Following the success of their first CCI2*-S Accumulator Prize Fund in 2022, Belsay, Alnwick Ford and Burgham International Horse Trials are delighted to announce the launch of the 2023 Northumberland Challenge, which will now cover the CCI2*-S and CCI3*-S competitions across the three venues, with a total potential prize pot of £45,000.

Sponsored by AW Jenkinson Forest Products, Encon Ltd and NIS Group Services Construction Ltd, the 2023 Northumberland Challenge offers horse and rider combinations entering the CCI2*-S and CCI3*-S classes at Belsay International (31 May–4 June), Alnwick Ford International (23-25 June) and Burgham International (27-31 July) the opportunity to win cash bonuses of up to £20,000 for the CCI2*-S and £25,000 for the CCI3*-S, as follows:

• Horse and rider combinations who achieve a top-three placing in the CCI2*-S at all three events will win a £2,000 bonus. Those that achieve a top-three placing in the CCI3*-S at all three events will win a £3,000 bonus.
• A horse and rider combination who wins the CCI2*-S at two of the three events will win a further £6,000 bonus, so a total of £8,000.  A horse and rider combination who wins the CCI3*-S at two of the three events will win a further £7,000 bonus, so a total of £10,000.
• A horse and rider combination who wins the CCI2*-S at all three events will win a further bonus of £12,000, making a total of £20,000. A horse and rider combination who manages to win the CCI3*-S at all three events will win a further £15,000 bonus, making a total of £25,000.

The Northumberland Challenge Prize Fund Accumulator was put together by Event Directors Laura de Wesselow (Belsay) and Craig Anderson (Alnwick Ford and Burgham) with the help of sponsors Richard Jenkinson and Julie Wylie of AW Jenkinson Forest Products, Ian Wells of Encon and Ian Marsden of NIS Construction Ltd, as well as insurance brokers McClarron Sports Ltd.

“We are hugely grateful to our sponsors for enabling us to offer this fantastic accumulator prize fund,” said Laura de Wesselow. “We are always trying to improve our offer for both professional and amateur competitors and their owners, and the opportunity to win some decent money is an important part of that.”

Craig Anderson added: “The Northumbrian trio of Burgham, Alnwick Ford and Belsay are the premier international horse trials in this part of the country and, as event organisers, we are working together and with our sponsors to attract top riders to our fantastic venues. We are also extremely grateful to McClarrons Sport for creating this deal, and hope that other organisers are inspired to create similar bonus pots.”

Julie Wylie of AW Jenkinson Forest Products said: “We wanted to continue being involved in the Northumberland Challenge after the success of last year.  It gives owners and competitors a tangible bonus to target and an achievable prize-money boost, which is what the sport needs.”

NIS Group Services Ltd’s Ian Marsden commented: “My interest in horses started when my eldest child started riding aged four. As a family with no prior knowledge of horses, we now have nine horses, a livery yard and competition centre business, a daughter competing at international mounted games and son progressing through the British Eventing levels.  We are a local company and are delighted to support these fantastic events in the North.

“We work alongside NIS and Ian Marsden invited me along to a big event in the south last year.  I thought it was great, but Ian told me that the Northern events are even better so we are thrilled that he has roped us into this initiative and look forward to following the action at all three venues!” said Ian Wells of Encon Ltd.

Leading event rider Oliver Townend, who won the first leg of the Northumberland Challenge in 2022, is very enthusiastic about the series. He said: “I have always loved eventing in the North and have been lucky enough to enjoy considerable success at all three of the Northumberland Challenge venues. They are special places, and more people should make the effort to go to them, both as competitors and spectators. I’ll be back this year for a crack at this great series!”