A world class horse show, the biggest in the UK, is to be held at Essex County Showground it was announced this week.

The eyes of the world will be on the Great Leighs showground with European television deals promising 33 million viewers in Germany and a further seven million in Holland.

Called The Horse Show, it will be a three-day showjumping, horse sale and trade fair event and will run from July 21 to 23 this summer.

It will then become an annual event, matching the Motor Show and the Boat Show in the international events calendar.

The show is expected to attract more than 40,000 people to the 165 acre site.

Showground owner John Holmes said: "This will be a festival of the horse, the biggest equestrian event in the country. In the equestrian world Great Leighs will be as well known and recognisable as Hickstead. The eyes of the world will be on Great Leighs.''

The show will take place the weekend before the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, putting Great Leighs firmly on the international showjumping circuit.

The showground has already won showjumping's highest international ranking - CSI category A status, backed by the British Equestrian Federation - an honour shared only with Hickstead and Royal Windsor.

"This is a real boost for British showjumping," Mr Holmes said. "It will also bring a large amount of foreign revenue into this part of Essex."

Outline planning permission has already been won to build a £2 million Millennium Dome-style indoor arena at the showground. The Teflon and steel construction would offer 100,000 square feet of show space, making Great Leighs the largest exhibition area in the south-east outside London.

Mr Holmes said: "This would be a magnificent addition to the county showground and as recognisable in the equestrian world as the Sydney Opera House is to music lovers. The showground has a great history but now we need to move the venue on to a world wide stage."

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