This year it takes place from 26 – 29 August and plans to build on the success of 2003 when it joined an elite group of five events in Britain operating at three star level or above.

Atholl Estates, who own and manage the event alongside the castle and surrounding land are committed to the future development and growth of the horse trials, which last year attracted over 33,000 visitors. General Manager, Andrew Bruce-Wootton pointed out that the boost the event creates for the local economy is significant with around £500,000 spent in Perthshire last year at the time of the trials.

Heading into its ninth year as title sponsor, Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky works closely with Atholl Estates and their joint vision for Blair is to have a truly Scottish event with heritage and tradition, which also attracts an international audience. Bowmore have substantially increased their investment in the event over the last eight years and the partnership was recognised at the Scottish Sport Sponsorship Awards this year when The Bowmore Blair Castle International Horse Trials won the Best Long-Term Sponsor Award.

The event has certainly achieved international coverage with about 64 million viewers tuning into the 2003 Blair Horse Trials from across Europe, Australia and Japan as well as Sky Sports and BBC Scotland coverage in this country. It has also attracted attention closer to home, having been one of 15 events selected for funding from EventScotland’s Regional Events Programme.

David Williams, chief executive of EventScotland said, ‘This programme is designed to complement the company’s principle activity of attracting and developing major international events to Scotland by

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