Europe's top horse riders will head for Oxfordshire as the county hosts the European championships.
The 2005 European three-day event championships will be hosted by Blenheim International Horse Trials, held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock.
About 30,000 spectators have turned out to see the trials in recent years and the added prestige of the championships could bring even more spectators.
The Federation Equestre Internationale, the organisation which runs the championships, announced yesterday that Blenheim's bid to run the championship was successful.
Blenheim has run major three-day events since 1990 and held the Young Riders European in 1994. The European Championships were last held in Britain in 1997, when they were held at Burghley in Lancashire.
Blenheim international horse trials' director Mike Etherington-Smith said: "We are obviously thrilled that our efforts at Blenheim over the years have been recognised."
This year's Petplan Blenheim International Horse Trials, which includes the Asia- Pacific Championships, takes place on September 11-14.
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