Eventers take on jockeys in Barbury champion challenge

The cream of Britain’s equestrian eventers are set to do battle with stars from jump racing in the JCB Champions Challenge at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials on Saturday.

Former world and European eventing champion Zara Tindall will captain the eventing team and leading lady jumps rider Bridget Andrews will lead the jockeys in the event being run in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Tindall will lead out stars from the eventing world including Jonty Evans, Dan Jocelyn and Holly Woodhead, while Andrews, one of the country’s most successful female jump jockeys, will be joined by Cheltenham Gold Cup winning rider Nico de Boinville, Wayne Hutchinson and Harry Skelton in the race over a specially designed course in the Barbury main arena.

Tindall was in competitive mode when asked how she thought the day might pan out. She said: “The eventers are ready and plan to put on a real show for visitors to Barbury and the jump jockeys should expect to see just a distant rear view of us!"

For her part Andrews responded by saying: “I just hope the eventing team can lay up with the jump jockeys as we are hungry to regain our JCB Champion Challenge Crown at Barbury and will be all out to do so!”