BISHOP Burton College has appointed the showjumping course designer for this summer’s FEI European Pony Championships.
National and International, Advanced and FEI course designer Mark McGowan has landed the role and has visited the college to start planning the courses for the four-day competition between July 28 and August 1.
It is the second time he has designed a major European Championships after setting the 2008 Junior and Young Rider Championships course in Prague.
Mark, who runs the Hallmark Stud in Kilmarnock, with his wife Holly, a high-profile competitor, is looking forward to the challenge at Bishop Burton, near Beverley.
He said: “I’ve done many top national pony competitions and a few abroad, so I am familiar with the requirements of this type of competition.
“Obviously I have to design a course that’s commensurate with this level of competition and rider, and that meets the needs of this standard of competition. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m honoured to be given such a prestigious home event.”
Mark has both World Cup qualifiers and Nations Cups under his belt and will be looking at providing a course that tests the competitors gradually over the four days of competition.
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