As modern attention spans shorten, abbreviated versions of sports have come into the market with mixed success.
Last weekend was spent in Wolverhampton watching some quickfire darts – it was a triumph (and at £10 a ticket something I would recommend during the credit crunch).
Twenty20 cricket is another success, while rugby sevens has never quite pulled in the crowds I think it ought to.
Now it’s the turn of another sport to launch an abbreviated version in a bid to win broader appeal – Eventing.
According to promoters the Express Eventing International Cup will ‘do for eventing what Twenty20 has done for international cricket’.
The world’s top 20 riders face off with the winner bagging £100,000 – the rest split £150,000 between them.
There’s also a celebrity jump-off which sees the debut of socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson at an indoor equestrian event at the Millennium Stadium where she takes on Jodie Kidd. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Arlene Phillips are also there.
At £35-45 a ticket I won’t be making another road trip this weekend. And although the Stamford Cup proved chucking a load of money at players doesn’t guarantee a great spectacle the weekend’s event could be one to watch for luxury brands looking for something new.
Anyway, here’s a cheesy picture of Tara preparing for the event…
