‘The terrain makes this a reel five-star'

Mary King, who has won four times at this level, assesses the cross-country challenge that Mark Phillips has set for the one-offCCI5* at Bicton next month

- Mark Phillips

IT’S rather amazing to have a CCI5* in my home county of Devon, after all these years of traveling miles to Burghley and Badminton. When I was a child, the South Western Showjumping Club held fantastic shows in the main arena here at Bicton, and I always dreamt of cantering around there on a lap of honor. I did manage it once – as the winner of the best-turned-out prize, which was a teddy bear!

Of course, many successful horse trials have taken place here over the decades, but it is only this year that Bicton has upgraded to stage first four-star classes, in June, and now a CCI5*. Course-designer Mark Phillips has reversed the track from the June four-star.

It’s definitely a softer five-star course. I wouldn’t say there are many combinations of the difficulty of Burghley or Badminton, and the let-up fences aren’t as gigantic in size, but it is Bicton’s terrain – which is even more demanding than that of Burghley – that makes this track a real five-star track.

A lot of it is on a camber, and due to the restrictive area there are a number of swooping turns, requiring a great deal of balance and skilled riding to negotiate well. I feel it is a course that will suit the more agile, nippy, and “blood” type of horse.

There are six fences visible from the main arena, which will give spectators lots of action to watch in one place. Two of these are the more difficult combinations on the course, so should give this area a real buzz.