Belsay International 2026 Competition Schedule
Cross Country
National Cross Country:
(From 12:30pm)
-Novice (12:30pm)
-Novice Masters (14:00pm)
-Intermediate (15:00pm)
-Open Intermediate (15:00pm)
Cross Country:
(From 09:30am)
-CCI3*-S (09:30am)
-Intermediate (12:14pm)
-CCI4*-S (13:10pm)
-Advanced (17:30pm)
Cross Country:
(From 10:00am)
-CCI1*-S (10:00am)
-BE 105cm (10:50am)
-CCI2*-S (13:00pm)
-PTN (15:40pm)
-ONOu18 (16:00pm)
-Novice (16:00pm)
Womble Bond Dickinson International Arena
(From 09:45am)
International Dressage:
-CCI-S 4* (09:46am)
-CCI-S 3* (13:46am)
(From 09:00am)
International Dressage:
-CCI4*-S (09:00am)
– CCI3*-S (09:00am)
(From 08:00am)
Show Jumping:
-CCI3*-S (08:00am)
-Intermediate (11:20am)
-CCI4*-S (12:00pm)
-Advanced (17:30pm)
(From 18:30pm)
Dachshund Derby
(From 08:45am)
Show Jumping:
-CCI1 -S* (08:46am)
-BE 105cm (09:36am)
-CCI2*-S (11:46am)
-PTN (15:00pm)
-ONOu18(16:00pm)
-Novice (16:00pm)
Healing Power of the Horse Masterclass happening from 12:45 to 13:15pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Womble Bond Dickinson International Arena
The Healing Power of the Horse Masterclass has been put together to showcase just how much horses and ponies contribute to the mental health and physical wellbeing of the wider community. Featuring participants from Stepney Bank Stables in Newcastle, Morpeth Riding for the Disabled Association and KL Therapy Ponies alongside equestrian superstars William Fox-Pitt, Nicola Wilson and Saffron Cresswell as well as Jack Thomas Watson,
This year, our Saturday night entertainment promises to be a lot of fun. Competitors, volunteers and anyone with a Dachshund (or even a small dog that resembles one!) can take part in the Belsay Dachshund Derby in aid of the British Eventing Support Trust.
There will be merch, flags, fun and feverish competition (not to mention a touch of betting perhaps) as lots of little legs race each other to raise money for one of Belsay’s favourite charities. Those little Sausages will be sizzling in a series of Heats before a thrilling Championship final to crown the winner of the Belsay BEST Dachshund Derby Winner of 2026.
National Dressage Field
National Dressage:
(From 09:00am)
-Novice (09:00am)
-Novice Masters (10:00am)
-Intermediate (12:00pm)
-Open Intermediate (12:00pm)
(From 14:30pm)
International Dressage:
-CCI2*-S (14:30pm)
National Dressage:
(From 09:00am)
-Intermediate (09:00am)
-Advanced (13:30pm)
(From 11:15am)
International Dressage:
-CCI-S 1* (11:14am)
National Dressage:
(From 08:00am)
-BE105cm (08:00am)
-Novice (12:30pm)
-ONOu18 (12:30pm)
-PTN (13:00pm)
Coal Burn Arena
Burghley Young Event Horse
(From 09:00am)
BYEH 5yo Class
(From 15:00pm)
BYEH 4yo Class
NSEA Showjumping
(From 09:00am)
Parade of the Hounds
(From 17:20pm)
Inter Hunt Relay (Enter Below)
(From 17:30pm)
Pony Poop Challenge
This year the Inter-Hunt Relay will be followed by the Tynedale Pony Poop Challenge in aid of the British Eventing Support Trust. Buy a £10 raffle ticket from the Event Information Office. This ticket equates to one square on a pre-determined Grid of the Coalburn Arena. Fraggle, our shi**ing Shetland will be released into the Arena and we will wait with baited breath to see whose square it poops on! Ridiculous, yes… Fun, absolutely! And the winner will receive £500!!
Swanstead Arenas
BE National Classes Show Jumping:
(From 11:00am)
-Novice (11:00am)
-Novice Masters (12:45pm)
-Intermediate (13:40pm)
-Open Intermediate (13:40pm)
Native Pony Festival
(From 09:00am)
BSPS Area 1A Show
(From 09:00am)
Inter-Hunt Relay
On Sunday 17th May 2026,at approximately 5:30pm, the Coal Burn Arena will host the fast and furious Inter Hunt Relay. It’s a real crowd favourite, bringing endless entertainment!
Rules
Teams of four from each hunt to include one junior under 25 years and one quaddie (who must be 18 years old or over and hold a full driving licence). Two other riders make up the team. We do encourage a rider over 45 years, where possible, but this is not a neccesity. There will be a mirrored course set up (so two teams can compete at the same time) of mainly working hunter style jumps, of approximately 85cm, and to include one or more non jumping tasks. Jumps will raise to approximately 95cm in the second round. Quads will complete a range of challenges before passing the baton to the first rider.
Each team should provide a hunt whip to use as a baton and all members must be dressed correctly for a day’s hunting. This is a timed competition, and the starting order will be drawn.
The competition will be run as a knock-out relay and the time taken from the start of the first rider to the finish of the final competitor (the quad). 5 seconds will be added to the time for a knockdown. If the whip is dropped the competitor must dismount, pick it up, re-mount and continue.
If a competitor is eliminated for three or more refusals another competitor must complete their round for them. In the event of a fall by rider, the time will keep ticking but penalties won’t be added. At the discretion of the judge/medical team, the rider may continue once remounted. Another rider can continue the course in their place one the rider is up and on their feet, when it’s deemed safe to do so by the judge. In the event of a horse fall, the team will be automatically eliminated.
Entry Form
Entry forms will be available in early Spring 2026.
Enquiries
Jade Hunter horsetrials@belsayestate.com
All entry forms must be signed to indicate acceptance of the rules of this event. Please ensure commentary notes are filled out on your entry form – it helps with the entertainment!
£200 CASH PRIZE TO THE WINNER
Entry: £50 per team. Please send cheques made payable to Belsay Horse Trials to Belsay Estate Office, Belsay NE20 0DX.
Entry via BACS to Handlesbanken
SC: 40 51 62 AC: 41063182
Parking
Enter via Belsay Castle & Hall drive, following signs for Arena Eventing, BSPS & NSEA. At the small pond, turn right and park in the field on the right hand side of the track.
Dress Code
Hunting Attire (Black, Navy or Tweed). 1 whip is required between the team to use as a baton. Plaiting not essential. Chinstraps required on all hats (Quad drivers must have a hard helmet & driving licence). A team prize will be presented the winner of the best turned out.
