For the first time in the history of eventing, the world famous Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is opening its gates to a new level of rider.

The event is known for attracting the world’s top riders; however this year is also hosting the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots BE90 and BE100 Championships, where riders at the grassroots level of the sport have the opportunity to compete on the hallowed turf that is Badminton. The Championships take place side by side with the main competition on Thursday 29 and Friday, April 2010.

British Eventing has teamed up with Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in order to take the existing series, which has been running for five years, to a new level and create something spectacular that many riders entering the sport will want to aspire to.

Riders from the all over the country have spent the past 12 months earning their places at the championships via a series of regional qualifying competitions and next weeks, 170 grassroots competitors will descend on Badminton, in Gloucestershire to battle it out to be crowned British Grassroots Champion.

The central hub of the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship will be held where the former steeplechase course used to be. This is where all the dressage and show jumping will take place however the cross country course will stretch out into the park routing through The Lake, Huntsman’s Close and The Quarry. The newly designed 3000 metre long course will provide riders with a real sense of achievement on completion.

The qualifying criteria for the BE90 and BE100 Championship as well as the map of the cross country course can be viewed on the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Festival website - www.badminton-horse.co.ukgrassroots.aspx