The organisers of the British Open Show Jumping Championships, Grandstand Event Management, are delighted to announce the BEF World Class Development Programme is once again showing its commitment to Britain’s young show jumping riders by sponsoring the World Class Development Programme Championship class and it’s supporting competition, the World Class Development Programme Pathfinder class being held at Birmingham’s LG Arena (16th-19th April 2009). The Pathfinder class takes place on Thursday 16th April with the Championship class on Friday 17th April and will feature some of Britain’s most exciting young show jumping talent.
The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is the national governing body of horse sports in the UK, affiliated to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sports. It exists to provide leadership, vision and purpose in steering the direction of equestrianism. The BEF is an umbrella organisation representing the interests of the four million plus riders, valuters and carriage drivers in Great Britain via sixteen independent member bodies.
The World Class Development Programme is Lottery funded via UK Sport, and seeks to identify and develop talented athletes who have shown the potential to reach the world stage. The Programme underpins World Class Performance and, together with the Equine Pathway, they comprise the Equestrian World Class Programme, incorporating the three Olympic sports of Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping and the Paralympic sport of Para-Equestrian Dressage.
There are six qualifying competitions held across the country from which the top twenty horse/rider combinations, based on points accumulated as a result of that horse/rider combination’s best four results, will come forward to jump in the Pathfinder and Championship classes. They will be joined by the first two highest placed, previously unqualified, rider/horse combinations from the Wild Card qualifying competition held at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in March.
As part of it’s sponsorship the World Class Development Programme is also funding the first place prize money at the qualifying competitions and Wild Card competition, as well as training vouchers to the first six prize winners. Ellen Whitaker and Nicole Pavitt have made strong starts to their campaigns by winning the qualifiers at South View and Addington respectively.
The British Open Show Jumping Championships is a unique event with a variety of entertainment and top competition on offer, and plenty to satisfy every equestrian enthusiast and those that want to see something a little bit different. The NEC in Birmingham provides a world-class venue, offering a host of activities to see and do once you arrive.
New for 2009!:
New Parelli Zone
A number of activities have been planned for the Parelli Zone including seminars and demonstrations on Natural Horsemanship and Parelli training methods.
New Shopping Pavilion
The Show layout has also been improved! Trade stands will now be located in the new, enlarged Shopping Pavilion, which will be situated between the Andrews Bowen International Arena and the Parelli Zone. Selling everything from tack to tweeds under one roof, it’s the perfect place for all your equestrian needs.
New Classes
NATIONAL SHOW JUMPING – Amateur Championship
SHOWING – Working Hunter Grand Prix
PONY CLUB – Home International Team Show Jumping
The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Thursday 16th – Sunday 19th April 2009. For tickets, book online or call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301.
For more information on The World Class Development Programme, please visit www.bef.co.uk or telephone 02476 698876