THE prestigious Event Rider Masters (ERM) series is returning to Wiltshire and Gloucestershire in 2017 as well as branching out to continental Europe.

Iconic local eventing venues Barbury Castle near Marlborough (July 8-9) and Gatcombe Park, Minchinhampton (August 5-6) will again hold competitions in the seven-leg series which is also going to touch down in Wiesbaden, Germany (June 2-3) and Jardy, France (July 15-16).

With a total of £400,000 guaranteed prize money across the series, the ERM is sure attract some of the finest event riders and horses in the world.

Last year Britain’s Oliver Townend, riding Cillnabradden Evo, won the inaugural ERM title ahead of Wiltshire-based duo Jonelle Price (NZ) and Paul Tapner (AUS).

The series begins in 2017 at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials (May 13-14) and closes at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (September 15-16).

Townend said: “The shortened format of the ERM (distilling the three elements of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping – into two days) produced very competitive performances from riders across all three phases last year.

"It is very exciting that ERM has an additional leg for 2017 and will be expanding into Europe. I expect this will up the level of competition again, which is great for the sport, spectators and ERM viewers.

"I hope to target a few different horses and I cannot wait to be part of the series again.”

Astier Nicolas, the 2016 Olympic individual silver and team gold medalist who dominated the opening leg at Chatsworth last season, said: "Even in its pilot year in 2016 the Event Rider Masters proved it was able to deliver world class sport.

"In the first leg France dominated the first three podium places with myself winning, and this form was franked in Rio when we won team gold.

"I am so excited that the series is expanding to France and Germany and I will be certain to target it”.