The director of a prestigious Highland Perthshire equestrian event has been given a leading role at the 2012 Olympic Games.
In recognition of his work at Blair Castle International Horse Trials, Alec Lochore has been appointed eventing manager by the London organising committee.
He will be responsible for the day-to-day project management and operational planning for the eventing discipline.
Mr Lochore will also manage the planning and development of the cross-country course, with designer Sue Benson and builder London Eventing.
To ensure that a quality team of officials and volunteers is put in place to run the competition, he will work alongside the Federation Equestre Internationale and the British Equestrian Federation.
An eventing competition will take place in Greenwich Park next July.
Appointed director of the horse trials last year, Mr Lochore successfully bid for the European Young Riders Eventing Championships, which will come to Blair Atholl for the second time next year.
He said, “It is wonderful to be part of an Olympics on home soil and I am honoured to be part of such a unique event and being part of a team that is working hard to deliver a first-class equestrian event.”
Mr Lochore hopes to remain involved with the Blair Castle event in some capacity, with the help of assistant director Hannah Wilkins.
He said, “Preparations are going smoothly for this year’s event with forward bookings at an all-time high.”
During his Olympics role Mr Lochore will join forces with a former Blair Castle director, Tim Hadaway, who ran the event for three years from 1998.
Mr Hadaway is now the London organising committee’s equestrian manager and is responsible for all disciplines.
For more information, visit www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk.