Meet the Team
Nick Pritchard – Event Director
Nick grew up in East Sussex and graduated from Aberdeen University in 2002 with a Master’s Degree in Land Economy (Estate Management), starting work as a Land Agent that summer with Smiths Gore. In 2008 Nick took over the management of Bramham Park, and the role of Horse Trials Director became part of his remit 2009. As such Nick’s role is very varied looking after all aspects of the Estate, from the routine property management through to an involvement in the Leeds Festival and everything in between.
Nick lives in a farmhouse on the Estate with his wife, Beth, a veterinary surgeon, their two young boys Rufus and Jasper, a black Labrador called Tilly, Spaniels, Lotte and Pip, a cat called Oreo, horses Beany, Archie and Sprout, the boys pony’s Ringo and Fizzy plus two guinea pigs. Nick and Beth got married at Bramham in 2009, after Nick proposed whilst climbing Mont Blanc. Nick, Beth and the boys regularly partake in various outdoor activities such as mountain biking, running, skiing and hillwalking.
Emily Adshead – Event Coordinator
Emily grew up in the local area with Bramham Horse Trials being the highlight of her year from a very young age. In 2015, Emily went to study Equine Business and Events Management at Askham Bryan College where she graduated with an honours degree, during which time she completed her work experience at Bramham Horse Trials which was her first experience of organising an International Event. Once graduated, Emily spent a summer in Texas teaching horse riding at a summer camp and travelling Southern America, and upon her return, had the opportunity to become Event Coordinator at Bramham Horse Trials.
As well as organising the Horse Trials, Emily works alongside the Bramham Park Estate team and helps with the day to day running of the Bramham Park Estate. Emily has been involved with horses since the age of 7, and now owns an exracehorse called Captain Peaky. Emily lives in a cottage on the Estate with her partner, Joe and their little boy Freddie and two spaniels Jess and Islay.
Jane Conyers – Event Coordinator
Jane was born and grew up in Yorkshire, moving South at the age of 15. After 15 years of studying and working in the South and Abroad she then returned to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Yorkshire. Whilst working in the accounts department for a land agent, she volunteered to act as treasurer for the Horse Trials in June 2004, greatly enjoying the experience and camaraderie of the event over the subsequent years and jumping at the chance to become a permanent Estate employee in October 2007.
She divides her time between the Estate accounts and the organisation of the Horse Trials. Jane enjoys going on city breaks in the sunshine.
Joshua – Site Manager
Joshua grew up in Yorkshire, and has always had a passion for the country side. After studying at Askham Bryan College for two years, Josh began to work for his Dad in 2016 at Bramham Park and has since worked his way up the business. When not doing Site Managerial work, Josh works at Bramham Park maintaining the ground work and managing the AD plant.
In 2019 Josh took on the role of Site Manager for Bramham International Horse Trials, since then he has got experience under his belt and work at other events. In his spare time Josh enjoys country sports.
Bryan Elliott – Stable Manager
Bryan Elliott served for 23 years in the British Army, 14 of those in the Kings Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, retiring from the Army in 2010 after reaching the rank of Sergeant Major. Whilst in the Army Bryan competed at 3 Day eventing and Show jumping.
Bryan started stable management whilst being part of the team that delivered Barbury International Horse Trials. In 2012 Bryan was the assistant Stable Manager for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Bryan holds a number of high profile stable management contracts throughout the year and in 2023 took on the role here at Bramham.
Bryan is a keen runner and enjoys his spare time running over the hills near his home in Wiltshire with his two dogs, Widget and Coco.
David Evans – Cross Country Course Builder
David Evans is based in Oxfordshire and travel both nationally and internationally to design and build cross country courses.
Having begun his cross country course building career at the family event of Holker Hall Horse Trials in Cumbria in the late 1980s, David Evans began full time building in 1992, forming part of Mike Etherington Smith’s coalition of early Blenheim course builders. Forming a partnership with Richard Taylor in 1998, David, Richard and their dedicated team have gone from strength to strength, building for designers such as Mike Etherington Smith, Ian Stark, Captain Mark Phillips and Eric Winter.
David is at the forefront of cross country course building, having been closely involved in bringing the safety of horse and rider into course building and XC jump design. David has been awarded The British Eventing Bill Thompson Trophy for his modernising approach to cross country course building.
David and his team built the cross country course for the Olympic event in Tokyo, in 2020.
Andrew Heffernan – Cross Country Course Designer
Andy is married to Millie and they have son, Alfie.
He started off show jumping and then having switched to eventing represented The Netherlands at Olympic, World and European Championships including bronze medalist WEG Caen 2014 and completed Badminton, Luhmuhlen and Burghley CCI5 stars.
Andy is currently Chef D”Equipe of the Dutch team and also concentrates on training younger professional riders and producing horses from his base at Somerford park farm. He also still rides up to 5 star level.
He started course designing because of the schooling facility at Somerford. This has now taken over and he has designed Internationally at Adamstown (USA), Cornbury, Strzegom, Burnham Market, Alnwick Ford as well as Assisting at Chatsworth and Blenheim.