UK Sport

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
the national lottery
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn
  • About us
    • Our Directors Team
    • Our Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Our partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact us
    • Media centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Talent identification
    • Coaching
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Leadership, development & governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • Curling
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • Para-Rowing
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Annual reports
    • Board minutes
    • British Cycling independent review
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports
    • Privacy policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • Recruitment framework
    • The Whyte Review
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and open data
    • Welsh language scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Jobs in sport
    • Submit a job
  • About us
    • Our Directors Team
    • Our Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Our partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact us
    • Media centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Talent identification
    • Coaching
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Leadership, development & governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • Curling
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • Para-Rowing
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Annual reports
    • Board minutes
    • British Cycling independent review
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports
    • Privacy policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • Recruitment framework
    • The Whyte Review
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and open data
    • Welsh language scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Jobs in sport
    • Submit a job
Press Enter to Search
News

Scotland win bid to host the FEI European Eventing Championships 2015

Published 11 June 2012

Scottish equestrian fans are celebrating today as Blair Castle in Perthshire has been announced as the host venue of the high profile FEI European Eventing Championships 2015. The British bid, backed by The Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, saw off competitive tenders from Germany, Poland, The Netherlands and Belgium to be granted the competition rights by the Bureau of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) on Friday 8 June 2012.
 
Identifying a desire to capitalise on the Olympic legacy, Robertson declared the bid a ‘top priority’ for the UK Government and described eventing as ‘an integral part of our sporting culture’. He commented: “The 2015 European Eventing Championships is one of the most prestigious international sports events to be staged by the UK as part of the 2012 major events sports legacy. Having been part of the presentation team, I am delighted that we have been successful and sure we will deliver a fantastic event.”
 
Led by British Equestrian Federation Chief Executive, Andrew Finding, the five strong bid team also included the expertise of Stuart Turner, Events Director for EventScotland; Rebecca Edser, Events Consultant at UK Sport and Alec Lochore, Event Director of the Blair Castle International Horse Trials.
 
The Blair Castle Horse Trials is Scotland's leading equestrian event and each year welcomes over 40,000 visitors over four days in August each year. The Atholl Estate has played host to the FEI Young Rider European Championships twice in the last five years but this is the first time a senior equestrian Championship has been awarded north of the border.
 
Sarah Troughton of Atholl Estates commented: “This is tremendously exciting news and we at Atholl Estates look forwards to the continued development of this great event and build on the experiences of hosting the FEI Young Riders European Championships on several occasions in recent years. We look forwards to welcoming Europe to this most spectacular and historic part of Scotland in this all important Pre Olympic year”.
 
The competition will bring the very best competitors in the world to our doorstep and, according to Alec Lochore, “would bring a new realm of prestige to the venue”.

He continued: “Our aim is to work with the FEI to put on a truly memorable event at Blair in 2015. We believe this would continue the legacy of 2012 and inspire a new generation of riders; it’s a tremendously exciting prospect.”
 
Simon Morton, Director of Major Events and International Relations at UK Sport said: “The 2015 European Eventing Championships was our main hosting target in Equestrian sport after London 2012, and so we are delighted in the bid decision.
 
“Not only will it have been ten years since the UK last hosted this event, the 2015 Championships are particularly important as they will be a critical qualification event for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
 
“Having recently won bids to host World and European Championships in the UK in Athletics, Gymnastics, Triathlon, Hockey, Canoe Slalom and Squash, we're delivering on our commitment to secure a major events legacy from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.”
 
Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the British Equestrian Federation added: “No longer are Championships won on the basis of ‘Buggins’s turn’. This was hard work made so much easier with the personal support of Hugh Robertson MP who flew out to the FEI’s Offices in Lausanne to join our presentation. The team at UK Sport and EventScotland added huge practical value; I want to thank them all. It worked well and we are delighted to be going to Blair Castle in Scotland in 2015.”
 
Chief Executive of British Eventing Mike Etherington-Smith commented: “It is fantastic news that Blair Castle has been selected to host the European Eventing Championships in 2015. A combination of the spectacular scenery, the great venue, and the enthusiasm and ability of the organisers alongside some good old fashioned Scottish hospitality will provide a fantastic competition for everyone involved including riders, owners, grooms, spectators, and of course, sponsors. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the UK for what will be a terrific week’s sport.”
 
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Securing the 2015 European Eventing Championships is a fantastic achievement, and in Blair Castle we have a stunning venue which is familiar to the eventing community. Scotland is the perfect stage for events and with the addition of the European Eventing Championships to our upcoming portfolio; our international pedigree continues to go from strength to strength.”
 

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
News
Team of Tomorrow image with lined up athletes from left to right, Ben Cumberland, Megan Farrer,  Thomas Young, Tom Hattee, and Ellie Challis.
UK Sport launches Environmental Sustainability Strategy to protect ‘Team of Tomorrow’
28 March 2023
five athletes sat on stage in mid disussion
International Relations Seminar 2023
21 March 2023
Eilish crossing the line celebrating with her arms in the air
New research shows British public support athletes speaking out and driving social change
8 March 2023
Sport jobs in the UK
Find & advertise UK based sports jobs here
Read more
Funding Partners
  • DCMS
  • TNL partners
Strategic Partners
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • english institute of sport logo
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • UK Sport editorial policy
  • Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • Website terms
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies policy
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2023