Bicton Arena will stage Britain’s replacement 5* CCI this fall – with backing from a pharma boss. The event will take place on Burghley’s old date, September 2-5, with a brand new track designed by Capt Mark Phillips.
Bicton is in Devon, in the south-west of England, with a long history in running top-level equestrian events. The Bicton team, led by Helen West and Andrew Fell, applied to the FEI to run a replacement CCI5*L as a “one-off” after Badminton and Burghley were both cancelled for the second year due to the pandemic.
The venue ran its first CCI4* last month as a replacement for cancelled Bramham, with backing from Chedington, also title sponsor of the newly announced 5*. Chedington’s Dr Geoffrey Guy made his fortune in treatments for multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. His Cambridge, UK- based company was the first in any country to gain approval for cannabis-derived medicines, earning Guy the nickname “Dr Pot.”
Dr Guy said, “We have always felt that Bicton is a wonderful site that deserves to host a high level of international competition and are so pleased to be part of what will be a historic event.”
There will be a prize fund of €125,000, and the event will be live-streamed by supporting sponsor The Eventing Channel.
Helen West was recently appointed chief executive of British Eventing, the national governing body. She said, “For me, this is a shining example of what can be achieved with a collaborative approach. This whole vision was fuelled by owners, riders and organisers alike who have worked tirelessly to get this off the ground. The recognition of this achievement comes at an important time for me as I step into my new British Eventing role. It is fantastic for the sport as a whole and I look forward to exciting times ahead.”
West is a former Young Rider gold medallist. For the last eight years, she has managed Bicton Arena, is a previous Event Riders’ Association Organiser of the Year, and also FEI Level 3 cross-country course designer and member of the British Eventing Cross Country Advisory Group.
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