New arena at Bishop Burton College ready to host showjumping championships (From Gazette & Herald)

New arena at Bishop Burton College ready to host showjumping championships

2:30pm Wednesday 20th January 2010

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A new outdoor arena has been built at Bishop Burton College, adding to its already impressive raft of equine facilities.

The arena will be for the showjumping competitions during this summer’s FEI European Pony Championships, which the college is hosting.

Bishop Burton already boasts two indoor schools and the Olympic-standard Bishop Burton arena. The existing outdoor arena is being extended by 12 metres and resurfaced before the championships take place.

Bishop Burton’s equine director Kim Knightley believes the new arena will allow the college to offer more choice and flexibility to students and clients in the long-term.

She said: “For the Pony European Championships, the new facility will be used for the high-profile showjumping competition and the existing outdoor school will be the championship dressage arena.

“However, this new resource will also allow us to hold many more competitions in the future and it will mean we don’t have to stop one activity so another one can begin.

“We are looking at the possibility of hosting some arena polo and organising some affiliated showjumping throughout the summer to complement the winter competitions we currently run.”

The new surface, which measures 50m x 90m, affords the room to install terraced seating for 1,000 spectators and is situated close to all of Bishop Burton’s other equine facilities.

Building work began in September and the surface and fencing is now complete.

“The new arena surface is now ready for use,” said Ms Knightley.

“As soon as we are able we will be using it to make sure it is bedded in and settled for the championships and for use going forward.

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