A brand new outdoor arena has been constructed at Bishop Burton to add the College’s already impressive raft of equine facilities. The arena, which is situated towards the North end of the campus, will be used as the location for the show jumping competitions during this summer’s European Pony Championships, which the College is hosting.
Bishop Burton already boasts two indoor schools and the Olympic-standard Bishop Burton arena and its existing outdoor arena is being extended by 12 metres and resurfaced before the Championships, which will be held between the 27th July and the 1st August 2010.
Bishop Burton’s equine director Kim Knightley said: “For the Pony European Championships the new facility will be used for the high-profile show jumping competition and the existing outdoor school will be the Championship Dressage Arena, but 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.
The new surface, which measures 50m x 90m (4500m2), is situated on a part of the College’s estate that affords the room to install terraced seating for 1000 and is convenient for 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,” continued 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.
“We chose the Martin Collins Ecotrack surface, a sand fibre mix which is suitable for all disciplines, which means we can use the arena through the year and our learners and commercial clients will benefit from yet another fantastic resource.”
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