Lewis Coombes
Reporting from Blenheim Palace

If you're going to ride a horse, why not do it in the grounds of a palace? Each year, Blenheim Palace plays host to the prestigious Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. But this year is particularly special, as the event also welcomes the European Championships.

The British team enters the competition as reigning Olympic and European champions, with Swindon’s Tom McEwen and Laura Collett from Salperton at the heart of the squad. They’ll be aiming for a historic three-peat and doing it in front of a home crowd.

BBC Sport

Great Britain will defend their European title on home soil at Blenheim Palace this weekend – and you can watch the action live on BBC Sport.

Eventing involves all three equestrian disciplines of dressage, cross country and show jumping, with the lowest cumulative score from all three disciplines deciding the winner.

Double Olympic team gold medallists Laura Collett and Tom McEwen lead a strong British team, who are looking to secure their third consecutive European team gold medal.

Reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham and two-time individual silver European medallist Piggy March make up the British team challenge.

Former junior European champion Bubby Upton and 2024 Pau five-star winner Caroline Harris make their senior team debuts as individual competitors.

Image source, Jon Stroud, British Equestrian

Image source, Getty Images

Germany's three-time Olympic champion Michael Jung (pictured above) is a favourite for the individual title with Paris ride Fischer Chipmunk.

Jung heads a competitive European field with representatives from 17 nations, including Turkey's first ever rider at a European Eventing Championships, Kumru Say.

Image source, Getty Images

Great Britain are without defending European champion and Olympic gold medal winning team-mate Ros Canter (above). Canter 39, withdrew from selection after announcing her pregnancy with her second child in August following a hat-trick of five-star wins in 2025.

Image source, Getty Images

Blenheim Palace last hosted the European Eventing Championships in 2005, when British royal family member Zara Tindall was crowned individual champion and Britain won the team title.

Image source, Getty Images

The European Eventing Championships are held every two years - this year's competition is taking place in Blenheim Palace, England from 18-21 September.

The equestrian competition comprises three disciplines - dressage, cross country and jumping.

The dressage was completed on Friday and cross country on Saturday, with the medals decided after the jumping on Sunday.

Each competing country can field a team of four riders and two individuals. At least three of the four team riders must complete the competition, with the best three scoring riders counting towards the team score.

Medals are also awarded for the best individual riders.

BBC iPlayer

Sunday, 21 September

Jumping group one: 10:50-12:50 - BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

Jumping group two: 13:50-15:25 - BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

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