Eventer Sam Watson has suggested creating a new five-star pathway to address declining starter numbers at major events Mars Badminton and Defender Burghley.
Badminton recorded 61 starters in 2026, its lowest total in more than 20 years. Burghley had 52 starters in 2025, matching its lowest figure in at least two decades. Watson noted a 36.9 percent drop in long-format feeder events between 2014/2015 and 2024/2025, while short-format events fell by only 2.9 percent.
Double Badminton winner and retired eventing star William Fox-Pitt has walked the cross-country course for the 2026 Mars Badminton Horse Trials, sharing insights on its key fences in the Horse & Hound magazine issue dated 30 April 2026. The event is scheduled for 6-10 May 2026.
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Amateur eventer Tom Strawson is set to make his five-star debut at Badminton Horse Trials this spring on Public Address, a retrained racehorse he bought cheaply. The 37-year-old combines full-time property work with point-to-point riding and hunting.
Former players Tim Henman and John Lloyd have urged major changes to the tennis schedule amid rising injuries to top stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
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The 2026 British open championship will feature a significant format change and a fivefold increase in first prize after organisers listened to rider feedback. The event returns to Hartpury University and Hartpury College from 11 to 16 August.