Exciting new PN class at Catlin UK Mattingley Horse Trials

Kbis Equine Insurance is set to sponsor a special new Pre Novice section at Mattingley on May 20th which will follow the international one day format.

Competitors will perform the championship PN dressage test in the long arena; followed by the cross-country course and finally show jumping in reverse order both run to Pre-Novice specification.

In addition Kbis is sponsoring a presentation on the International format and a course walk on the Friday evening given by Olympic medallist Tiny Clapham.

This is open to all Pre Novice competitors. First prize for this event will be £100 but the entry fee will only be the normal PN amount.

In order to give the atmosphere of a full international event the organisers will present a charity ball on the Saturday night.

Guy Prest of Kbis said: "We are very pleased to be supporting the first ever pre-novice international style CIC, it is a great step forward and truly innovative, something we pride ourselves on at Kbis."

Joint organiser Richard Clapham explained: "We wanted to continue the policy of evolution which has made Mattingley so popular by creating change at all levels of the sport organised at our event.

The Pre-Novice level seemed ideal for this kind of event. In addition reverse order show jumping will provide an exciting finish for our sponsors and spectators alike, whilst also providing the competitors with a real experience of the pressures that can be felt on that all important final phase if an international competition. It is intended to be fun, educational and representative of the sport today. We are delighted that Kbis has joined this innovative format."

On-going improvements have been made to all three cross-country courses (Intro, Pre-Novice & Novice) including upgrading both the novice and pre-novice water fences, which incorporate the new Bill Kerr sponsored Dew Pond.

The Catlin (UK) event this year runs over three days, Friday 19th - Sunday 21st May, with an expanded number of classes. These will encompass ever popular International Intermediate Novice section run on the same format as the international pre novice section with first prize of £250 , Open Novice, Novice Open Pre-Novice, Pre-Novice and Intro as well as the International style Pre-Novice.