The Willis Brothers of Malmesbury to build Rio Olympics cross country course
Willis Brothers team repairing an obstacle at Barbury Castler Horse Trials 2014The Willis Brothers have been selected to build the cross country course for the eventing competition at the Rio Olympics next year.
The family business based near Malmesbury have specialised for over 30 years in building fixed and portable cross country obstacles for eventing and steeplechase jumps and hurdle fences for the racing industry.
They build and maintain the St James's Place Barbury International Horse Trials cross country course - as well as courses for Badminton, Gatcombe Park and many other events large and small throughout the UK and the world.
The Willis Brothers built cross country fences and courses for the Olympic Games in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and in Sydney (2000) as well as the World Equestrian Games.
This is their first Olympic Games contract for sixteen years. As Ashley Willis told Marlborough News Online: "It's an honour - it really is."
For many years the Brothers have sourced some of their most essential materials from Savernake Forest - by arrangement with the Forestry Commission they cut young birch brushwood which they use for jumps at Cheltenham and racecourses far wide.
Six members of the Willis team will go to Brazil in July to build the course for the Olympic test competition at two-star level. That will stretch the family a bit as July sees the Barbury Castle Horse Trials - so some members of this long-standing family firm will be staying behind to make sure every goes to plan at Wiltshire's premier eventing competition.
The course is being designed by Pierre Michelet who designed the course for last summer's World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
The Rio Olympic eventing competition will take place between 6 and 9 August 2016. But work has already started and they will soon start shipping fences out to Brazil.