Eric Winter. Photo courtesy of Badminton.
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials announced this morning that Great Britain’s Eric Winter has been named the new course designer. Eric has designed the course at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials for the past 10 years, as well as courses at the Asian Games, two European Pony Championships, a European Junior and a European Young Rider Championship.
Eric replaces Italian designer Giuseppe della Chiesa, who chairs the FEI Eventing Committee and took over the course in 2014 from event director Hugh Thomas. Hugh designed the course for 24 years, from 1989 to 2013.
“After having had the privilege of designing Badminton for three years it has been a true honor to have been offered the possibility to continue but, sadly, I am not able to go on due to shifting life priorities and new personal commitments,” Giuseppe said. “Being also a true believer in the benefits of changing course designers from time to time I wish Eric all success.”
Eric, 53, lives with his wife and family near Chepstow, about 30 miles from Badminton, and served as technical delegate at the event from 2011 to 2014. He also completed the event as a rider in 1991.
“It is a great honor to be asked to design the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton course — it is such an iconic event. I first visited Badminton in 1974 — that was my first ever taste of eventing,” Eric said.
“In recent years I have been involved in several different roles and have got to know the team behind the scenes very well. To be asked to design here is truly a dream come true and I am extremely thankful to all those involved for giving me this opportunity. I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
