Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI**** (England) has announced the appointment of Eric Winter as the new cross-country course designer for 2017. Winter will take over from Giuseppe Della Chiesa, who designed the track for three years (2014-2016). Hugh Thomas was the course designer before Della Chiesa. 

”After having had the privilege of designing Badminton for three years it has been a true honor to have been offered the possibility to continue but, sadly, I am not able to go on due to shifting life priorities and new personal commitments,” said Della Chiesa. “Being also a true believer in the benefits of changing course designers from time to time, I wish Eric all success.

Eric, 53, who lives with his wife and family near Chepstow, England, only about 30 miles from Badminton, has designed the course at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (England) for the last 10 years and during that time he has also designed for the Asian Games, two European Pony Championships, a European Junior and a European Young Rider Championship.

He was technical delegate at Badminton 2011-2014 and as a rider completed the event in 1991.

“It is a great honor to be asked to design the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton course; it is such an iconic event,” said Winter. “I first visited Badminton in 1974—that was my first ever taste of eventing. In recent years I have been involved in several different roles and have got to know the team behind the scenes very well. To be asked to design here is truly a dream come true, and I am extremely thankful to all those involved for giving me this opportunity. I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead.”