Hundreds of grassroots riders in the South East enjoyed the buzz of competing at a big occasion this weekend (14-15 May) as Firle Place in Sussex hosted the first British Eventing Area Festival of 2022.

Riders were competing either for the opportunity to achieve a dream qualification ticket for the 2023 NAF Five Star BE80 Championship at Bramham and the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships at Badminton; or the prestige of being crowned a Firle Place Area Champion.

Congratulations to all our winners!

Firle Area Champions

Firle Place BE80 Area Festival Champion
Liz Brennan-jesson and Tullanna Tommy (28.5)

Firle Place BE90 Area Festival Champion
Lucy Pearce and Rusty (29.9)

Firle Place BE100 Area Festival Champion
Rachel Wright and Volantis (36.6)

Firle Place BE80 Open Area Festival Champion
Jo Mair and Kilbrien Chris (28.3)

Firle Place BE90 Open Area Festival Champion
Lisa Clarke-Spence and Heavens Too Far (28.5)

Firle Place BE100 Open Area Festival Champion
Lydia Heywood and Tullaher Lottie (32.1)

NAF Five Star National Qualifier Winners

BE80 National Qualifier Winner
Lucy Butcher and Minerva Van De Kooldries (31.6)

Voltaire Design National Qualifier Winners

 BE90 National Qualifier Winner (Section N)
Ella Lawton-Smith and Lowhill Fier Ambassador (24.7)

BE90 National Qualifier Winner (Section O)
Isabella Stagg and Quite A Compliment (27.3)

BE100 National Qualifier Winner
Katherine Stewart and Delightful Mr Clover (26.3)

Full results available here.

There are four Area Festivals through the season all offering National Qualifier classes, as well as their own Area Championships. Starting this weekend at Firle, the Festival next makes it way to Glamis Castle in Scotland between 30-31 July, Frickley Park in Yorkshire between 19 -20 August and Chillington Hall, Staffordshire between 10-11 September.

If you would like to compete in one of the remaining three Area Festivals, there is still time – as the Sport Committee have kindly agreed to extend the qualification period for the Area Festivals to the 3 July 2022 instead of the original date of 2 May 2022. The aim is to allow more members to take part in the Area Festivals – and that could be you!

To compete in National Qualifiers and Area Festival Open Championship classes you will need to have achieved a Top Percentage Qualification, which is awarded to the top 20 percent of eligible combinations placed in a normal BE80, BE90, BE90 Open, BE100 or BE100 Open class.

To compete in Area Festival Championship classes, you will need a Double Clear Qualification which is achieved by recording double clears in any BE80, BE90 or BE100 class where you finish outside of the top 20 percent* – one double clear is required for a BE80 qualification and two double clear runs for a BE90 or BE100 qualification.

British Eventing would like to thank the Sponsors and Partners of the Area Festivals which include NAF, the Event Horse Owners Association (EHOA), Voltaire Design

Use our eligibility checker to check whether you have achieved a qualifying ticket to compete at the Area Festivals.

Find out more about Area Festivals here.