Following our previous announcement in respect of a new indoor Championship Show which will be hosting some of this year’s National Championships, we are now pleased to be able to share the news that the show has been awarded to Aintree Equestrian Centre.

Scheduled to run between 7 – 11 October 2020, the show will host the Junior and Senior British Novice and Discovery Finals that were due to take place at the National Championships this summer in addition to the National Finals that would have taken place at Horse of the Year Show and the B & C Championships due to have been held at the Royal International Horse Show.

Iain Graham, Chief Executive of British Showjumping commented “In awarding the Championship Show to Aintree Equestrian Centre we trust that our members will be pleased at the prospect of attending a show within an environment that is synonymous with top class equestrian sport.  The team at Aintree are fully committed to ensure they deliver a showcase for the sport whilst also giving members and their horses access to their superb facilities that they have on site.  We have full confidence in the team at Aintree and look forward to working with them on delivering this unique show”.

The Aintree International Equestrian Centre was designed specifically to provide a venue for Equestrianism, and is now a showpiece in itself and the heartbeat of Equestrianism in the North West of England. It hosts numerous events each year alongside the racecourse including the Randox Health Grand National and the annual six day British Showjumping Dodson & Horrell National Amateur & Veteran Championships in November

Carly Sage, Aintree Equestrian Centre General Manager, said “We’re delighted and proud to be awarded to host the new indoor Championship Show at Aintree. It’s been a difficult time for everyone so we’re pleased to be able to see these wonderful horses compete in the Centre again. We’d like to thank the team at British Showjumping and we’ll be working closely with them to ensure all the appropriate Covid-19 protocols are in place and we deliver a safe and very successful Championships in October.

Further information regarding the show and the schedule will be issued on the British Showjumping website as it becomes available.  For those hoping to qualify for each of their respect Championships please be aware that there is a relaxation on the number of double clears required to qualify for the second rounds and this, along with the qualifying shows and classes, can be found here.

Qualifying Path to the Aintree Indoor Championships

Second Round & Direct Qualifiers

Eligibility & Qualifying:

• Eligible horses/ ponies can only start at a maximum of 3 of the qualifying shows. Any horse/pony that competes at any more than three will have their results disqualified from that entire show.
• The top 8 combinations in each of these qualifiers will qualify for the final, (see schedule wording for full qualification details).
• Bronze and Silver league classes are direct entry qualifiers (no pre-qualification required) but please check eligibility wording in schedules.
• 128cm qualifier, 138cm qualifier and Pony Showjumper of the Year qualifiers remain as direct entry qualifiers with no pre-qualification required
• Talent seekers and Grade C qualifiers remain as direct entry qualifiers with no pre-qualification required
• Due to the COVID-19 interruption in the calendar, only three double clears will be required for this year’s second rounds. This applies for British Novice, Discovery, Newcomers and Foxhunter qualification across both Juniors and Seniors.
• For this year’s second rounds only:  Those that would normally run under table A8 will be run under table A10

Qualifying Show Venues & Dates:

2^nd Rounds: Talent Seekers, Speedibeet Grade C, Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter & Lord & Lady Senior Newcomers:

Wales & West Shows (29 – 31 August)
Pyecombe Horse Show(28 – 29 August)
Royal Highland Show (29 – 31 August)
Weston Lawns Equitation Show (12 – 13 September)
Bicton Arena (12 – 13 September)
Arena UK (26 – 27 September)

Direct Qualifiers: NAF Five Star Bronze League, NAF Five Star Silver League
2^nd Rounds:  Equissage Senior British Novice: Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery:

Cherwell Competition Centre  (29 – 31 August)
Field House (5-6 September)
SNEC (12 – 13 September)
Chard Equestrian Centre (18 – 20 September)
Addington Equestrian Centre (22 – 24 September)
South View Equestrian Centre (26 – 27 September)

Pony qualifying shows:
Direct Qualifiers: Pony Showjumper of the Year, British Showjumping 128cm Qualifier , British Showjumping 138cm Qualifier
2^nd Rounds: Junior British Novice, Junior Discovery, Blue Chip Junior Newcomers, Junior Foxhunter

Onley (29 – 1 September)
Bury Farm (5 – 6 September)
South View (5 – 6 September)
Vale View (12 – 13 September)
Wales & West (19 – 20 September)
Muirmill (26 – 27 September)

NB: The qualifiers due to take place in Scotland and Wales are subject to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and we are working with Sportscotland and Sport Wales to try and move this forwards.