Following the success of the inaugural amateur classic championship at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), a new amateur final will be held at the British Open Show Jumping Championships, held at the Birmingham NEC (16-19 April).
Helena Pettit, director of Grandstand Media, who run the British Open and HOYS, said: “The championship at the Horse of the Year Show worked really well, so we thought it would be great to bring it to the British Open.
“It gives us an opportunity to support the British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) and its grass roots members, of which I believe there are 18,000. We’re pleased to be able to give amateur riders the opportunity to ride at a 4-star show. With the exception of top international competitors, how many others get a chance like that?”
Eight qualifiers will be held, with the top 3 from each winning tickets for the final, which will be held during the British Open.
The championship is restricted to BSJA members who rank outside the top 150 on the rider rankings list. Riders who have ever competed as a team member of any senior international team, and pony riders, children, juniors and young riders who have ever competed as a counting score in Nations Cup/international team events and European championships in the past 5 years are not eligible. These rules exclude veteran teams.
The 8 qualifiers will be held at:
- Rowallan: 13 December
- Crofton Manor: 27 December
- Towerlands Park: 24 January
- The Hand: 1 February
- Solihull: 14 February
- Aintree: 21 February
- Arena UK: 15 March
- Addington: 29 March
www.britishopenshowjumping.com
