It’s all systems go for Britain’s first international show jumping tour in celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee
The BSJA and Horse & Hound Golden Jubilee Tour, which is part of theQueen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, kicks off on 1 July at the Royal Show.
Although one of Britain’s biggest agricultural shows, the Royal is taking a step into the unknown with its first international competition.
“It’s been a steep learning curve but the international jumping is going to be really good for the show,” said a show spokesman.
Show jumping is being billed as the number one attraction at the show, with Grand Ring time to match. The major class, the £2,500-to-the-winner Daewoo Grand Prix, takes place at 11am on Wednesday 3 July, while an enlarged national schedule gives opportunities for all grades of pony and horse.
Sky Sports will be covering the tour in two separate programmes on Wednesday, 24 July at 8pm on Sky Sports Two and on Thursday 25 July, again at 8pm. The coverage will consist of two 1hr programmes and will take in highlights from all four shows plus interviews with leading riders.
BSJA marketing manager Jackie Knightley said: “We hope that the coverage may be bought by terrestrial TV companies and transmitted regionally.”
On 6 July, the tour moves south to Surrey, for three-day CSIC at Ridgewood Centre, near Reigate, culminating on Monday, 8 July with a £2,500-to-the-winner grand prix.
Competitors then enjoy a short break before heading to Essex, where the third CSIC of the tour will be hosted at John Holmes’s Great Leighs Showground from 14-16 July. There is a full supporting schedule of national classes with a £2,500 grand prix on Tuesday, 16 July.
The pinnacle of the tour will be the DMS City of Chester CSIB at Chester Racecourse from 19-21 July. With sponsorship totalling£62,000, the schedule includes international classes at 1.25m, 1.35m and 1.45m levels and final day’s grand prix will offer at least £5,000 to the winner.
“This is a massive boost for British show jumping,” said BSJA chairmanPeter Gillespie. “It will give any national rider invaluable experience of international atmosphere. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if the tour found us some team riders of the future?”
Contacts
- Royal Show, Stoneleigh Park, Warks (tel: 02476 696900)
- Ridgewood, Sidlow, Surrey (tel: 01293 862216)
- Essex Showground, Great Leighs (tel: 01245 362412)
- DMS City of Chester, Chester Racecourse (tel: 01270 528684)
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