Comment Harrie Smolders

THE international jumping schedule was reduced by a day this year, now running from Friday to Sunday. This meant that two classes were lost, but the same prize fund retained, making the remaining classes richer.

“Last year [the prize fund] was divided over 11 classes — this year it’s divided over nine,” a spokesman for the show said. “This has allowed us to increase the prize fund for a majority of classes. For example, in 2015 the smaller classes had a prize fund of £4,000 but this year they have a prize fund of £10,000.”

The spokesman added that the decision to reduce the international schedule was to fall in line with other international show durations.