An exciting new Championships culminating at Aintree Equestrian Centre
British Eventing is excited to launch Anyone Can Event (ACE), an Arena style eventing competition designed to appeal to riders of all ages and experience that gets underway this autumn.
The new series will run throughout the winter months and into spring, providing riders with the ideal opportunity to get out, develop their skills and enjoy competing during the shorter daylight hours. A range of height classes will be offered from 70cm up to 1m and will be available to anyone aged 10 upwards, helping to encourage younger riders into the sport.
ACE competitions will be run at a range of venues across the UK and will be open to all. Riders will not need to be members of BE to take part in the qualifiers (although they will need to join if they wish to benefit from any of the training BE offers or take part in the Championship finals). Qualifying legs will offer competitors the chance to pick up a coveted qualifying ticket for the Championship Finals – offering a fabulous four-day celebration of ACE competition, set to be held next spring at the stunning Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool.
Classes will be split into two age ranges, senior and juniors (18-years-and-under). Riders will compete in their cross country kit, including cross country colours, and will take on a course of show jumps followed by a simulated cross country course of knock-down fences. Whilst the qualifiers will see all age groups compete together, the Championship Final will see Juniors (18 years-and-under at the time of the Championships) compete across the latter two days of the Final with Seniors competing across the initial two days.
“We want to encourage more people to experience the thrill of eventing and to enjoy the challenge of taking on something new with their horse,” said BE Chief Executive, Helen West. “The name ‘Anyone Can Event’ says it all – this is an opportunity to welcome more riders into the Eventing family and to deliver an exciting programme of competitions to brighten up the winter for everyone.”
Carly Sage, Aintree Equestrian Centre Manager, said “We are delighted to be working with British Eventing and delivering the Championships on this exciting new series. The ACE concept is one that we feel will be embraced by many competitors wishing to step into eventing and we believe it will be the perfect stepping stone into the sport for many. I can assure everyone who qualifies and comes to the Final at Aintree a memorable experience; not only one of great competition across the two days of their specific finals but also for the extra activities that we will be putting in place for everyone here.”
The ACE Championship Finals will take place across the 1 – 4 June with Seniors contesting their four national titles (70cm, 80cm, 90cm & 100cm) over the Thursday and Friday (1 – 2 June) and Juniors over the weekend of (3 – 4 June).
Qualifiers for the ACE series will be starting this Autumn and dates will start to be listed within the next few days on the Winter Series page on the British Eventing website which can be found here.
The ACE series will run alongside the Arena Eventing series which will culminate at Aston Le Walls.
