Event Sponsors
Glanusk
Glanusk Park and Estate is privately owned by the Legge-Bourke family. It is situated in the beautiful countryside of the Usk Valley, Crickhowell, South Wales in the Brecon Beacons National Park and is one of the largest privately owned estates in Wales. See www.glanuskestate.com for a picture of what this incredible and exceptional estate has to offer.
Events
The Estate has been the venue for many events, just a selection of which is listed below.
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With a cross section of areas to offer including parkland, hills, river, woodland, buildings, Glanusk is truly unique.
Staying at Glanusk
Penmyarth House has ten rooms available, twin and double rooms with ensuite or private bathrooms.
The beautiful Penmyarth Lawn has stunning views and is used for weddings and other events and enables guests to share in the joy of the unrivalled views. The Rod Room is adjacent to the house is an atmospheric location for lunches or talks, accommodating around forty people.
Indoor activities such as backgammon, poker, bridge, cribbage and checkers are provided. You have use of the private 9 hole golf course, clubs and balls provided, croquet, boules, salmon or trout fishing with ghillie support, private squash and tennis courts, rackets and balls provided and 4 x 4 off roading should you wish.
We have two fabulous holiday cottages. Both cottages are very comfortable and cater for everyone and we are pleased to say we are now taking bookings for Glanusk Lodge.Glanusk Lodge is situated in the heart of Glanusk Park and is available for exclusive let and accommodates up to twelve people. Read More...
Weddings
There are many beautiful historical features about the Estate which will make your special day very different. We are here to help you with every detail so that you achieve your ultimate dream. Read More...
Sports
The Estate is perfectly situated for a varied selection of specialist sporting events. Whether taking advantage of the fishing on the five mile private stretch of double bank fishing on the Usk or experiencing the renowned pheasant shoot with very varied drives and challenging birds including partridge and wild duck flighting.
FISHING
The Estate has 5 miles of private river, one and a half miles of double bank Usk fishing, offering the visiting angler wonderful opportunities for both Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon. Access to water is good with well maintained banks and some croys from which to fish. Read More...
Glanusk Charity Polo July 17th 2010
On Saturday 17th July 2010, The Glanusk Estate will be hosting a charity polo match with after match party in aid of the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal. All profits from the day will go to the fund and the Glanusk Charitable Trust will be administering the event in order to get as much Gift Aid as possible from those who wish to give a donation. The details are on the www.glanuskestatepolo.com website.
History of Glanusk Estate
The Estate has been in the ownership of the same family since 1826 when the South Wales Ironmaster, Sir Joseph Bailey, purchased the original site and built a mansion house there.
The family used to live in the mansion in the summer and then move into the Dower House, Penmyarth in the winter.
The mansion was demolished in 1952 after serious fire damage during the Army's requisition of the house during the 2nd World War and the family now live in the Dower House.
The rest of the Estate is still intact and consists of 400 acres of private parkland, 800 acres of forestry, 3,500 acres of lowland and hill farms, the Park and forestry, 20,000 acres of Common Land hills and 5 miles of the River Usk.
There are many historic buildings remaining, including the Tower Bridge, over the River Usk, ancient Celtic standing stones, the private chapel, farm buildings and stables, all either Grade II listed or Grade II starred.
Equestrian Sport at Glanusk
EVENTING
VIRGINIA Gilligan, later wife of England cricket captain Peter May and mother to four eventing daughters, including Nicola and Annabelle May, competed at Glanusk in the 1950s. “It was a really friendly event,” remembers Virginia, who finished third in the open class in 1957 aboard her eight-year-old bay mare Jungle Queen, whom she later piloted twice at Badminton. She returned the following year with her chestnut mare Faras and completed the prelim class. “It was quite an outing for us. We lived in Guildford and there were no motorways so it took us at least a day to get to Wales. We would stop the Land Rover and let the horses graze at the side of the road.” The cross-country course in the 1950s followed mostly flat ground — as it will do at this year's event. "It ran over the most wonderful countryside, with the dressage and show jumping down by the river", says Virginia. "Eventing was great back then, a time when everyone knew everyone esle and people competed for fun"
Julie Harding - Editor Eventing Magazine April 2010 Issue
In between the wars, Glanusk became a key training ground for horsemen and women to prepare their horses prior to Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials.
The course over the years fell into disrepair as most of the course was broken and used as fire wood during the 2nd World War for fuel for the soldiers based at Glanusk.
The family continued the tradition by having a small course in some form for the local Pony Club to the present day. It was the belief of Bill Legge-Bourke who sadly passed away last year, that the young should be encouraged at every level to participate and be involved in sport and activities, and this is a mantle that has continued to the next generation at Glanusk and great strides are being taken to continue events and to allow the young access and to be inspired by the events they see and participate in on the Estate.
