Badminton shares preparations to ensure the ground is at its best following wet winter

The “final jigsaw pieces” are coming together as preparations for Mars Badminton Horse Trials (6 to 10 May) continue apace.

Badminton director Jane Tuckwell shared an update this week (10 February) on how the parkland is faring in the wet weather and the work that is under way for the 2026 CCI5*.

“As we all know, since I last wrote, we have had record amounts of rain in many parts of the country. Badminton has not escaped but thankfully we have not been as wet as some,” said Mrs Tuckwell, adding that Badminton has a “great team of people who have a passion to make sure the ground is presented in the best possible way, be it wet or dry”.

“I was walking in the park last week and all the drainage that has been carried out over recent years is now really beginning to pay off as the cross-country course itself is not waterlogged which, in years gone by, it would have been by now. Also, our natural water supply (should the weather go the other way!) has filled up so watering will not be a problem.”

She said showjumping course-designer Kelvin Bywater visited last week, adding: “Eric Winter was here on this day, placing one of his ‘cross-country’ surprises for 2026, so he popped in to have a chat as the course-designers of both phases are more interlinked than possibly some people realise.

“The technicality of the showjumping course will depend to a point on how the athletes and horses have fared on the cross-country the day before.

“By the end of the month most of the cross-country fences will be in place, ready for the FEI technical delegates to visit and inspect early next month.”

Mrs Tuckwell also said that the tradestand village is “near completion”, the box office team are busy, and that British Eventing LeMieux Grassroots Championships cross-country course-designer James Willis is “starting to put his ideas into formation”.

“The final jigsaw pieces are being put in place as far as contractors and volunteers are concerned and I am extremely grateful to the latter for their commitment and support,” she said.

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