Phillips & Stark join Festival team

The Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing recently announced the appointments of Peter Phillips and Ian Stark, OBE to the organisational team.

Ian Stark, OBE (right)

Peter Phillips joins his father, course designer and honourable organiser Captain Mark Phillips, in the role of joint organiser. Peter (31) has been involved with the horse trials at Gatcombe Park since a child and for the last 15 years has served out his ‘apprenticeship’ as a key member of Gatcombe’s ‘menial task division’, a group of people who, as the name suggests, perform fundamental but vital jobs such as stringing the course, setting out the main arena and preparing take-offs and landings.

“There won’t be so much banging in posts this year although I am sure there will still be plenty of opportunity for wielding a hammer,” said Peter, the sponsorship Manager at The Royal Bank of Scotland. “My new role is the start of an integration process into the organisational and administrative side of the event which has formed such a major part of my life to date. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an already excellent organising team at Gatcombe.”

Former international event rider and now trainer, team selector and course designer Ian Stark, OBE, joins Captain Phillips as Assistant Course Designer for The Festival. Ian who only recently retired from competition competed at Gatcombe Park many times during his thirty-year career in the saddle however its British Championship title was one that eluded the five-times Olympian and three-times Badminton winner.

“I always enjoyed competing at Gatcombe and am really looking forward to being involved at The Festival which is one of the feature events of the horse trials calendar. Having never managed to win the Championship at Gatcombe, which was definitely not for want of trying, I shall happily settle for influencing the outcome from my new position on the ground.” Said Ian.

Captain Mark Phillips said; “It is great to have Peter and Ian on board and I am looking forward to their input. I am sure Peter will bring an injection of youth and a fresh eye to the organisation while Ian’s enthusiasm, extensive knowledge and experience of the sport as well as his great sense of humour will be a huge asset to the team.”

The Festival of British Eventing takes place from 1st – 3rd August 2008. For advance bookings visit www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk.

For further information on The Festival of British Eventing contact the Press Office on 01458 250 200 or email pressoffice@gatcombe.co.uk