For the first time in the event’s history, the Blenheim Horse Trials have been cancelled due to weather after the completion of the dressage phase and on the eve of cross country. According to an announcement on their Web site, heavy rain falling on already muddy ground made the conditions unsafe. Blenheim has been run since 1990.

Torrential rains have been par for the course in England this summer. Britain had the wettest August in 100 years and September is on course to set new records. In just the first 9 days of the month most parts of England have already received a month’s worth of rain; in Newcastle, a month’s worth of rain fell in just 12 hours!

The event was shaping up to be an excellent competition: After dressage Ruth Edge led on Mayhem III, young rider Laura Collet was in second, and Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt was in third place.

Since there will be no cross country this year, here are some highlights from 2007.