Source:  News Release

Many New Challenges at Badminton 2012

Hardly an obstacle remains unchanged in Hugh Thomas' fresh looking cross country course for the

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2012. After the ASX Crossover (1) in the arena and a

left tum over the Deer Feeder (2) on the main track, the first real test is at the HorseQuest Quarry

(3,4,5) a sweep of three massive logs, making use of the undulating ground, where, for the first time

there are no alternatives. A long gallop follows to the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Huntsman's

Close (6,7,Sab), a spread into the copse onto a bounce of hedges to a log on a left tum with a time

consuming longer route for those who this early in the course have elected to go for a completion not

a pnze.

Up in front of the House to the familiar Wadworth Barrels (9) and then the crowd favourite Lake

complex (10 abc). The direct way is over a big drop before two narrow hedges in the water and out,

turning right to the backed up L200s (11). The Countryside Brushtop (12) is a welcome let up

about halfway round, before competitors head out ofthe Deer Park over the Swindon Designer

Outlet Sunken Lane (13 abc), a choice of lozenge boxes in and out.

The HSI Farmyard (14 ab) is the attractive Mike Weaver Hay Cart with a comer away, or two

corners for the longer route. The Colt Pond (15 ab) now has a wide solid spread followed quickly by

a brush screen, with daylight underneath, as the drop into the water. The Team GBR Footbridge

(16) is a good old massive leap over the Vicarage Ditch before the Outlander Bank (17 ab), which

now has the jump through brush hoop on its top.

Looping right, the next jump to come is the HSBC FEI Classic Beam (IS) and up to the Shogun

Hollow (19 abc) an upright rail to drop with a double of hedges back into the Deer Park. Another

long stretch takes in the Rolex Grand Slam Shooting Butt (20) and the KBIS Table (21). The

HSBC Market Place (22 abc) stalis with a white gate with a direct line which takes in a right then

left corner. Going up Savills' Staircase (23 abc) with its 'skinny' at the top is a stamina test towards

the end of the course and the revamped i-MiEV Village (24 abc) is a treble of houses, with a choice

of two as the middle option.

By the John Whitaker Keeper"s Brush (25) riders will be feeling they are nearly home, but after

the World Horse Welfare Branch (26) the double of brushes at the RolexCrossing (27, 28)

demand respect before the relief of the Mitsubis.hi Motors Finale (29).

As Hugh Thomas remarked, "There are new questions all around the course, which should provide a

thrilling competition in this Olympic year."

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