Defender Burghley Horse Trials has announced that its charity of the year for 2025 will be the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA).
This year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials CCI5* will take place from Thursday 4 – Sunday 7 September at Burghley House in Lincolnshire.
“We are delighted to be partnering with a vital charity which is so important to the equestrian, farming and wider rural communities, in particular,” said Martyn Johnson, event director of Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
“The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance receives no government or NHS funding and is reliant on donations. LNAA responds to more than four call-outs a day, each costing around £4,000, and needs to raise £13 million per year to continue its daily life-saving operations.
“Defender Burghley is proud to be helping LNAA to reach that figure in 2025.”
Funded by contributions
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is a voluntary air ambulance service which relies on donations to save lives.
“Being chosen as Charity of the Year by Defender Burghley Horse Trials is a dream come true for many of us at LNAA. Our crews are often deployed to equestrian-related incidents and have helped many riders who have been involved in accidents in remote, rural areas,” said Rachel Wilson, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance head of community fundraising.
“It’s such an iconic event in Lincolnshire’s calendar and the excitement is already building here as we plan our activities to support the charity and the event itself.”
Townend in total support
International event rider Oliver Townend, who has won the Defender Burghley title three times, is a national ambassador for Air Ambulances UK.
“Air ambulances are such an important resource, not just within our sport, equestrianism in general or the countryside,” said Oliver.
Everyone faces the possibility of needing the expertise and speed of an air ambulance, whether from a road traffic point of view or as a result of an accident in rural areas, and I look forward to the eventing community supporting the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance this year at Burghley.”
Tickets for this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials will go on sale later this month.
Main image © Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.
