We recently led the press and media operations for the prestigious British Eventing National Championships, held alongside the internationally renowned NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials.
Our remit spanned the full breadth of communications and event PR — from managing the on-site press office to coordinating official photography, overseeing digital content and ensuring media and spectator engagement remained at the highest standard across the five-day event.
As the central press office, we handled all aspects of media accreditation, liaising with equestrian journalists, photographers, content creators, and broadcasters in the lead-up to and during the event. We produced detailed media packs, coordinated interview opportunities, and ensured all attending media had access to accurate, timely information throughout.
Our team was responsible for managing live updates across the event website, social channels and press channels — including daily results, quotes from riders, and breaking news. We worked in close partnership with the British Eventing and Hartpury teams to ensure consistency of messaging and tone of voice across all platforms.
Alongside this, we coordinated with the event’s official photographer to ensure that standout imagery was available quickly and efficiently, supporting immediate media use and social distribution. Our team selected, captioned and issued images daily, maximising exposure across national, regional and specialist outlets.
A key part of our delivery was overseeing and promoting the event livestream, which played a critical role in making the Championships accessible to a wider audience. We supported the technical team with scripting, scheduling and real-time updates, helping to drive traffic and maximise viewership throughout the weekend.
The results were exceptional.
Across digital platforms, the event saw its highest-ever levels of engagement, with record-breaking likes, shares and comments on the Hartpury Equine Events social media platforms. Our content strategy combined real-time updates, engaging photography, behind-the-scenes access and athlete stories — helping fans feel part of the action whether they were on-site or watching from home. We also collaborated with key partners to expand reach.
From a PR perspective, our proactive and reactive press office support resulted in high-profile media coverage across national equestrian titles and regional press, as well as strong representation on digital platforms and event-specific blogs. We ensured that the achievements of British Eventing competitors — from grassroots contenders to elite combinations — were captured, shared and celebrated.
Behind the scenes, we worked seamlessly with multiple stakeholders — including event organisers, sponsors, volunteers, riders, grooms and media teams — to ensure that every element of the Championships ran smoothly from a communications perspective. Our calm, experienced and detail-focused approach ensured that media representatives felt supported, content flowed effortlessly, and the event’s profile was elevated in real time.
Photos: Jasmine Punter