The Bowmore Blair
Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair
Blair Atholl, Perthshire
Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th August 2000
RECORD ENTRIES FOR BLAIR HORSE
TRIALS
Entries for this years Bowmore Blair Castle
International Horse Trials from August 24th to 27th have exceeded all
expectations, and the organisers have had to ballot out a number of horses for
the first time.
Co-director and organiser, Tim Hadaway said,
"We are delighted at the popularity of the event and did consider the
possibility of running three days of dressage followed by two days of speed and
endurance, but the logistics of such an exercise were not possible at this late
stage."
A total of 200 horses have been accepted, 110 in
the two star and 90 in the one star class, and about 180 are expected to run
– even this will mean a long day on Saturday.
The truly international field with 16 countries
represented includes Rodney Powell, who has been selected to ride as an
individual at the Sydney Olympics. William Fox-Pitt fresh from his win at
Gatcombe has entered Just a Sovereign and Wallow. New Zealanders, Blyth Tait
and Andrew Nicholson have both entered horses with Blyth getting the ride on
Ronnie Bartlett’s Ironic, which won the Scottish Novice Championships at
Thirlestane last year.
The local flag will be flown by Sarah England from
Methven, with White Chief, Alexi Mackinnon from Blair Atholl with Lenamore and
Veyatie Archibald from Kinfauns with Staffa, while other Scots include Alec
Lochore, Tom Clark and Louisa Milne-Home.
The popularity of the Bowmore Blair Castle event
is not just confined to the three day event. There has also been a massive 900
BSJA entries (100 have been turned away) over the three days, 150 working and
ridden hunters, 150 Highland Ponies and 125 for the Pony Club Games on
Saturday.
