THE CROSS-COUNTRY COURSE

Course-designer David Evans gives us the low-down on the track for the feature class, the CCI4*-S

The list of horses and riders entered for Burgham 2023 is very impressive and exciting. I hope the riders enjoy my cross-country courses and that spectators enjoy watching so many fantastic pairs tackling them. Keep your thinking caps on, be bold and have fun!

The CCI4*-S track starts with three straightforward, inviting fences on a bit of an uphill pull - Fence 1, the British Eventing Support Truster Starter, Fence 2, the Houghton Country Tack Box, which is at maximum dimensions with a top spread of of 1.80m and 1.20m in height, and Fence 3, the Cook & Barker Stick Pile. Riders should enjoy a good gallop at the beginning to open their horses up and settle them down ready for the first question at Fence 4ab, the Cussins Homes First Test. This year I have taken away the set-up fence, so it will be straight to the angled big house then a smaller cottage; which angle will they take? This combination will get horses and riders thinking and in tune with each other before they tackle the more serious parts of the course.

After stretching out over the Event Horse Owners’ Association Ditch Palisade at Fence 5, they gallop on to the turning test, the Holme Dodsworth Metals Question, at Fence 6abc. I hope the previous question sets them up for this, which asks them to take a left-handed turn angling the first element to put them on a good line for the rest of this combination, which tests accuracy and boldness. Then there are two imposing but uncomplicated jumps: Fence 7, the Castle House Saddlery Rails and Fence 8, the Acousteel Triple Bar.

The next combination at Fence 9abc, the Blackshaws Garage Off Road Challenge, is one of my favourites and consists of two narrow fences placed on hillocks and then finally a corner. It’s a key question - but it must feel so good riding up and down the small humps and being suspended In mid-air; when the competitors get it right, it must bring a smile to their faces.

Now they can take a breath and kick on over the Equine Products Oxer and back over the Encon Technical Solutions Ltd and NIS Group Ltd Trakehner at Fences 10 and 11 and then throttle back and balance for the Stablewood Coastal Cottages Scenic View at Fence 12ab. I love this part of the track, which runs through a beautiful, untouched valley. The Night Owl Cylinder Log at Fence 13 sets horses and riders up for an intense section with two water questions at Fence 14ab and Fence 15abc, the Newton Hall Go For A Dip and the AW Jenkinson Lakeside.

I have slightly revamped what they have to do here; in over a rounded brush into the first water and out over a lion hiding behind brush (a shoulder), then back into the second pool of water over a hanging log before turning right-handed to a brush corner - then the third element, which will come up very quickly. It’s a proper four-star question that should get them prepared for the next step in the competition year and should make great viewing for spectators.

After negotiating all that, pairings gallop away uphill and over a picnic table - the GAIN Feed Table at Fence 16. Then it’s an iconic Burgham fence at 17 - the Alnorthumbria Sit & Kick: a real flier over a ditch and brush that must feel fantastic to jump. Be brave!

The last water complex at Fence

18abc - the Project Pony Splash - has a big obstacle to lead horses into a right-hand line jumping into the water this year. This is followed by a left-hand line over a big-looking brush corner. This complex is big and bold all the way through this year, but watch your line on the way out. This area always draws a big crowd as there is lots to watch here and it needs clever and determined riding.

Then we disappear through the hedge line for a gallop up the hill and round to a bold hedge oxer, EquiRatings Stats Centre at Fence 19 to the final combination (the Voltaire Design Challenge at Fence 20ab) - an accuracy question for which riders must conserve enough energy and keep their horses’ minds on the job - before they cross the lane to the last fence, the Howick Hall Garden at 21.

I think it is a slightly tougher, more intense track than last year, and it is a little bit longer, too. It should prepare horses for their autumn three-day events, educate the younger ones and reward good riding - I hope the riders think so when they gallop across the finishing line!

Good luck, everyone.

David Evans