With an advanced class and a short format four-star, competition will be fierce at the Project Pony Aston-le-Walls International, 4th – 7th July.

Great Britain has just named its squad of four for Paris, having added Ros Canter’s MHS Seventeen to the nominated list following the withdrawal of Oliver Townend’s Ballaghmor Class. This gives Ros three horses on the nominated list and, not surprisingly, she is one of the four named combinations heading to France. The current European Champion and 2018 World Champion is listed with her Badminton/Europeans winner, Lordships Graffalo.

Joining Ros are current World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, Tom McEwen – part of the Tokyo Olympics gold medal winning team, riding former European Champion horse (under Nicola Wilson) JL Dublin, and his Tokyo team mate Laura Collett with London 52.

All four will take part in a ‘Path to Paris’ open dressage session, riding some of the Olympic test, followed by an on-horse Q&A with Richard Davidson. The Wednesday afternoon, ticket only, session will be followed by a BBQ and live music. Tickets can be bought here: https://astonlewalls.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets

Also with a strong team for Paris are the 2020 Olympic hosts, Japan, whose Kazuma Tomoto brings Vinci de la Vigne JRA to the event for the Advanced.

Representing Ireland, Austin O’Connor and his Maryland five-star victor Colorado Blue, along with fellow team mates Susie Berry on Wellfields Lincoln and Sarah Ennis with Action Lady M join the line up, as do travelling reserves Aoife Clark and Sportsfield Freelance.

Less well known is the only Arab athlete qualified to ride in the Paris eventing. Moroccan rider Noor Slaoui spent two years with British-based Australian Bill Levett and this will be her first senior championships. Bill has a runner in the four-star in the shape of Brideview Master George, while his son Josh has two in the three-star, both ex-rides of his father.

With several nations yet to publish their Paris squads, big names at Aston include Tim Price (NZL), Piggy March (GBR), Giovanni Ugolotti (ITA), Harry Meade (GBR), Tom Jackson (GBR) and Zara Tindall (GBR). The event also hosts the final trial for the Pony European Championships which take place in Germany later this summer, and Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes for four- and five-year-olds.

In total 21 nations will be represented over the event’s duration. Almost 350 combinations will contest the three international classes, one-, three- and four-star short format. A further 280 are set to run at novice level and 25 in the Olympic advanced.

The venue has been designed to offer excellent viewing opportunites of the cross country and showjumping for spectators. With so many of the world’s top riders competing, it’s the perfect time to get up close to these athletes; bring the family for a great day of world class sport.

General admission tickets can be bought here, with advance discount general admission options: https://astonlewalls.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets

For equestrian followers unable to visit in person they can follow all the cross-country action on Horse & Country TV, our live-stream partner.