Belsay International was founded in 2013 by Laura and Peter de Wesselow, who live at Belsay and represent the current generation of the Middleton family. Over the past 13 years, the event has grown from its beginnings into an important fixture in the British Eventing calendar, welcoming competitors from across the UK and around the world.

Belsay has hosted competition at all levels, including the Pony and Junior National Championships for five years through to 2025, as well as classes up to CCI3*. In 2025, Belsay hosted the replacement fixture for Chatsworth, introducing CCI4*-S and CCI2* competition alongside Advanced and Novice classes. The success of that event led to Belsay being awarded CCI4* status, marking an exciting new chapter for the event.

In 2026, Belsay International took a significant step forward as we embarked on the next phase of our ambition to establish Belsay as a leading international eventing destination. Over 10 months of planning and development went into creating a true 4* venue, with a new site layout, enhanced visitor experiences and significant investment across the event.

The response from competitors was exceptional. Belsay International 2026 welcomed athletes from 16 nations, alongside some of the biggest names in the sport. We are incredibly excited about the future of Belsay International and our ambition to establish it as one of the leading fixtures in the British Eventing calendar.

Our thanks go to our sponsors, partners, competitors, volunteers and the many people behind the scenes whose support, expertise and enthusiasm make Belsay possible.