British Open Show Jumping Championships Blog

Get set for an Easter treat at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010! This prestigious indoor equestrian event returns to the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April with a spectacular programme of events. World-class riders from Britain and abroad have been invited to compete in this unique Championship competition held over four days in April. Leading British rider and two times Champion, Robert Whitaker, will return to defend his title as the 2009 British Open Show Jumping Champion and compete in the top speed and jump-off classes on offer. The crowd favourite Puissance competition, featuring the legendary red wall, takes place during Friday’s performance.

With over £159,000 of prize money on offer in the international classes at this year’s Show, International show jumpers, including the leading British riders and a host of foreign riders, have entered to compete over the four days of competition for the richest single indoor class in British show jumping and the esteemed title of British Open Champion 2010. (Please note: this list is subject to change with details correct at time of issue).

British International Riders:
Ben Maher
Michael Whitaker                                                      
Guy Williams
Robert Whitaker
Laura Renwick                                                                                        
John Whitaker                                                        
Ellen Whitaker
Tim Stockdale
Robert Smith
Scott Brash
Paul Barker (Addington Wild Card)
Tina Fletcher (Addington Wild Card)
Jemma Kirk (BS Wild Card)

Foreign Riders:
Geir Gulliksen (Nor)
Daniel Deusser (Ger)
Dermott Lennon (Irl)
Leon  Thijssen (Ned)
Billy Twomey (Irl)
Shane Breen (Irl)
Samantha McIntosh (NZ)
Dirk Demeersman (Bel)
Noora Forsten-Pentti (Fin)
Wilm Vermeir (Bel)
Mikael Forsten (Fin)
Eric Van Der Vleuten (Ned)
Alex Duffy (Irl)

There is more to keep you entertained alongside the show jumping, including on Saturday evening the world’s top eventers will compete at Britain’s most prestigious indoor cross country event. Famous faces such as Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell will be taking part in this hugely popular competition. 

No need for Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole for the inaugural H Factor competition as the amazing “H”orse acts won’t be singing but they will be entertaining! Four acts will battle it out in the British Open’s H Factor competition to follow in the footsteps of famous equestrian displays such as the Household Calvary, Jean François Pignon and The Metropolitan Police. The four H Factor finalists will be performing their unique routines every day of the British Open vying for your votes to win the H Factor 2010!

1. Here come the girls! An all action stunt show featuring solely female riders, Equestrienne.

2. Strictly come Dressage! Saffron Walden Quadrille Team performing dressage to music.

3. Knights in shining armour! Medieval jousting and stunt riding with a twist from the Knights of Middle England.

4. Rock & Roll with Rockin’ Horse! The eccentric, fast paced stunt show that will keep you rockin’.

And don’t forget:

Dressage
Olympian and Chef d’ Equipe to the British Team, Richard Davison will be hosting a dressage lecture demo on Friday 9th April. Richard will be demonstrating and teaching in the International Arena showcasing this fascinating sport exclusively for the British Open audience.

Dakota
The boy band with a difference! On Saturday Evening, show jumper Ben Talbot will provide the vocals alongside dressage guru Richard Davison’s son Tom on bass, Aaron Whelan on guitar and Rob Armitage on the drums. With such strong equestrian links, the boys are really looking forward to entertaining the British Open crowd!

Parelli Zone
The Parelli Zone is back by popular demand! ‘The Parelli method allows horse lovers at all levels and disciplines to achieve: success without force, partnership without dominance, teamwork without fear, willingness without intimidation, and harmony without coercion.’ See it demonstrated every day at the British Open!

Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing
Hold on to your seats and prepare for some fast and furious scurry racing! The louder the crowds cheer the faster the ponies will go in the Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Challenge! In a nail-biting competition, spectators will be treated to a thrilling action-packed race as the double harness scurry carts whiz around the tight arena obstacles.

Shopping
A record number of stands are expected to form part of the British Open Shopping Pavilion. Selling everything from tack to tweeds under one roof, it’s the perfect place to treat you and your horse!

For show information and full timetable details, please click here.

John Deere has been appointed the official tractor supplier to the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010.

Known as one of the UK’s top indoor competitions, the event is taking place at the NEC, Birmingham over the Easter weekend (April 7 to 10), and features 30 of the world’s top show jumpers, including Robert Whitaker, Ben Maher, Ellen Whitaker, Billy Twomey and Albert Zoer. Robert Whitaker is bidding to become champion for a record fourth time, after making history by winning his third title at the event in 2009.

The agreement also includes the Horse of the Year Show 2010, which takes place at the NEC from October 6 to 10. John Deere will be supplying both events with 20 Series compact tractors and Gator utility vehicles.

“We are delighted to be able to support the organisers of both the British Open Show Jumping Championships and Horse of the Year Show in this way,” says Henry Bredin, John Deere’s product marketing manager. “John Deere manufactures a range of quality machines for the equestrian market, sold through specialist dealers, and this new agreement underlines our increasing partnership with this sector of the industry.”

John Deere is also the official equipment sponsor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held from September 25 to October 10 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

After making history by winning his third British Open Show Jumping Championship title at the 2009 event, the one and only Robert Whitaker, will be returning to the NEC in less than two weeks in a bid to be crowned Champion for the fourth time.

Robert, who is currently ranked 9th in British Showjumping’s rider ranking list, has confirmed he will be competing at the Championships (7th – 10th April) and is hoping to break his own record by winning the Championship for the fourth time and the claiming that £25,000 first prize.

Robert, from Huddersfield, is a member of the most famous family in show jumping and has always been a fan of the British Open, after his father, John, was fundamental in instigating the Show in 2003.

Robert commented: “I’m really excited about returning to the British Open Show Jumping Championships this year. I’ve always had a lot of success at the show and I’m hoping for a repeat performance again this year. As it’s one of the top UK indoor shows it is great to compete in front of a home crowd and I know there are plenty of other contenders, including members of my family, who will be vying to steal the title from me.

Last year, Robert’s horse Lacroix 9, was the only horse to compete in all four rounds of the Championship, and their great partnership meant they won the class with a fence in hand. Robert continued: “Unfortunately, I’m unable to bring Lacroix this year but I have a number of other top horses I will be bringing who I hope will jump just as well under the pressure.”

The British Open offers visitors the chance to witness not only Robert but thirty of the world’s top show jumpers, including Ben Maher, Ellen Whitaker, Billy Twomey and Albert Zoer, at one of the UK’s top indoor competitions. As well as all the fantastic competition, British Showjumping is calling all budding show jumpers announcing that they will be offering half price membership to new members joining the association whilst at the British Open. Details will be available from their tradestand (J1C) at the event from Wednesday 7^th – Saturday 10^th April.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7^th – Saturday 10^th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website by clicking here.

Check back here on the 7th April for my first entry and find out how I’m feeling about my chances at this year’s show!

You can catch up on all the action from the British Open 2009 on H&C TV here.

Leading UK equestrian supplier and manufacturer, Equiport, has today announced that the company will be sponsoring an international show jumping class at the upcoming British Open and utilising the event to launch a very special opportunity for a British Showjumping young rider to win sponsorship worth over £8,000!

This very generous promotion features a first prize of Equiport sponsorship which will give one lucky winner £1,000 towards entry fees, a training session with international rider Billy Twomey and a huge range of Equiport products for the rider and their horse/s. With runners-up prizes also on offer, this really is a promotion not to miss!

Equiport is a supplier for top riders, including Billy Twomey, Nick Skelton, Robert Smith and Cian O’Connor, and prides itself on excellent quality and service. All Equiport products can be made to measure and they are the only retailer to offer their products in a range of colours, sizes and variations that can be made to the customer’s specification. Equiport Director, Ashley Gaynon, introduced the sponsorship promotion to give something back to the equestrian industry and support British young riders.

Ashley, commented, “There are so many talented show jumpers within the British young rider rankings and I feel really privileged to be able to give one of them a leg up in their career by backing them with sponsorship. Having money towards entry fees, an invaluable lesson with the world-class rider Billy Twomey and A LOT of Equiport products to kit out them and their horse, is going to be, I hope, a huge help to any young rider. What’s more, our products are the choice of professionals and the quality is second to none which means they will last well into their senior years.”

“I look forward to launching the promotion at the British Open where we will also be sponsoring an international class, The Equiport Classic, on Thursday 8^th April.”

The British Open is one of the most prestigious Championships in the British Show Jumping calendar and the organiser, Grandstand Event Management, is thrilled to be working with Equiport. Helena Pettit, British Open Managing Director, said, “We are delighted to welcome Equiport as a sponsor for the 2010 show. As a leading brand in the equestrian world, their products will offer great benefits to our competitors and visitors who purchase from their trade stand during the event. The British Open also provides Equiport with the perfect platform to promote their products to their prime target audience.”

To enter the Equiport Sponsorship Promotion you need to be a British Showjumping Young Rider and complete an entry by visiting the Equiport trade stand at the British Open Show Jumping Championships or online at www.equiport.co.uk. Entry is free but only open to British Showjumping young riders. Terms and conditions apply, see Equiport website for full details.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7^th – Saturday 10^th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website by clicking here.

Grandstand Group, the team behind Horse of the Year Show and the British Open Show Jumping Championships, is searching for a new voice in equestrian commentating. After receiving a very impressive number of  entries for the competition, the team of judges have whittled the final list down to just three contestants who will be put to the test in front of a live audience at next month’s British Open Show Jumping Championships (7th – 10th April).

Following two tough rounds, the judges, renowned Equestrian Commentator Mike Tucker and International show jumper Tim Stockdale, decided on their three finalists:

Adam Cromarty – 25 year old from Fife

Jo Thoenes – 35 year old from Oxford

Ian Scott – 55 year old from Stamford, Lincolnshire 

During the Final all contestants will have a formal interview followed by a session of live commentating during the British Open’s jam packed day of competition on Wednesday 7th April.

Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Grandstand Group, commented: “We are looking for a commentator whose aspiration is to be a leading sports commentator, such as Mike Tucker and Nick Brooks-Ward, who can also bring innovation to the world of equestrian commentating. We’ve had an overwhelming response to the competition and with so many impressive entries the judges found it really difficult to reach a decision on the final three. The Final will be a real test for them but they have all got the potential to be a great commentator at our events.”
Following the Final at the British Open, the winner will then join the Horse of the Year Show Commentary Team and become part of the world’s most famous horse show in October 2010.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website at by clicking here.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from 7th – 10th April and today announced they will be supporting British Servicemen and Women by providing tickets to Help for Heroes, and the Military Ward at Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital.

With the show’s close links to the Household Cavalry, donating tickets is one of the great ways for the British Open organisers, Grandstand Event Management Ltd, to support the men and women who fight for our country, through the charity Help for Heroes and also the Military Ward at Selly Oak Hospital. Both organisations will benefit from the tickets by using them in their fundraising activity and also offering them to servicemen and women and their families for a day out over Easter.

Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Grandstand Event Management, commented: “I am delighted that the British Open can provide support to these very worthy causes. Both Help for Heroes and Selly Oak Hospital offer essential support to our troops and this is a great way showing appreciation for what the Armed Forces do for our country.” 

As well as providing tickets to both Help for Heroes and the Military Ward at Selly Oak Hospital, the British Open will also offer a special discount to all servicemen and women. They can receive £5 off adults & £2.50 off concession tickets when booking for opening day, Wednesday 7th April, only. Customers must quote their Military ID number & the offer code – BOHFH10.

The British Open promises to be an Easter treat for all the family where world-class riders from Britain and abroad will be invited to compete for the Championship title and the £25,000 top prize. Leading British rider and three times Champion, Robert Whitaker will return to defend his title as the 2009 British Open Show Jumping Champion and compete in the top speed and jump-off international classes on offer at this FEI 4* event. The crowd favourite Puissance competition, featuring the legendary red wall, will also take place during Friday’s performance.

The unique format of the British Open Championship involves four competitions held over consecutive days with each competition designed to test the riders’ skill and ability in different ways. Round one commences on Wednesday with two further rounds on Thursday and  Friday, after which a ‘cut’ will decide the top twenty riders who will go forward to contest Saturday’s Final.

In addition, the jam-packed British Open also features a range of national show jumping and showing classes.

New classes for 2010:
Ponies UK Super League
John Whitaker International JA Championship
British Showjumping, British Riding Club & Pony Club Team Competition sponsored by Horseprint’s Pop Up Spooky Fillers
BS Winter Grade C

Entertainment includes:
The H Factor
British Open Indoor Cross Country
Dressage Lecture Demonstration with expert Richard Davison and Family
Dakota
Parelli Zone
Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing
Plus The Shopping Pavilion featuring over 100 trade stands, catering for you and your horse’s every need!

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or click here.