Oliver Townend keen on a magic weekend
World no.1 and Ellesmere-based event rider Oliver Townend will be competing at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park.
Townend will be riding seven horses over a busy weekend from Friday to Sunday, including three in the Magic Millions British Open.
This event will see many top horse and rider combinations keen to win this prestigious title which Townend himself won in 2016.
The festival takes place over three days in the quintessential Cotswold’s setting of Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, home of HRH The Princess Royal.
This year, the event will host five British Championships; the Magic Millions British Open Championship, the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship, the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship, the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup and The RoR/NTF Retrained Racehorse Event Championship.
Riders in these classes will all be vying for the chance to lift the coveted trophies.
Townsend will be riding Black Tie II, Cillnabradden Evo and Ulises in the British Open Championship.
Cillnabradden Evo and Oliver have had much success at the festival in the past and it was this horse he partnered to win the 2016 British Open title.
The Shropshire rider will also be competing in the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate and the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championships, both of which he has won in the past, He will also compete in the Advanced Class, making it a busy weekend for the eventer.
Event director Peter Phillips, commenting on this year’s impressive list of riders heading to the festival, said: “We are delighted that Oliver Townend is competing in this year’s Magic Millions British Open CIC3* Championship.
“I am excited to welcome back many familiar faces as well as some new ones and would like to wish all competitors good luck.”
Show-stopping arena attractions will also keep audiences entertained; and the spectacular Devil’s Horsemen will thrill the crowds with their high energy show.
The Shetland Pony Grand National returns to the main arena for another year with the young jockeys competing for a ticket to the prestigious final which takes place at Olympia, The London International Horse Show in December.
The majestic Dressage to Music display always enchants the crowds and the hound parade is very popular with families. It may even inspire the canine members to take part in the ‘have a go’ dog agility which is bound to provide great entertainment.
