‘We hope it will level the playing field’: Popular show welcomes international judges who won’t be listed in the schedule
The organisers of the UK National Championships have announced that four esteemed international judges have been selected to officiate at their 2022 fixture, which runs from 16-17 August at Arena UK in Lincolnshire.
All the classes, aside from those for mountain and moorland (M&M) ponies, will be judged by one UK panel judge from a corresponding society and one of the four international judges.
The four individuals set to travel to the show include South African judges Gregory Goss, JJ Kemp and Zadia Mostert Schutte, and Australian judge Matt Snell. Which classes the judges will officiate in will not be released until the day of the show.
“The international judge won’t have any connection to the breeders, riders or producers, so we hope it will create suspense and level the playing field,” said UK National Championships founder and show director, Scott Dixon. “We want it to be as fair as possible and hope having ‘unknown’ judges will create transparency and encourage people to come into showing.
“All four of the judges are highly regarded and have won or bred animals who have won at all the major championships in their respective countries. It will be completely fair game on the day.”
Also returning for 2022 is the rapidly growing UK National Championships’ puissance competition.
Scott added: “We’ll be coming back bigger and better than ever. This year we also have a new committee with individuals in selected roles to look after different parts of the show.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.