NEW SHOWING AND SHOW JUMPING CLASSES AT THE BRITISH OPEN!

Grandstand Group, the company behind HOYS and the British Open, has announced that the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010 (7^th – 10^th April at Birmingham’s NEC LG Arena) will host a variety of new classes and features. The 2010 event will once again provide world-class international and national show jumping alongside the exciting displays and thrilling competition.

NEW FOR 2010

Ponies UK Super League

On Wednesday 7^th April the Ponies UK Super League class will invite the Summer National Ridden Champions from the 2009 season to compete against the Northern & Southern Winter Ridden Champions of the current season. The Super League is split into the following five sections so the horses/ponies compete against their own types:

·         Royalist Super League – Horses/Hunters/Cobs & Competition Horses/Ponies – 12 competitors will qualify

·         Smoke Tree Caesar Super League – Lead Rein & First Ridden Ponies  

- 15 competitors will qualify

·         Ferndale Super League – Mountain & Moorland Ponies

– 9 competitors will qualify

·         Coalport Super League – M&M and Plaited Working Hunter & Working Hunter Ponies

 – 18 competitors will qualify

·         Wharf Super League – Show Ponies/Show Hunter Ponies/ Intermediate Show Hunter/Riding Type & Part Bred Horses/Ponies 

- 11 competitors will qualify  

The British Open Ponies UK Super League competition will comprise the judging session during Wednesday morning before the champions from each section go forward to the Supreme Championship on Wednesday evening.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships is offering £5 off adults & £2.50 off concessions tickets to Ponies UK members who book for Wednesday 7th April only. Customers must quote their membership number & offer code: BOPUK10 when booking. 

BS British Riding & Pony Club Team Competition

On Thursday 8^th April the British Open Show Jumping Championships will host an innovative show jumping competition for new and existing members of British Showjumping (BS), and British Riding Clubs (BRC) or The Pony Club (PC). Competitors must be a member of BS and also either BRC or PC. Qualifying competitions will be held at selected BS Shows throughout the forthcoming winter season. The qualifiers will be split into three separate classes, 128cms, 138cms & 148cms. The winners from each class, at each qualifier, will form a team of three which will then be invited to compete at the BOSJC.

This new Championship class will offer each team a unique opportunity to compete at a four star international show jumping event with the format of the class to run as a Team Relay competition. Each team will be allocated their own top international show jumping rider to act as their team coach and Chef d’Equipe.

Dates & Venues for the British Showjumping, Pony Club/Riding Clubs Qualifiers:

Colraine E.C
Area 51
Cornwall
31st January 2010

Laughton Manor E.C
Area 24
Lincolnshire
6th February 2010

Stainsby Grange
Area 12A
County Durham
14th February 2010
Rowallan Activity Centre

Royal Leisure Centre
Area 46
East Sussex
6th March 2010

Summerhouse E.C
Area 41   
Gloucester   
13th March 2010

Field House
Area 22
Staffordshire
20th March 2010

Forest Edge E.C
Area 28
Norfolk
28th March  2010   

The British Open Show Jumping Championships is offering members of British Showjumping, The Pony Club and British Riding Clubs members a discount of £5 off adult tickets and £2.50 off concessions when they book for Thursday 8^th April only. Customers must quote their membership number & offer code: BOBHS10 when booking.

 BS Winter Grade C (previously Grade C

On Friday 9^th April the British Open Show Jumping Championships will host BS Winter Grade C Final.  This class is open to registered Grade C horses to be ridden by Full, Associate or Pony Associate members of British Showjumping. Two riders will qualify, disregarding those already qualified and horses ridden by riders who have already qualified two horses, at each of the qualifying shows below.

John Whitaker International JA Championship

The British Open Show Jumping Championships will host the John Whitaker International JA Championship on Saturday 10^th April. This class is open to Grade JA Ponies to be ridden by Pony & Pony Associate members. Ponies will qualify at the shows below to compete in the Final in which they must be ridden by the rider who rode them when qualifying. Competitors may not ride more than two ponies in the Final. This class is kindly sponsored by John Whitaker International Ltd.