Sad news for all as major event will not run in 2024

Rising costs mean the numbers no longer add up for the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe

- PIPPA ROOME

THE Festival of British Eventing (2-4 August) has been cancelled this year as the current economic climate has made the event unviable.

"Following the adverse weather experienced at Gatcombe last year, which led to the abandonment of the event, and due to the ever-increasing costs associated with operating on a greenfield site, it has made the event unfeasible to run," said a statement from the event. Event chair Mark Phillips added that the rise in costs since Covid, particularly insurance, means "the numbers no longer add up".

In terms of the future, a spokesman for the festival told H&H: "We can't rule out it ever coming back, but it would need to be in the form of a different business model."

The festival usually hosts the novice, intermediate and open national championships, as well as the Corinthian Cup restricted novice championship and a retrained racehorse championship.

The team at British Eventing (BE) is now discussing a tender process to find a new venue for the national championships.