Four of the world’s top eventers are taking on the best of British jockeys in a head-to-head race at Barbury International (3-6 July).
Battle of the best
Zara Phillips, worldnumber one William Fox-Pitt, Sir Mark Todd and Laura Collettare representing the eventers. The jockeys hoping to beat them across the finishing line are 19 times champion jump jockeyAP McCoy, former champion jockey John Francome, Richard Johnson – who is the second most successful jump jockey in history – and Sam Twiston-Davies.
A team of showjumpers will also be racing against the winning team from the Inter Hunt Scurry, which is held on the same day (5 July). All riders are competing in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), which is Barbury’s official charity this year.
A good hiding
“It’s great to becombining the horse trials with this special event in aid of theIJF,” said Zara, whose mother HRH Princess Anne is the patron. “There are so many different equestrian sports and we all respect and admire each other, especially the jump jockeys. It won’t, of course, stop us giving them a good hiding at Barbury!”
The JCBChampionsChallenge will see two teams jump against each each, over an identical course of fences in a relay format. The winning team from each leg will go into the final to find the JCBChampionsChallenge victors.
Life-changing
AP McCoy, who is the IJF vice president, said he is honoured to be riding at such a “great event”.
“Every jump jockey lives with the reality that he or she is going to have a fall, on average every nine rides,” said AP. “Thankfully, most of the time we get up and walk away. Every now and then, it’s serious, sometimes life-changing. The IJFdoes unbelievable work for hundreds ofpresent and past riders across all disciplines.”
The JCBChampionsChallenge features on the Saturday of the horse trials, where leading event riders will be preparing for the World Equestrian Games. For tickets and more information go to barburyhorsetrials.co.uk.