred. This, in turn, was replaced by a twelfth century Benedictine abbey which, with its surrounding lands, was surrendered at the time of the Dissolution of the monasteries, to King Henry VIII, who gave them to William Herbert around 1542.
Wilton Park has remained in the family since that time and is the home of the Earl of Pembroke.
Entry available on the day is £10 per car. Dressage starts at 0900 hours.
Showjumping will start at 1000 hours. Cross-Country will start at 1030 hours.
For further information about The Whitehead Vizard Wilton Horse Trials, please contact:
SPONSOR: Andrew Hodder, Whitehead Vizard Solicitors, Close Gate Chambers, 60 High Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2PQ. Tel: 01722 412141 or e-mail him at: ah@Whitehead-Vizard.co.uk
ORGANISER: Anthony Ffooks, Church Farm, Lamyatt, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6NP. Tel: 07779 588274 (Mobile) or e-mail him at: ant@lamyatt.demon.co.uk. Website: www.wiltonhorsetrials.co.uk |
