A FAMILY firm from Malmesbury that builds fences for equestrian events has struck gold after winning the contract to create the cross-country course for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Fence-builders Willis Brothers, based at White Lion Park, will be Rio-bound after being selected for one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.

It will be the fourth time that Willis Brothers have been involved in the Olympic Games, having helped create the cross country courses at Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 before building the course in its entirety for the Sydney Games in 2000.

Now, 16 years later, they are back on the Olympic stage and have already been to Rio de Janeiro to lay the groundwork before returning in a few weeks’ time to create the course for an Olympics rehearsal event this summer.

“We are absolutely delighted – it’s brilliant news,” said Alan Willis, who helped found the company in the 1960s. “You could hardly wish for a more prestigious sporting event to be involved in.

Started by three brothers, the firm specialises in building fixed and portable cross country jumps, steeplechase jumps and hurdle fences for the racing industry.

It has become a major player on the UK eventing circuit, having for decades built the jumps and fences for the Badminton Horse Trials as well as other main British events such as Gatcombe Park and Barbury Castle.

Over the years the sons and cousins have also become involved in the company and it was Alan’s son James who has been the front runner in the bid for Rio contract.

The road to Rio began for James in March when he inspected the site of the Olympics course, close to the heart the swarming Brazilian city.

James said: “I think it’s a very nice site and has the remains of a track there from a Pan Am Games, with gentle undulations.”

James will design the course with French specialist Pierre Michelet before he leads a six-strong Willis Brothers team to Rio in July in preparation for Trial Olympics in August.

He went on: “We haven’t worked with Pierre before, so that is one of things I am excited about. It’s always interesting to see how different designers go about things.”

The contract will see Willis Brothers work on the Olympic course later this year and early in 2016 before building it in earnest for the Games in the summer of next year.

The work has already begun in Malmesbury with structures being packed-up and shipped out to Brazil.

James added: “We are trying to source as much material as possible locally, and will use local help as well.

“We want to try to keep it looking as though it fits in with its surroundings — it’s Brazil, not Badminton, after all.”