As the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2009 (16th – 19th April at Birmingham’s NEC) draws closer, the pressure for the final opportunity for two British riders to qualify mounts. Next week, Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th March, Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire will host the Addington Classic, comprising the British Open qualifier.
Last year it was Di Lampard & Robert Bevis who benefited from the British Open qualifier when they successfully captured the last two places and went forward to compete for the esteemed title of British Open Champion and a host of additional International classes.
The popular Addington Classic will undoubtedly prove to be an intense contest as rider’s battle it out for a much coveted place in the British Open line-up and will act as an exciting prelude to the event itself. The British Open offers the biggest single prize in British indoor show jumping and this year the total prize money on offer is over £155,000, with the British Open Champion receiving £25,250.
The qualifying competition at Addington will be open to Grade A horses only, consist of three classes in total (Thursday – Saturday) and will be based on a points system. The two riders achieving the highest aggregate of points on one horse in the three qualifying competitions will be awarded the British Open places. Each of the riders will be permitted to take the horse on which they qualified, as well as two additional horses, to the British Open, where they will join the top British riders and leading foreign contenders.
Over the weekend Addington will also host two other wildcard qualifier classes for the Amateur Championship and the BEF World Class Development Programme Championship 2009. The Amateur Championship has been introduced to the 2009 British Open offering amateur riders the chance to compete in an International show environment. There have been eight qualifying rounds for the competition held at major equestrian centres throughout the 2008/2009 winter season. The remaining, highly sort after places for the final at the British Open are up for grabs on Sunday 29th March.
Young riders will then compete for the two wildcard places in the BEF World Class Development Programme Championship 2009. This class is aimed at the future stars in show jumping, with only riders under the age of 23 eligible to compete. Twenty two riders will earn a place in the final, of which two will have gained their place at the Addington wildcard qualifier on Sunday 29th March.