Badminton Course to Test Boldness and Accuracy

How the fences have changed! Badminton Horse Trials1962 Anneli Drummond-Hay & Merely a Monarch.

Hugh Thomas’s course for the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials will require boldness and accuracy in equal measures. Setting off from the main arena as usual, over the flower bed at The MITSUBISHI FIRST, riders head right to the attractive OWL HOLE before descending to the familiar ASX CROSSOVER KEEPERS BRUSH. It is then up to the LANCER VILLAGE at 4 and 5 with the choice over undulating ground of a double of ‘houses’. Next is the first really big test at the CANCER RESEARCH UK HILLSIDE (6), a maximum width roll top drop to a very narrow ‘skinny’ at the bottom of the slope. Turning right into a spinney comes the HSBC FEI CLASSICS CORRAL which will require a show jumper’s approach to an upright, left over an oxer spread and out over another upright. Competitors will now be properly up and running as they gallop towards the House and fly the JOHN WHITAKER INTERNATIONAL SHOOTING BUTT at 9 and on to the new SHOGUN HOLLOW (10). This takes a curving path over three large wooden ‘ Rolos’ with a dip in the ground before the third element. Back to familiar territory at the OUTLANDER BANK then over a bridge to come back over the first Vicarage Ditch crossing at the IMSM DITCH & TREES, a large spread followed by the narrow picturesque ‘found’ tree (12). Left hand down to the imposing HSBC HEXAGON HEDGE (13) which riders now seem to be getting the hang of and then a completely revamped COLT POND (14) where the fastest route will be over two steeply angled hedges. The direct way at the HS1 FARMYARD (15) is to take a double of 90 degree corners before heading back to the Deer Park and over the SWINDON DESIGNER OUTLET SUNKEN LANE, a post and rail to drop and a brush on an angle (16). There is a bit of a let up at the COUNTRYSIDE TABLE (17) before the serious business of the Lake complex. At 18 are the L200 PICK UPS, over the willow wave drop, through the water and out over a willow wave ‘skinny’ THE LAKE (19 and 20). As with many obstacles there is a time consuming long
option. Down along the lake to the WADWORTH BARRELS (21) and then a breather before a new look IRISH SPORT HORSE STUDBOOK HUNTSMANS CLOSE (22,23,24). In over white gates with the choice of log piles followed by brush doubles. Along the back of the main car parks to the HORSEQUEST QUARRY (25,26,27) involving big drop logs and jumps at the bottom of the steep incline and thoughts of completion at the BIG BRUSH (28). The ROLEX TURN (29) is another ‘flyer’ followed by an accuracy poser and then back into the arena to finish over the iâ€ÂMiEV GARDEN (30).

 

Hugh said, ‘ This year’s course follows the pattern of high action clusters of obstacles interspersed with imposing but less technical questions and as ever the Mitsubishi Motors Trophy will take a lot of winning.’

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 Course Press Release

Photo credit: Mitsubishi Motors/Kit Houghton