British Dressage has issued 109 wildcards to the Event Insurance Winter Dressage Championships, supported by Horse & Hound, at Solihull RC (11-15 April). The wildcards are awarded to competitors who did not qualify directly for the championships at one of the six regional finals, but whose score was still deemed high enough to warrant a place in the championships.
Up to five or six places in every class at the championships are reserved for wildcard holders. Once the qualifying combinations have been determined at the six regionals, the remaining places are offered to the top scorers from across the regions. Former young rider team members Henry Boswell and Anne-Marie Perry have both received wildcards, as has Judy Harvey and Jill Grant.
“It is British Dressage’s way of making it fair for everyone,” explained Sara Green, British Dressage director of rules and fixtures. “Even though we have one panel of judges, the judging can’t be the same at every competition.”
There are 26 spaces in open classes, 21 in restricted classes and 24 in music classes at the Championships. All those who have qualified for the championships will have achieved a minimum score of 65% at the Regionals.
Click here to view the complete list of wildcards >>
After the Event Insurance Winter Dressage Championships, a full report on all the action will be published in H&H magazine
