Lincoln's major annual eventing competition takes place once again this month on the county's showground. Big-name competitors such as Olly Townend, William Fox-Pitt and last year's Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials winner Caroline Powell are all expected to take part.

More than 750 local, national and international riders will compete at Pre-Novice, Novice and Intermediate level over the three days with dressage, show-jumping and cross country events all providing ample opportunity for local and professional eventers to prove themselves.

Director of the event Charles Hood spoke exclusively to Lincolnshire Pride, himself a Grange de Lings farmer, BE steward and former eventing competitor with his own 20 acre eventing course.

"The trials began in the early 1980s." says Charles. "Officially the eventing season begins on 5th March so we're one of the earliest events in the calendar.

It's seen as a great stepping stone to the Horse Trials Burghley and is an excellent proving ground for new riders as well as an opportunity to witness the talents of some impressive international eventers too."

Significant names attracted over recent years include Piggy French, winner of the Lincolnshire Trials in 2010 and Burghley's 2010 winner Caroline Powell. Polly Stockton, Sharon Hunt, and Ruth Edge usually compete, as well as Olympic riders William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson. The latter were both members of the Gold medal winning team at the World Equestrian Games last year, alongside New Zealand double gold medallist Mark Todd.

The event has, in particular, positioned itself as a showcase for Lincolnshire's young talent.

In 2010, the event hosted the trials for two of Britain's successful youth eventing squads; the Charles Owen British Ponies for riders aged 13 to 16 and the Young Riders for those aged from 18 to 21.

Last year's successes included local Walesby rider Emily Parker who took the under-21 Open Intermediate section on Treefers, her 2009 young rider team gold medal winner.

In recent years, Emily has enjoyed a stream of successes including runner up in the Pony Club Championships and Junior Regional Novice Championships in 2007. She was also fourth in the U21 Eventing National Championships at Weston Park.

Amongst other local riders, Matthew Wright from Retford won the 2010 final Open Intermediate section on Hugginstown.

From Louth, Rosalind Canter had success with a win in one of the BE100 sections plus placings in other sections. 17 year old Gina Ruck from Tealby, a previous gold medal winner for Britain at pony level, came in sixth in the Open Intermediate Under 21 Sections.

Another BE100 section winner was Helen Scholl from near Grantham on Blackstairs King, and in the local novice section, the winner was Deborah Doyle from Lincoln.

The trials attracts around 2,800 participants, 750 actual riders and more than a thousand competitors to the showground, and is carefully co-ordinated to ensure a rapid throughflow of as many competitors as possible.

Dressage takes place by the A15, whilst showjumping takes place in the showground's main ring adjacent to the EPIC centre, a grand venue that proves a real coup for some riders, whilst the cross country circuit course, created by Philip Herbert and Charles himself, loops from the showground's car parks to the point-to-point course and back round again.

"Our courses have a good variety of well-built straightforward fences, designed to give confidence for early season and it's run over flat, extremely well-drained light land, giving ideal going." says Charles.

Last year's event provided record visitor numbers and Show Director Charles is hoping to build on that success in 2011. "It's a terrific job to organise each year, but a real labour of love too."

In particular Charles praises the efforts of co-organiser and event secretary Anne Whitton, and the event's many voluntary helpers. The events sponsors include Lincoln stockbrokers Brewin Dolphin, Cadenza

Eventing, GFP Seets, Throstlenest, Cobb's Equestrian, Aerborn, Riseholm College, RASE Vets, QuestEeze, Arthur Swallow Fairs and Mumby Heppenstall, as well as Marshall Land Rover and Retford Saddlery.

"Eventing is probably the only sport where you can compete alongside serious professionals." says Charles. "The Lincolnshire trials strikes a great balance of being approachable, yet attracting some of the country's best riders. Perhaps that's why it's so popular with competitors and spectators alike."