Preparations are in full swing for the Childeric Saddles Little Downham season opener from 31st May – 2nd June, with something on offer for all levels of horse and rider. The Cambridgeshire event has been one to benefit from the wet and warm weather of the early Spring with ground conditions exceptional.
New for the June fixture is the addition of a BE80 class that proves popular at the August and October fixture, giving competitors in the East of England, who have seen the loss of several grassroots events, the full range of classes to aim for. With the Regional Championships held at Little Downham’s October fixture, the June event creates a perfect pathway for those who have their sights set on a place at the Badminton Grassroots Championships.
For those new to the Ely venue, Little Downham offers six separate courses, all of which are up to height but offer alternatives at the more challenging fences. The design ethos adopted by Tina Ure is that all courses will be educational for both horse and rider, helping combinations to prepare for moving up the levels. Courses will have substantial differences from those of 2023, with a number of new fences included. The Advanced and Intermediate at the June fixture are suitable for those horses that are new to the level and for those looking to gain confidence at the level.
With plentiful grass cover and a 365-day a year ground maintenance plan the going for all phases is excellent. The venue has the ability to irrigate should hotter and drier weather persist.
Organiser and landowner Tina Ure commented: “We’re looking forward to getting our British Eventing season underway in a few week’s time and really hope to offer an inviting event with something for everyone. We’re aware that those riders in the East have lost several opportunities to compete with the loss of some local venues, and we hope that the addition of the BE80 and GO BE classes for this fixture that many eventing riders in the East, and further afield will have something to aim for.”
Entries close at midday on the 14th May.
Find out more here
