Badminton Horse Trials Cancelled Due to Rain

The organisers of the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials have had to cancel the event due to the heavy rainfall in recent weeks.

A statement issued on 30 April, said:

"The recent exceptional rainfall has left the ground at Badminton totally waterlogged and partially flooded.

"Further rain is due this week leaving no chance of the ground drying out.

"Very sadly therefore the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials has been cancelled."

Sponsors and riders will be refunded "as soon as is practical", as will exhibitors and spectators who have bought advance tickets.

The last time Badminton was cancelled due to adverse weather was in 1987. It also fell foul of the British climate in 1975 and 1966. In 1963, the three-day event was turned into a one-day contest, because of the state of the ground.

Quick Link

• Read more and watch video about the cancellation at www.telegraph.co.uk