Defender Burghley Horse Trials Launch "Face of Burghley" Model Competition

Winners will star in 2020 marketing campaign

Defender Burghley Horse Trials (LRBHT) has been taking place in the grounds of Burghley House on the Lincolnshire/Cambridgeshire border since 1961 and is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading televised sporting events, attracting over 160,000 visitors in recent years.

This autumn the prestigious event may well be crowning one of these visitors the “Face of Burghley 2019” as the Defender Burghley organisers launch their search to find an amateur male and female model who encapsulate the verve, style and values of the event. The winning models will star in a professional photoshoot and feature in Defender Burghley’s 2020 marketing campaign.

The model competition will be run in association with Oakham based EMG Management, internationally published photographer Ruthie Deane, Pride magazines and Stamford-based Gerards Hair. It is being supported by luxury fashion and lifestyle brands including Holland Cooper, Fairfax & Favor, HiHo Silver Jewellery, Pol Roger champagne.

The competition – which began on June 26^th 2019 - is open to males and females from the age of 17 upwards - there is no upper age limit. Entrants applied online via the Defender Burghley website by completing a short form and submitting two recent photographs, along with a brief explanation as to why they would like to be the Face of Burghley 2019. The closing date for entries was 22^nd July 2019.

Shortlisted entrants will attend a judging event at The George Hotel in Stamford on August 22^nd where the winners will be announced at the end of the day. Judges will include photographer Ruthie Deane and representatives from Stamford Pride magazine.

The winners’ photoshoot will take place on 5^th September 2019 at Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

As well as starring in next year’s LRBHT marketing campaign, the winners of the competition will also receive prizes worth over £2,000, including a set of professional photographs courtesy of Ruthie Deane and items from Holland Cooper, Fairfax & Favor, HiHo Silver Jewellery, Pol Roger champagne and Pride magazines.

Elizabeth Inman, Event Director of Defender Burghley Horse Trials says: “We are delighted to launch the Face of Burghley 2019. Who better to star in our marketing campaign than our own visitors who capture the true spirit of Defender Burghley Horse Trials?”

Alongside the main model competition, the organisers are also looking for a canine model in association with leading dog food brand, Autarky. Burghley’s Top Dog 2019 will run across the four days of the Event; owners need to submit photos to their own social media channels of their dogs taking on the Autarky Dog Agility course. Simply use the hashtag #activewithautarky and tag @lrbht_official. Burghley’s Top Dog will be chosen at the end of the Event and the winner will receive prizes worth over £300.