BLAIR CASTLE JOINS PREMIER LEAGUE OF EVENTS

As preparations continue for this year’s Bowmore Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair at Blair Castle from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th August, both competitors and spectators will have some exciting new aspects to the event to look forward to.

Blair Castle has been selected as one of seven British Eventing competitions to belong to a Premier League, which kicked off at Badminton in May and finishes at Burghley in September.

The British Eventing Premier League aims to forge close links between the sport’s showpiece events to create allied marketing opportunities, increased sponsor benefits, heightened media appeal and continuity for the spectator and supporter. The whole sport will benefit as interest and exposure is generated through this exciting new initiative.

At the heart of the BE Premier League is a winner takes all Riders’ Accumulator worth £5000 to the victor. Riders placed in the top 16 at all League events receive points according to level (3 or 4 star) with the rider accumulating the most points after the final event taking the spoils.

In the lead after three events is William Fox-Pitt following his second place at Badminton and his superb first and second place at Bramham. By the time the riders get to Blair, the penultimate event, it should be a fascinating race to see who can accumulate the most points.

Spectators and supporters of the Bowmore Blair Castle Horse Trials, which attracted nearly 35,000 people last year, can look forward to some exciting extras this year including a big screen situated near the refreshments area, where the all the action from Saturday’s cross country can be watched live from the comfort of the tented village.

Real time scoring will allow visitors to see at a glance what is happening and who is in the lead, while an internet café will add yet another dimension to an event which has grown in status over the last 15 years to be one of Scotland’s most popular sporting occasions.

Director of the Bowmore Blair Castle Horse Trials, Sarah Phillips said she was delighted that Blair had been chosen as one of the Premier League events. She said, “This initiative will allow the seven horse trials involved to maximize marketing and sponsorship opportunities and will provide the public with an easy to understand shop window for the sport.”

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