Entries are coming in for Aston–le–Walls International, 5-9 July 2023, the first time international classes have run at the site since 2021. This year the event is hosting one-, three- and four-star short format competitions in addition to national novice sections.

Zara Tindall has already thrown her hat into the ring, and will be bringing Class Affair for the 4*S and Classicals Euro Star for the 3*S. She is joined by Andrew Hoy who last weekend helped Australia to secure qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics; could the 64-year-old be heading to his ninth Olympic Games? Past world number ones, William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend are also planning to attend.

The all-weather extra loop through woods on the cross-country, put in when Aston–le–Walls stepped in for Chatsworth in 2021, will be part of the 4* course, as will new fences for 2023. With permanent wash bays at the cross-country finish, and the organisers ability to water all tracks if required, this particularly challenging season makes Aston–le–Walls even more of a ‘go-to’ venue than usual.

In addition to the national and international eventing, Aston–le–Walls has been awarded Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes for four- and five-year-olds. These will run on Wednesday 5th July, and entries are now open on www.horse-events.co.uk.

The event organisers have been hard at work, building a new 115m x 100m Andrews Bowen arena which will be used for both the Young Event Horses and all the eventing showjumping. A viewing bank has been constructed along one side of this new arena for the use of all competing riders and owners, and free caravan parking in the middle of the site is being offered to owners of competing horses – although pitches must be pre-booked via astonlewalls.ec@gmail.com. General admission to the event is also free of charge.

For more information, click here.

Image: Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane by Matt Nuttall.