7 Months To Badminton 2011 And Only Days to WEG Eventing

Many More Planning Meetings To Go!

It seems like only last week we were 'breaking down' the 2010 event, and even though Badminton Horse Trials 2011 is some 7 months away, we're already nose to the grindstone in preparation for next year.

Many planning meetings are held in September which vary from Traffic to Loos and nearly everything in between! This week we have had our Campsite Managers, Andrew and Sasha Munro Seear down for the day and have been discussing ways in which to improve the campsite and hopefully find some more space! At one point yesterday the whole office were marching around a field trying to imagine what it would look like with tents and caravans and the best place for loos & showers!


Ticket systems are updated and revised and our new Box Office Manager, Vicky Iddon, has been busy getting to grips with running the Box Office for the first time. We had a lovely farewell lunch for Carol Alexander in August, which was very kindly hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort at Badminton House. Carol had been Box Office Manager for over 20 years and had made many friends along the way with both customers and fellow Badminton staff. The lunch was attended by both past and current members of the Badminton team and was a special day for all those involved.

Plans are already afoot out on the cross country course, as Course Designer and Badminton Director, Hugh Thomas, starts to plan for 2011. Hugh has started to think about the route of the course for next year and any groundworks that will be required for specific fences, and today walked part of the course as part of his planning, whilst inspecting the maintenance that has continued over the summer.

The Badminton Post Office is kept busy in the run up to Christmas, as we write to contractors, exhibitors, and no end of others who help make our event so great, but as we roll into October we will no doubt pause for breath and take time out to see how many of our regular Badminton riders are getting on across the pond at the World Equestrian Games.

Nicola Wilson | Team GBR

The WEG eventing discipline starts this week (Thursday-Sunday), and of the 85 horses & riders competing, you'll see numerous winners of Badminton, including this year's winner Paul Tapner, and a long list of those that have made it round the deer park.  Three of the six members of the British squad have won Badminton in the last ten years, and includes the only Rolex Grand Slam winner - Pippa Funnell. Other nations are also fielding many Badminton regulars including members of teams from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, and the host nation, the US.

The BBC will be broadcasting the Cross Country & Show Jumping phases on their interactive service:

Saturday 02/10/2010
BBCi: 14:00-21:00
Eventing - Cross Country
(Not available on Freeview)

Sunday 03/10/2010
BBCi: 18:00-21:30
Eventing - Showjumping
(Not available on Freeview)

Monday 04/10/2010
BBC2: 13:00-14:15
Eventing Highlights

You'll also find some of the best online coverage from the games can be found at:

Alltech FEI Games (Official Site)
2010 WEG Radio Show
Horse & Hound
FEI TV