The pathway to Paris begins at Thoresby

Britain’s Tokyo 2020 golden trio among the eventing stars heading to Thoresby’s Eventing Spring Carnival this Easter weekend

This Easter weekend (29–31 March) sees the first international event of the British season get under way – and it’s an enormously important fixture ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games. Almost 700 horses and riders will be heading to Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire, to take part in BEDE Events’ Eventing Spring Carnival, and with a stellar start list, it’s set to be an action-packed weekend.

The pinnacle of the Carnival’s offerings, the CCI4*-S competition will see 126 combinations battle it out for the top spot on the leaderboard. This class will be split into two sections, the Lycetts Grantham Cup feature class and a second CCI4*-S offering for horses with fewer amassed FEI points, allowing for a fair and exciting competition, as well as an educational experience for future stars.

Thoresby’s Grantham Cup has historically been a preparation run for May’s Badminton Horse Trials, but, this year, that’s not the only thing riders will be setting their sights on, with the selection for the Paris Olympics just around the corner.

Last year’s Badminton champions and reigning European champions, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, will be among the stars taking to the stage and while they might look like an obvious favourite to win, they’ll be joined by current world champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, as well as Tokyo team gold medallists Laura Collett and Tom McEwen.

But it’s not just champions and Olympic glory hunters who’ll be battling for success – Thoresby’s array of international classes is a great place to discover the horses and riders who are set to become household names. The combinations will be put to the test over fair but challenging tracks designed by BEDE director Stuart Buntine and Captain Mark Phillips, all created to suit the early-season aim of providing an educational day and confidence-building run as horses and riders alike dive into the new season.

So, why not make the most of the long Easter weekend with a trip to Thoresby’s Eventing Spring Carnival? Tickets start at £10 per person and family ticket bundles are available for Sunday for £15. Plus, there’s an Easter egg hunt (with chocolate guaranteed!) at just £2 per entry, as well as exclusive showjumping and cross-country course walks with the stars of the show, raising money for the Riders Minds Charity.

For more information, visit thoresby-horse.co.uk

Photo credit: Hannah Cole Photography