Stark reveals course design for brilliant Bramham’s milestone

For his fourth year in charge, the former Olympic rider has introduced some new fences, re-sited some favourites and made use of the undulations of the historic Bramham Park, which is in brilliant condition with near perfect going for the horses.

While Stark provides the vision, master craftsman David Evans and his team have brought the fences to reality and they have again been busy with their chain-saw art.

Over 140 riders from 11 countries will do battle across the three eventing contests – the Equi-Trek CCI3*, the British Equestrian Trade Association CIC3* and the Bishop Burton College U25 CCI3* – and all will tackle Stark’s course on Saturday, June 8.

The start and finish of the cross-country is at one of the highest areas in the park with great views of the course.

Fence one, the Yorkshire Post Garden, gives a nice introduction while fence two sees a new location for the “loud” Leeds Festival Wall – at fence three in past years.

The Bramham Arch is this year’s fence three with the first combination coming at four, the Alan Chappelow Stick Piles.

A long gallop to the Fulmart Feeds Brush at five leads to the iconic park feature, the Round House where the horses tackle the Equi-Trek Round House.

From there it is quickly on to the big Equi-Trek Leap.

The friendly Triple Brush at eight is at the bottom of Lord Bingley’s Walk and gives an easy jump before the next combination, the testing Suregrow Fertiliser Owl Hole.

The beautiful fence 10, the Joules Clothing London 2012 Chess Table, is next up followed by a run down to the first water, the Kidney Pool fence 11, which, having run downhill, will test balance and bravery.

There is a time-wasting alternative for those who are wanting to play safe or who have a mishap.

The dramatic Horse and Hound Leap of Faith is at 12 followed by The Harringtons’ Dog Kennel (13) that leads to the old-fashioned Woodheads Seeds Hollow.

Fence 15 is the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Cones and then it’s into the Front Park.

The Yorkshire Equine Practice Footbridge (16) features again and is followed by the Carter Jonas Sun and Moon which has been moved to a hollow.

The Generator Power Brush (18) is followed by the British Equestrian Trade Association Sheep Feeder and from there it is on to this year’s new feature fence to celebrate Bramham’s milestone 40th birthday.

The feature “Speedi-Beet 40” at fences 20 and 21 is in the shape of a “40” and a corner, with alternative, to a downhill double of oxers. It is a feature that will require some big jumping.

Next, it is down to the spectators’ favourite haunt and the main water complex – the Bond Dickinson Pond – and following that test is a gallop to the Aardvark Trakehner (23).

Then comes the last climb to the offset brush fences at 24, the Longhorn Question, and to the welcome sight of the final fence, the Askham Bryan College Seat.

The Bramham Horse Trials will run from next Thursday to Sunday with those purchasing pre-event tickets having an opportunity to win the value of their order back.

Every advance order placed online or by phone before the Box Office closes will be given a unique booking reference, and five of these will be chosen at random when the Box Office closes to receive the value of that order back.

This also applies to all orders placed previously in 2013.

For more information visit www.bramham-horse.co.uk or call 01937 846017.

The Box Office closes at 4pm today.

Tickets will also be available on the gate on any day.