After an almost continuous run of over ten years, the BHDTA 2013 National Championships will move from Queen Victoria’s Review Ground, Windsor to the Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club at Great Canfield in Essex.
BHDTA Chairman, Jock McFarlane, said: “It was inevitable that, in the ongoing economic climate and the National Championships becoming financially unsustainable in recent years, a move would have to happen. Our membership raised concerns over the situation at the AGM in November and since then Council has been seeking a solution. We are indebted to our patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and estate employees at the Royal Park for all their help and assistance in our time there but the Championships have to be a viable event.
“Council had offers from several venues, including Ashfields, to host the Championships and the matter was discussed at length. When the vote took place, Wilf Bowman-Ripley [Council member and manager of Ashfields] quite rightly left the room and was delighted when advised that his venue had been selected. Wilf has undertaken to run the Championships at his own financial risk but I must stress that this is an arrangement for 2013 only; a decision on a more permanent venue from 2014 onwards, which may or may not be Ashfields, will be taken by Council following this year’s event in September”.
