After an almost continuous run of over ten years, the BHDTA 2013 National Championships will move from Queen Victoria's Review Ground at Windsor Great Park to the Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club at Great Canfield in Essex. The announcement was made on Wednesday 6th March,  following a BHDTA Council meeting.

BHDTA Chairman, Jock McFarlane, said: ?It was inevitable that in the ongoing economic climate, with the National Championships becoming financially unsustainable in recent years, a move would have to happen.

Our membership raised concerns over the situation at the AGM in November and since then Council has been seeking a solution. We are indebted to our patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and estate employees at the Royal Park for all their help and assistance in our time there, but the Championships does have to be a viable event.

The BHDTA wish to express their thanks to all the past Windsor organisers, and in particular Rita Bundock, who tried valiantly to make the event sustainable, despite rising costs and diminishing  sponsorship in the current economic climate.

?Council had offers from several venues, including Ashfields, to host the Championships and the matter was discussed at length. When the vote took place, Wilf Bowman-Ripley, who is a Council member and manager of Ashfields, quite rightly left the room and was delighted when advised that his venue had been selected.

Wilf has undertaken to run the Championships at his own financial risk, but I must stress that this is an arrangement for 2013 only; a decision on a more permanent venue from 2014 onwards, which may or may not be Ashfields, will be taken by Council following this year's event in September?.

Wilf Bowman-Ripley commented: ?I am determined that this will be the best National Championships ever. In the very near future, every official who has already been booked and every steward who has volunteered to help at the 2013 Championships will be personally contacted and I hope very much that they will be able to transfer to Ashfields. We will also contact those involved with other attractions at the event, such as the BDS Show, to discuss the move. I appreciate that, for some, this announcement will be the first they have heard about the change but assure them they will be contacted soon and ask them to bear with us as we put everything in place?.

The dates of the Championships remain the same - 13 to 15 September 2013

Ashfields is a proven BHDTA National and affiliated club competition venue, capable of handling around 80-plus competitors and their horses at each event. The site covers 500 acres and has a number of permanent facilities such as a club room and bar. It also has space for additional marquees and is known locally for hosting corporate events and wedding receptions.

Further information on the 2013 National Championships at Ashfields will be announced at a later date.