After a brilliantly successful step up to CCI4* level in 2025, we are delighted to announce that Belsay Horse Trials in Northumberland has been allocated international classes at CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and CCI1* for 2026 and onwards. Belsay will also host national classes which will be confirmed following publication of the 2026 British Eventing national fixture calendar.
Belsay 2026 will run from 15-17 May. This is the weekend that, historically, the events at Chatsworth and Floors Castle occupied.
This year organiser Laura de Wesselow and the Belsay team pulled off the remarkable feat of running two international horse trials back-to-back in May after she volunteered to host an extra fixture to replace the lost event at Chatsworth, with its CCI4*-S, Advanced, CCI2*-S and Novice classes. This involved developing completely new areas of the site on the Belsay estate for a brand-new four-star cross-country course, designed by Adrian Ditcham and built by Rob McSkimming, and re-siting the main arena to protect the ground for the established and highly popular Belsay event with its array of classes 10 days later.
Laura de Wesselow said: “2025 was a Herculean effort – Belsay stepped in to host the replacement fixture for Chatsworth and 10 days later put on our own existing fixture, including the Pony and Junior Championships, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-L, CCI2*-S, CCI1* and national classes from Intermediate to BE90. Each event had a different show field site as well as different cross-country courses. It would be unrealistic to think that we could continue to host two events so close together every year, so we have made the sad decision to relinquish our original date, which was normally the last weekend in May.
“Belsay has built its profile as a leading destination event since starting in 2013, securing support from leading companies and equestrian brands and becoming a firm favourite among professional and grassroots eventers alike.
“We are very excited to take on this new date and fixture for the next cycle, and will be making lots of plans over the coming weeks – so watch this space!”
The inaugural Belsay CCI4*-S in 2025 proved the perfect preparation for top combinations before their runs at Luhmühlen, Aachen and Bramham. It had a very worthy winner in Piggy March, one of British eventing’s major stars and winner of both Burghley and Badminton, with Jayne McGivern’s grey stallion Halo. The pair were members of the British team at the European Championships at Blenheim Palace in September.
Piggy said afterwards: “I’m so impressed with the event. They have put so much hard work into it and it is much appreciated. It was well worth the trip up from Northamptonshire and I will definitely be back – I hope this CCI4*-S becomes a permanent part of our year.”
