Burgham International Horse Trials appoints Dutch Olympian to design its elite cross-country course

Heffernan represented The Netherlands at the 2012 Olympics, was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, and competed at CCI5* level.

He will take over the CCI4*-S course in 2026 at Burgham from long-serving course designer Evans, whose excellent tracks have played a large part in making Burgham such an exceptionally popular event with riders at all levels.

Evans will continue to design Burgham’s CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S-level and national intermediate, novice, BE100 and BE90 courses.

Heffernan said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining Burgham as the new designer for the CCI4*-S track in 2026. My thanks go to David Evans for the opportunity to take this on, and to the organising committee for their confidence in me and for the chance to work closely with their team.

“Burgham is such an important and well-supported event with a reputation for being truly top-class.

“I’m really looking forward to the future; to making plenty of changes and developing new ideas while respecting everything that makes this event so special. I really can’t wait to get started.”

Event director Craig Anderson said: “We are delighted to have Andrew, who is clearly on his way to becoming one of the world’s top cross-country course-designers, involved at Burgham.

“I have no doubt that he will bring an innovative and fresh feel to Burgham while maintaining the characteristics of the courses that have helped make the event such a popular and established part of the calendar for owners and riders.

“I know that Andrew and David Evans have great respect for each other and will be a terrific team together here at Burgham.”

This year’s event takes place from July 29-August 2.

Visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more.