Be part of history at this year’s Fairfax & Favor Rockingham International Horse Trials

This year’s event is one not to be missed as it not only marks a return of Rockingham into the eventing calendar after two years lost during the pandemic but also celebrates two great milestones – the team’s tenth season of hosting the Horse Trials in the Great Park and an incredible 950 years of living history at the castle.

Rockingham Castle has borne witness to plenty of entertainment on horseback throughout the many centuries of it’s history, from Knights meeting at the tilt to Medieval Kings heading out to hunt in the surrounding forest, so it is particularly fitting for the Horse Trials to be at the heart of the 950^th anniversary celebrations.

The team at Rockingham is delighted to be welcoming back luxury lifestyle brand Fairfax & Favor as title sponsors during this landmark year, a partnership that began in 2018. “We are thrilled to be the headline sponsor to the Fairfax & Favor Rockingham International Horse Trials for a third consecutive year, says Felix Favor Parker, Co-founder of Fairfax & Favor.

“Rockingham International has been a firm favourite of ours in the show calendar and we can’t wait to be back in The Great Park watching the eventing and meeting our wonderful customers again following the pandemic. This year will be bigger and better than ever and we are honoured to be involved and be a part of celebrating the 950^th anniversary of the estate’s heritage.”

There will be many highlights across the three days of competition, including the return of the Loomes Championship. Unique to Rockingham, this contest sees the highly sought-after prize of a hand-produced watch made locally in Stamford awarded to the rider closest to the optimum time on the cross country across the Advanced Intermediate and Open Intermediate classes. There hasn’t yet been a female winner of this title, so hopefully the girls will have their eyes on the (beautiful, British-crafted) prize.

Alongside the international classes, Rockingham is proud to be hosting the first pilot of British Eventing’s Intermediate Masters Series. The Masters provide unique opportunities for riders competing at national level, such as performing a bespoke dressage test, competing in an international sized 20m x 60m dressage arena and having the option to wear a tailcoat. The concept worked really well at Novice level last year and the team are looking forward to delivering the first of these special competitions for Intermediate level riders in the Great Park.

“We cannot tell you how thrilled we are to finally be welcoming the whole eventing family back,” said event organiser, Lizzie Saunders Watson. “The Horse Trials are part of the lifeblood of the Rockingham Estate and our whole team has felt the loss of this much-loved event over the last two years.

“This is such an exciting year for us as we look back over the 950 years of the castle’s heritage and we look forward to sharing these celebrations with everyone at the horse trials.

“We can’t wait to see world-class sport back on Rockingham soil but also, perhaps most importantly, to see families and friends come together to enjoy watching the action.”

Alongside the eventing, there will be plenty for the whole family to enjoy – including trade stands, children’s entertainment, and an artisan food fayre full of local delights.

Tickets
Ticket prices start from just £10 for adults and £3 for children, with children aged five and under getting in free. For more information and to book tickets visit rockinghamcastlehorsetrials.com.

Eventing entries opened on 11 April, for more information see the British Eventing website. The Ballot date is 26 April 2022.

In addition to the eventing classes, there will also be qualifiers for the prestigious Burghley Young Event Horse Finals, Pony Club Team Show Jumping, Riding Club Team Show Jumping and Arena Eventing classes. For more information and details of how to enter, visit rockinghamcastlehorsetrials.com.