‘CLASSIC DISCOVERY SERIES’ IS ANOTHER FIRST FOR UK HORSE TRIALS

News of yet another ‘first’ for UK horse trials was announced in February by the innovative organising team behind the ‘revolutionary’ Armathwaite Hall Strongid-P Horse Trials, which in association with Lloyd Landrover in Cumbria, will put up the first car ever offered as a horse trials prize in Britain.

The Classic Discovery Series, which involves three other advanced events leading on to its climax at Armathwaite Hall, will offer a prize of a brand new £25,650 TD5 Discovery vehicle - which can be won outright - to enhance the £16,000 Strongid-P Classic prize fund already announced.

A rider winning any advanced section at Witton Castle, Co. Durham (April 1-2), Bicton, Devon (March 31-April 2) or Wilmslow, Cheshire (April 29-30), who goes on, with the same horse, to win the Strongid-P Classic section at the Armathwaite Hall event will take home the £4000 first prize money and the £25,650 Discovery TD5.

Armathwaite Hall joint organiser Charles Graves explained, “Thanks to the generosity of our title sponsor Pfizer, we have already taken advantage of changes to British Horse Trials Association (BHTA) rules for this season to offer one of the biggest prize funds ever - £24,000 - for one-day horse trials.

“These same new rules also encourage prizes in kind and we are delighted that Lloyd Landrover is to jointly support, with us, what we think is the first car ever to be put up as a prize for a horse trial!”

Rob Lindsay, Dealer Principal at Lloyd Landrover was quick to express his delight when the Classic Discovery Series was finally confirmed. “As suppliers of the world’s number one 4-wheel drive range of vehicles, we are delighted to be associated with such a successful event and can also confirm that the Landrover Arch, familiar to some competitors, will be making an appearance at the Armathwaite Hall event.”

TRADITIONAL RURAL ENTERTAINMENT CONFIRMED FOR THE ARMATHWAITE HALL COUNTRY FAIR & STRONGID-P HORSE TRIALS

Always innovative and already acknowledged as leading the way in the development of horse trials in the UK, the team behind the Armathwaite Hall Country Fair and Strongid-P Horse Trials has confirmed a major programme emphasising traditional rural entertainment for this year’s event over the weekend of June 30 - July 2.

Billed as a great family weekend, with thrills and spills galore, event organisers will play host not only to top class horse trials, but also to terrier racing in which visitors can enter their dogs, gundog displays also aimed at audience participation, the perennially popular hunt parades and the Lurcher Club of Great Britain will stage long jump and high jump competitions.

There is to be a separately run qualifying competition for the Countryside Alliance Terrier Championship and displays of falconry staged by Trotters World of Animals.

The horse trials cross country course runs through the Trotters animal park and all visitors to the event can enjoy free admission to Trotters throughout the weekend, where they can see both farm animals and more exotic species, including gibbons, lemurs, wallabies and reptiles.

A second, family arena will host a variety of entertainment specifically for younger visitors, including the Strombolis sword-swallowing and fire-eating extravaganza and two former British trampoline champions - Wax ‘n Wain, performing a comedy trampoline and high bar act. The entertainment programmes will run throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Brass bands and jazz bands, plus a piper will add atmosphere to the large number of trade stands that make the event a shopping ‘must’. There is also a children’s fair, which like the trade stands, is open on all three days.

TRADITIONAL RURAL COUNTRY FAIR & TOP CLASS HOSPITALITY - ARMATHWAITE HALL EVENT IS ‘THE PLACE TO BE’

Expanded hospitality opportunities alongside a niche opportunity for quality country crafts and traditional traders at what will be a major event with a genuinely rural theme, is proving a winning formula for the innovative team behind the Armathwaite Hall Strongid-P Horse Trials.

A new layout for the rapidly growing event, which takes place over the weekend of June 30 - July 2 at Armathwaite Hall, plus a distinct move towards ever more traditional entertainment, has produced an interesting mix of businesses for this year’s Shopping Village. Applications are still being accepted and allocations are being made selectively to ensure a varied experience for visitors.

The 4-star Armathwaite Hall hotel brings proven expertise to the varied hospitality opportunities and alongside the event’s corporate sponsors, the VIP marquee will welcome local businesses, event horse owners and private parties wanting to simply enjoy excellent food and drinks amongst the ambience of a top class sporting occasion in the Lake District.

Joint organiser Charles Graves explains, “We have set about creating a new experience for Cumbria and our idea of adding quality hospitality and a very traditional, rural Country Fair to the thrills and spills excitement of what is one of the biggest one-day horse trials in Britain has caught people’s imagination and we’re obviously delighted!

“We have made the decision to expand the hospitality facilities this year and although we will be contacting those who weren’t initially able to secure a booking, some spaces are still available.”

The event stages prestigious ridden showing classes and young event horse qualifiers on the Friday, pre-novice and novice horse trials on the Saturday, then the most exciting advanced and Strongid-P classic horse trials on the Sunday. There will be cross country action on both Saturday (pre-novice and novice) and Sunday (novice and advanced).

For further details and an interactive course walk please visit Armathwaite's website -
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