THE Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials will have a new course designer in 2017 with Eric Winter taking over from Giuseppe Della Chiesa.

After three years in which he successfully brought a fresh eye to Badminton Park, Giuseppe chose not to continue his association with the prestigious event.

Eric, 53, who lives with his wife and family near Chepstow, only some 30 miles from Badminton, has designed the course at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials for the last 10 years.

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 from 2011 to 2014 and as a rider completed the event in 1991.

Winter said: “It is a great honour to be asked to design the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton course – it is such an iconic event.

"I first visited Badminton in 1974 – that was my first 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.”