So what has British Eventing done wrong?

Gamebird

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Floors! Also Cumwhinton, and the short-lived Hutton-in-the-Forest, in the shadow of Blencathra - two out of those three were also FEI.
 

Gamebird

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I would not be surprised if Osberton is lost from the BE calendar at some point too - after the previous landowner passed away (a stalwart fan of eventing and horses in general) many of the horsey events that used to be held on the estate have had to find alternative venues...
Things may be changing there in a more positive fashion, fingers crossed.
 

RachelFerd

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Here's a possibly more thorough list - although still not fully comprehensive - and I think there are maybe some duplicates on here

Aldon
Amersham
Arley hall
Ashby Puerorum, Lincolnshire
Aston Park
Aswanley
Authinleck
Barthorpe, Yorks
Bath & West
Beamish
Beckwithshaw
Belmont Park
Belton
Berrington Hall, Worcs.
Bickenhall, Rolleston
Billesdon
Borough Court
Brand Hall
Brechin
Brendon Hills
Bretton, Yorkshire
Brightling
Brigstock
Brockenhurst
Brockwood Park
Brooksby Melton college
Brougham
Bucklebury near reading
Burnham Beeches
Carlisle
Carlton
Chagford
Charlton Park
Charterhall, Berwickshire
Chelsworth Park near Hadleigh suffolk
Cheltenham
Cleobury Mortimer, Worcs
Clumber Park
Cockley Cley
Colliemore
Copt Oak
Cromer
Culzean Castle
Cumwhinton
Dalston Green
Denbigh
Dodington
Downlands
Draycott House
Drumclog
Duchy College
Dunsfold in Surrey
Dunsfold Ryse
Dynes Hall
Ebbesbourne Wake
Eden valley
Eglinton
Eridge
Ermington
Everdon, Northampton
Floors Castle
Forest Mere
Frensham liphook
Glanusk Estate
Glasgow Stud, Enfield
Gleneagles
Glenluse
Goodwood
Graveley
Great Missenden
Great Tew
Grimston park
Hambleden
Hatherleigh
Henbury Hall, Cheshire
Henderside
Hexham
Highclere Castle
Hogshaw
Holdenby Hall
Holker Hall Cumbria
Hopetoun
Hough Hall in Wilmslow, Cheshire
Houghall
Houston
Hutton in the Forrest
Ickworth Park near Bury St Edmunds
Iping
Ivesley
Jervaulx
Killerton
Kilmington
Kirkley Hall
Knaptoft
Labley House
Lackham
Lambley House
Lanhydrock
Llanfechan
Llanover
Locko Park
Longleat
Lowsby
Lulworth Castle
Lymington
Malpas, Cheshire
Marchington, Tutbury
Markyate
Mattingley
Meriden
Mill Hill
Milton Keynes
Montacute
Moulton College
Mount Ballan
Northampton
Nurstead court
Nutwell Court
Oatridge
Okehampton (Grange)
Orchard Portman
Osmaston
Oulton Park
Oving
Parkgate, Wirral
Pebworth and Batsford
Pembrey and Pencoed
Penton
Pepper Harrow in Surrey
Petworth
Powderham Castle
Prestwold Hall
Pulborough
Pwoderham Castle
Ragley Hall
Rockcliffe
Rodbaston, Staffordshire
Rolleston
Rotherfield
Ruffled Park
Rushall
Russel Farm Wendover
Sadborow (Wessex Taunton)
Salperton
Sansaw
Sapperton
Savernack
Savernake Forest
Scone Palace
Scotsburn
Scunthorpe
Shamley Green
Shilpton Moyne
Shipley Park, Locko Park
Shipton Moyne
Shropshire and Malpas
Shuttleworrh
Somerley park
Somerlyton
Southwell Racecourse
Spire Park
Bath and West
Spring Hill
Stamford Rivers
Stilemans
Stockland Lovell
Ston Easton
Stonar
Stoneleigh Park
Storeton Hall, Wirral
Strathallan
Stubley Court
Swerford
Syde Park
Tedworth house
Tetton Hall
Thirlestane
Thorton Le Dale
Thorton Watlass
Tidworth
Titlington
Trefnant
Tregembo
Turbury
Turnberry
Tutbury
Tyrhrop Park
Urchinwood Manor
W Aldridge Manor, Rickmansworth
Wakefield
Waldridge
Wellesbourne
Whitfield
Wilton
Wiltshire College
Windmill Hill, Stratford upon Avon,
Windsor Park
Windsor Racecourse
Winkburn Park
Winkbury, Henley in Arden
Winkleigh
Winmarleigh Hall
Wintershall
Witton Castle
Wolteron
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wramplingham Hall, Norfolk
Wyle
 

Gamebird

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I drove past Witton and Hexham sites the other day - both fantastic old-fashioned tracks. The sort that you should be jumping round if you wanted to move up or tackle a 3 day.

There was also a one-off BE at Southwell Racecourse.
 

RachelFerd

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I drove past Witton and Hexham sites the other day - both fantastic old-fashioned tracks. The sort that you should be jumping round if you wanted to move up or tackle a 3 day.

There was also a one-off BE at Southwell Racecourse.

Cheltenham racecourse also did a few, with terrible rock hard ground.

I'm collating a spreadsheet now - up to about 140 lost events since the mid 80s. I think on average we lose 3 or 4 every year. Most events seem to have a relatively short shelf life. Difference is that in the past there wasn't any social media discussion of it - but clearly creating sustainable events has been a problem for a loooooong time
 

Gamebird

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Cheltenham racecourse also did a few, with terrible rock hard ground.

I'm collating a spreadsheet now - up to about 140 lost events since the mid 80s. I think on average we lose 3 or 4 every year. Most events seem to have a relatively short shelf life. Difference is that in the past there wasn't any social media discussion of it - but clearly creating sustainable events has been a problem for a loooooong time
There's a trakehner still in the centre of the AW gallop at cheltenham racecourse, which I often perch on whilst grazing horses after riding out in the mornings before racing. I assume that must be ex-BE.
 
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LEC

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Talking of racecourses - Taunton and Chepstow need to go on list. Monmouth is another.
Blackdown Hills.
 

BMA2

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Delapre, Northampton. Think that went circa 2005
Castle Ashby, Northampton. But only ran a couple of years in the 1980s
 

RachelFerd

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Cross referenced a few lists and went through some old eventing profiles - here's a list of 260 events that definitely used to run and are no longer running. The oldest events in here cancelled in 1981 - so that's an average of 6 events lost per year. Big amount of losses around 1999/2000 which makes sense given the issues the sport was having with rider deaths around that period.

Aldon
Althorp Park
Amersham
Arley Hall
Armathwaite Hall
Ashby Puerorum
Aske
Aston Park
Aswanley
Auchinleck
Barbury Castle
Barthorpe
Bath and West
Beamish
Beckwithshaw (Harrogate)
Belmont (Mill Hill)
Belmont Park
Belton Park (1983)
Berriewood
Berrington Hall
Bickenhall
Billesdon
Bold Heath
Borough Court
Bourton / Bourton-on-Dunsmore
Brand Hall
Brechin Castle
Brendon Hills
Bretton Park
Bricky
Brigstock
Brockenhurst
Brockwood Park
Brooksby Melton College
Brougham
Bucklebury (1983)
Burgie
Burnham Beeches
Carlisle
Carlton
Castle Ashby
Castle Howard
Castletown
Charlton Park
Charterhall
Chelsworth Park
Cheltenham
Cholmondeley Castle
Clandon Park
Cleobury Mortimer
Clumber Park (1983)
Congleton
Coillemore
Copt Oak
Crews Hill
Crockstead
Crookham
Croxton Park
Culzean
Cumwhinton
Dalston Green
Denbigh
Dodington
Dolphinton
Downlands
Downton Castle
Draycott House
Drumclog
Duchy College
Dunsfold Ryse
Dynes Hall
Ebbesbourne Wake
Eden Valley
Eglinton
Ellon
Eridge
Ermington
Everdon
Floors Castle
Frensham
Frome
Glanusk
Gleneagles
Glenluce
Goodwood
Gotham
Graveley
Great Missenden
Great Tew
Great Witchingham
Great Yorkshire
Grimston Park
Grimshaw Hall
Hagley Hall
Hambleden
Hampton on the Hill
Harlton
Hatherleigh
Heckfield
Henbury Hall
Hendersyde Park
Hexham
Highclere Castle
Hogshaw
Holdenby
Holker Hall
Hopetoun House
Hopton Court
Houghall
Houghton Hall
Houston House
Hunwick
Hutton in the Forest
Ickworth
Inveraray Castle
Iping
Isleham
Ivesley
Jervaulx
Keysoe
Killerton
Kilmington
Kincardine O'Neil
Kings Somborne
Kirkley Hall
Knaptoft
Knowlton
Lackham (Wiltshire College)
Lambley House
Lanhydrock
Laughton Manor
Llanfechain
Llanover
Lockerbie
Locko Park (1983)
Longleat
Lowesby
Lulworth Castle
Lyme Park
Lymington
Lytham Hall
Malpas
Marchington
Markyate (1983)
Mattingley
Milton Keynes
Molland
Montacute
Mortonhall
Moulton
Mount Ballan
Northampton
Nurstead Court
Nutwell Court
Oatridge
Okehampton (Grange)
Orchard Portman
Osbaldeston Hall
Osmaston
Oulton Park
Oving
Parkgate
Pebworth Vale
Pembrey Park
Pencoed
Penton
Penzance (Tregembo)
Peper Harrow
Petworth
Pontispool
Powderham Castle
Prestwold Hall
Pulborough
Purston Manor
Rackham
Ragley Hall
Ripley Castle
Rockingham
Rodbaston
Rolleston
Rotherfield Park
Royal Deeside
Rudding Park
Rufford Park
Rushall
Sadborow (Wessex Taunton)
Salperton
Sandringham
Sansaw Park
Savernake
Scone Palace (Central Scotland)
Scotsburn
Scunthorpe
Shamley Green
Shelswell
Sherborne Castle
Shipley Park
Shipton Moyne
Shuttleworth
Smiths Lawn
Somerley Park
Somerleyton
Southwell Racecourse
Spire Park
Spring Hill
Stafford
Standish
St Andrews
Stanford Rivers
Stilemans
Stockland Lovell
Ston Easton
Stonar School
Storeton Hall
Stowe
Stowell Park
Stratford Hills
Strathallan Castle
Swaffham
Swerford
Syde Park
Taunton
Taunton Vale
Tetbury
Tetton Hall
Thirlestane Castle
Thornton Le Dale
Thornton Watlass
Tidworth
Titlington
Trefnant
Tutbury
Tythrop
Urchinwood
Waldridge Manor
Wellesbourne
Wellow Park
Wendover
Weston Park
Whitfield
Wilmslow (Hough Hall)
Wilton
Windsor
Windsor Racecourse
Winkburn Park
Winkleigh
Winmarleigh Hall
Wintershall
Withcote Hall
Withington Manor
Withybrook
Witton Castle
Wokingham
Wolterton Park
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wramplingham
Wylye
Wynyard
York
 

TheMule

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Cross referenced a few lists and went through some old eventing profiles - here's a list of 260 events that definitely used to run and are no longer running. The oldest events in here cancelled in 1981 - so that's an average of 6 events lost per year. Big amount of losses around 1999/2000 which makes sense given the issues the sport was having with rider deaths around that period.

Aldon
Althorp Park
Amersham
Arley Hall
Armathwaite Hall
Ashby Puerorum
Aske
Aston Park
Aswanley
Auchinleck
Barbury Castle
Barthorpe
Bath and West
Beamish
Beckwithshaw (Harrogate)
Belmont (Mill Hill)
Belmont Park
Belton Park (1983)
Berriewood
Berrington Hall
Bickenhall
Billesdon
Bold Heath
Borough Court
Bourton / Bourton-on-Dunsmore
Brand Hall
Brechin Castle
Brendon Hills
Bretton Park
Bricky
Brigstock
Brockenhurst
Brockwood Park
Brooksby Melton College
Brougham
Bucklebury (1983)
Burgie
Burnham Beeches
Carlisle
Carlton
Castle Ashby
Castle Howard
Castletown
Charlton Park
Charterhall
Chelsworth Park
Cheltenham
Cholmondeley Castle
Clandon Park
Cleobury Mortimer
Clumber Park (1983)
Congleton
Coillemore
Copt Oak
Crews Hill
Crockstead
Crookham
Croxton Park
Culzean
Cumwhinton
Dalston Green
Denbigh
Dodington
Dolphinton
Downlands
Downton Castle
Draycott House
Drumclog
Duchy College
Dunsfold Ryse
Dynes Hall
Ebbesbourne Wake
Eden Valley
Eglinton
Ellon
Eridge
Ermington
Everdon
Floors Castle
Frensham
Frome
Glanusk
Gleneagles
Glenluce
Goodwood
Gotham
Graveley
Great Missenden
Great Tew
Great Witchingham
Great Yorkshire
Grimston Park
Grimshaw Hall
Hagley Hall
Hambleden
Hampton on the Hill
Harlton
Hatherleigh
Heckfield
Henbury Hall
Hendersyde Park
Hexham
Highclere Castle
Hogshaw
Holdenby
Holker Hall
Hopetoun House
Hopton Court
Houghall
Houghton Hall
Houston House
Hunwick
Hutton in the Forest
Ickworth
Inveraray Castle
Iping
Isleham
Ivesley
Jervaulx
Keysoe
Killerton
Kilmington
Kincardine O'Neil
Kings Somborne
Kirkley Hall
Knaptoft
Knowlton
Lackham (Wiltshire College)
Lambley House
Lanhydrock
Laughton Manor
Llanfechain
Llanover
Lockerbie
Locko Park (1983)
Longleat
Lowesby
Lulworth Castle
Lyme Park
Lymington
Lytham Hall
Malpas
Marchington
Markyate (1983)
Mattingley
Milton Keynes
Molland
Montacute
Mortonhall
Moulton
Mount Ballan
Northampton
Nurstead Court
Nutwell Court
Oatridge
Okehampton (Grange)
Orchard Portman
Osbaldeston Hall
Osmaston
Oulton Park
Oving
Parkgate
Pebworth Vale
Pembrey Park
Pencoed
Penton
Penzance (Tregembo)
Peper Harrow
Petworth
Pontispool
Powderham Castle
Prestwold Hall
Pulborough
Purston Manor
Rackham
Ragley Hall
Ripley Castle
Rockingham
Rodbaston
Rolleston
Rotherfield Park
Royal Deeside
Rudding Park
Rufford Park
Rushall
Sadborow (Wessex Taunton)
Salperton
Sandringham
Sansaw Park
Savernake
Scone Palace (Central Scotland)
Scotsburn
Scunthorpe
Shamley Green
Shelswell
Sherborne Castle
Shipley Park
Shipton Moyne
Shuttleworth
Smiths Lawn
Somerley Park
Somerleyton
Southwell Racecourse
Spire Park
Spring Hill
Stafford
Standish
St Andrews
Stanford Rivers
Stilemans
Stockland Lovell
Ston Easton
Stonar School
Storeton Hall
Stowe
Stowell Park
Stratford Hills
Strathallan Castle
Swaffham
Swerford
Syde Park
Taunton
Taunton Vale
Tetbury
Tetton Hall
Thirlestane Castle
Thornton Le Dale
Thornton Watlass
Tidworth
Titlington
Trefnant
Tutbury
Tythrop
Urchinwood
Waldridge Manor
Wellesbourne
Wellow Park
Wendover
Weston Park
Whitfield
Wilmslow (Hough Hall)
Wilton
Windsor
Windsor Racecourse
Winkburn Park
Winkleigh
Winmarleigh Hall
Wintershall
Withcote Hall
Withington Manor
Withybrook
Witton Castle
Wokingham
Wolterton Park
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wramplingham
Wylye
Wynyard
York

Wow… great effort to find all that, well done!
 

RachelFerd

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Wow… great effort to find all that, well done!
spreadsheets and internet scouring are some of my favourite sad hobbies

but i do think we need perspective in amongst all the cancellations stuff - there's a degree of recency bias and social media amplification with people behaving like a stately home event has never cancelled before - when history says they've been cancelling constantly since the early 80s. Doesn't change the fact that our sport seems to be shifting into one which is losing it's unique venues and being based more around permanent equestrian centres of course. Also kind of points towards this fundamentally being a money-losing operation for nearly all venues, despite the high cost of participation - how does the sport structure itself correctly to support the types of venues which we really need??
 

LEC

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I still think there needs to be a £10 tax on standalone events per entry. I would pay that if it makes the difference between being profitable and not. Anything which runs unaff or multi events would be discounted from the scheme.
 

RachelFerd

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I still think there needs to be a £10 tax on standalone events per entry. I would pay that if it makes the difference between being profitable and not. Anything which runs unaff or multi events would be discounted from the scheme.

I guess the problem here is that whilst some events (lets say Chatsworth or Cornbury for example) would definitely still get mega entries for their one-off events, for others it would probably kill their entry levels even more. The question for me is - how do you extract the presumably decent profits from running Aston and put them back into running a Scottish event that runs as a one-off and struggles for entries? Can you tax events that run unaff 'under BE rules' a modicum amount per entry in order to fund the peripheral events? Or can you raise the entry fees on the events that get ballot level entries and use that to create a fund for peripheral and one-off events?


It's the events in the furthest reaches of the SW, East Anglia, Wales and Welsh borders (next to none) and Scotland that really need some kind of extra support - and also exponentially improve the sport's inclusivity because it allows people who can't travel for 4+ hours to get to their nearest event to take part.

Of course Aston really wins on location because, as I have found out, no matter where I live, I'm always 2.5 hours from Aston (from S Glos, Surrey, Newmarket and N Cheshire - Aston is the centre of the universe)
 
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