OH Bicton. With its rolling Devon hills and you-can-almost-smell-the-sea backdrop, it’s hard not to fall head-over-heels in love with this dreamy venue. Running for over 50 years, this 200 acre site is host to some standout competition.
Home to a selection of world-class events, Bicton also welcomes the annual PC Championships (both Regional and Mini), so younger riders can get a feel of what it’s like riding in the same arena as their heroes. From Mary King (who lives locally), to William Fox-Pitt and most recent gold-medallist, Ros Canter, they’ve all ridden here.
The 4* event run in May is a real crowd-drawer (with over 5000 visitors per day) and has a good enough amount of food stalls and shopping opportunities to make for a full-day out. Lower level BE events run through the year alongside British Dressage and British Showjumping competitions. The Summer Showjumping Tour sees 450 horses stabled at any one time.
With two big arenas, plus two separate grass competition arenas and a levelled dressage arena, Bicton is well appointed for international events. There’s plenty of parking for competitors (no awkward reversing required) and the traffic management for the 4* event runs smoothly with lots of spots for visitors.
For stayaway events, Bicton has 116 permanent, super well-maintained stables along with a three-horse wash-down bay. Handily located for the arenas they keep many a pony happy after a busy day competing.
A very user-friendly shower block exists to keep two-legged visitors refreshed and Kenniford Farm provides catering. Accessed easily from the M5, Bicton is particularly user-friendly and simple to find.
With all levels of riders descending on Bicton, from the teeniest 40cm showjumpers, to Olympian eventers, this is a beautiful venue and one to definitely put on the radar.
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