THE national championships of a sport that tests the skills of horse and rider over a long and unfamiliar route is to be held at Treborough Hill, Watchet, in September.

TREC (Technique de Randonnée Equestre de Compétition) originated in France and came to the UK in the 1990s.

TREC GB is expecting the national championships to attract between 300 and 400 people, competitors and spectators, most of whom will be in the area for five to six days.

TREC GB is a registered sports charity promoting the sport of British TREC throughout the country. Its ‘young riders’ team won bronze against very strong competition in the European Championships in France 2017.

TREC itself is open to everyone across all equestrian disciplines, and rewards those who train and work with their horses, and also enjoy the challenge of crossing unfamiliar countryside with just a map and compass.

The sport attracts everyone from the average ‘happy hacker’ to retired national competition riders – a rescue horse regularly represents Great Britain in international competitions.