Blair lost as concerns grow for eventing in Scotland

Blair Castle Horse Trials will run for the 35th and last time this summer, sparking concerns for eventing in the region

- BECKY MURRAY

THE eventing calendar has been dealt another blow with Blair Castle Horse Trials announcing this year’s fixture will be the last – as concerns continue for the Scottish sport.

A Blair Castle statement said the land on which the event is held “is increasing its involvement in regenerative agriculture and in future the land will require to be managed all year round in a way that is in accordance with its environmental aims”.

The event, which hosts from CCI* to CCI4*-L, the Scottish Grassroots Eventing Championships, showing and British Showjumping, will run for the 35th and final time on 22–25 August. The news comes weeks after the Festival of British Eventing was cancelled for 2024, owing to viability issues (news, 7 March).

TALKING POINT

THE news was a talking point at the British Eventing (BE) Scotland AGM on 20 March, during which it was agreed that this was “not a BE problem”, but an eventing problem.