NEWs

British Eventing launch XC +

British Eventing (BE) is delighted to announce the pilot launch of XC +, an exciting new concept designed to offer more flexibility for our members.

Do you have a horse that loves cross-country and show jumping but isn’t so keen on dressage? Or perhaps you’d prefer to miss out the show jumping phase and complete just the cross-country and dressage elements instead? You might have to juggle eventing with family and work, so a shortened version would save valuable time. 

Stats from our latest survey showed that members were keen for us to investigate new formats of the sport, and XC + is an exciting and positive step to providing our members with more choice. 

XC+ is a shorter format of eventing, allowing participants to compete in two (2) out of the three (3) phases of the sport on the day. This innovative approach caters to varying needs, whether it’s due to time constraints, a focus on training in specific disciplines, or simply personal preference and enjoyment. The goal is to provide an adapted version of eventing that meets the diverse demands of our audience.

XC + will run alongside standard BE competitions at BE80 and BE90 levels at selected events with sufficient capacity. This ensures participants can enjoy the same high standards of safety, support, and organisation that BE is known for. XC + is open to all British Eventing members, including Pay-As-You-Go members, who have completed a standard class at the same level within the past 12 months.

Members will be able to enter XC + one week after the ballot date and will have limited availability during the pilot year. Timings will integrate into the event schedule. The entry fee for XC + is 75% of the standard class fee, providing an affordable option for participation.

Standard rules for each phase apply, ensuring consistency with regular BE events, although the dress code for XC + is more relaxed. Safety remains paramount however, and all riders must meet the minimum safety equipment requirements as outlined in the BE Handbook. There will be no official scoring during the initial trial period, but as the trial progresses, a scoring system will be developed and tested to add a competitive element.

Rosie Williams CEO, shared her enthusiasm for the initiative: “We are thrilled to introduce XC +. This concept gives our members greater choice while allowing them to compete in the same supportive and safe environment as standard competitions, with all the necessary resources such as fence judges and safety measures in place.”

Laura De Wesselow, Joint Chair of the BEOHA, said: “This new concept is a really positive addition to British Eventing’s competitive offering, particularly for grassroots venues and members. Not only will it offer a different spin on the classic format of eventing to members, but it will also benefit organisers by hopefully increasing the number of entries over a weekend of competition.”

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