The FEI European Eventing Championships 2015

..... are just 12 months away and will run at Blair Castle from 10-13 September. Ticket sales are already going well with day and week passes on sale at www.blair2015.com

Alec Lochore, the Event Director, knows Blair Castle like the back of his hand, and with his experience as Eventing Manager for the 2012 London Olympic Games, is ideally placed to put on the most spectacular show that Blair has ever seen.

“It's hugely exciting to be hosting the European Championships in Scotland – my home country. Blair Castle is a wonderful venue, with a remarkable team behind it; we will all be working flat out to make sure that visitors – riders, horses, volunteers, spectators, tradestand holders, everyone – will enjoy a fantastic few days in the Scottish Highlands,” said Alec.

The FEI European Eventing Championships 2015 forms part of UK Sport’s Gold Event Series, an ambitious programme to bring up to 70 world class events to home soil by 2019 to build a strong sporting legacy. The event is also supported by VisitScotland’s events directorate EventScotland.

Whilst Germany has been successful in recent years at Olympic, World and European level, Great Britain will be pulling out all the stops on home soil to regain the team title that they held for 16 consecutive years, from 1995-2009. A team silver medal at last month's FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will have fired a warning shot across the German bows, and a place on the home squad is the next hot ticket that all top British riders will be gunning for.

Bronze medallists at the WEG, the Netherlands can no longer be overlooked as medal contenders, while France will be keen to make amends for narrowly missing out on their home turf in August 2014.

Blair Castle will be ready and waiting to put on a fabulous show. The fairytale setting, testing terrain and warm Scottish hospitality guarantee a memorable event, both for competitors and for the thousands of spectators that will flock to Blair Atholl.

Eventers will perform their dressage and the final day's show jumping against a backdrop of the impressive white façade of Blair Castle. In between they must tackle a challenging new cross country course built by Ian Stark MBE. Ian was born in Galashiels, so is the archetypal 'local boy'. His credentials are top class. During his illustrious riding career he won four Olympic, three World Championship and nine European Championship medals – half of them gold. Riders can be sure that he will know exactly how to test them, whilst producing a track that is horse friendly. Big, bold and galloping are three words regularly used when riders describe Ian Stark courses.

“The FEI European Eventing Championships will be one of the biggest sporting events in Scotland next year. As proved by the recent hugely successful Commonwealth Games, Scotland has all the elements needed to stage outstanding sporting events. UK Sport will be working closely with partners from Scotland to make it a memorable championships and continue to build our global reputation for staging world class sport through the Gold Event Series,” commented Simon Morton, Director of Major Events and International Relations at UK Sport

Alongside the Eventing competition there will be Highland pony, Hunter and NPS Scotland showing classes, show jumping and Pony Club mounted games. The Bruadar Country Fair will offer non-horsey visitors plenty of entertainment with a wide range of demonstrations each day, and in the evenings visitors will be able to enjoy a Ceilidh, live bands, a disco, and that all important charity whisky tasting.

Let's not forget the shopping. For four days next September Blair Castle will be home to over 200 trade stands, providing something for all tastes and budgets. Avenues of quality shops will be selling their wares, from bespoke jewellery and fine art to boutique clothing, traditional tartan and even gourmet dog treats. A fabulous food hall will be bursting with deliciousness; visitors would do well to ensure they arrive with plenty of empty space in their suitcase or car for purchases.

As well as the equestrian spectacle, Country Fair and Scottish hospitality, visitors to the FEI European Eventing Championships 2015 will also have the opportunity to experience the enchanting 'spirit of Scotland'. Blair Castle, which dates back to 1269, is the ancient seat of the Dukes of Atholl and home to the Atholl Highlanders, the last remaining private army in Europe. The castle houses countless fascinating historical artefacts detailing 700 years of Scottish history and is the perfect place to start a tour of the country.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and the FEI European Eventing Championships will be the largest and most prestigious equestrian competition in the world next year. 2015 will be another stellar year for sport in Scotland, and the Championships will allow us to showcase our major event credentials once again. Set in the heart of Perthshire, Blair Castle will provide an ideal backdrop to the action and visitors will undoubtedly be enticed to explore more of what the area has to offer.”

Put the dates in your diary, 10- 13 September, and come and watch Europe's best Event riders bid for medal glory. Tickets can be bought or online through the dedicated website, www.blair2015.com