Behind the scenes of run-up to Bramham

We have been busy since the end of last year's event thinking about how we can improve different things for everyone including the public and competitors, right through to the horses and officials.

One of the main changes this year is that we have a new cross-country course designer.

Sue Benson stepped down as designer after 10 successful years and has handed over the reins to Olympic silver medallist, Ian Stark. Ian has a wealth of experience as a competitor and, while still competing, he is putting his experience to good use in course design.

The course this year runs in the opposite direction to that of late. It takes in Bramham Park's fantastic features – many of which have not been used before on the cross country course. For now that's all I'm saying, as we will be hearing more about that next week from Ian himself.

During the summer, Bramham Park plays host to the Leeds Festival which takes over the August bank holiday weekend. The build starts a full month before, and the breakdown takes about three weeks, so it really is a large chunk of the summer. I've never been to the festival before, and I was amazed at the scale of it. It's amazing how multi-functional, with careful management, this park really is.

In November, we began contacting our huge army of officials and volunteers, without whom an event of this scale just wouldn't happen. The snow arrived in mid-December and outstayed it's welcome by some weeks. It made travelling to work rather treacherous and also meant that many jobs in and around the park were delayed. Once it finally disappeared, it was all hands on deck and the park was given the "winter once over" to ensure that the ground would be in tip-top condition for the Horse Trials.

We also began speaking to contractors – new and old – and started the task of deciding who to use for what. This year, we have a new marquee contractor – the Accio Group – who will bring a modern and spacious feel to the members' areas. We also have new caterers, Hughes Caterers, and a slightly different dining concept.

This year, there will be the members' bistro where you will be able to enjoy good quality, bistro-style food overlooking the Dickinson Dees West Arena.

Entries opened for all of our arena classes a few weeks ago and entries have been flooding in ever since. Our online box office opened a few months ago, and our telephone booking line opened at the beginning

of May. Tickets are selling fast and are making for a very busy time in the office, as for the first year, we are dealing with the ticket requirements in-house. Early indications show that ticket sales are up on last year – which is great news and hopefully the trend will continue up to and throughout the event itself.

Entries for the main CCI and CIC classes are also open, and entries are looking good with well known names on the list including Yorkshire's very own European Gold Medallist Nicola Wilson, the current European Champion Tina Cook, 2009 Badminton

and Burghley winner Oliver Townend and recent Badminton winner Paul Tapner.

With time ticking on, the office is only going to get busier, but it is all leading towards a very exciting few days at Bramham. The event begins on June 3.

For more information and tickets, go to www.bramham-horse.co.uk.