To mark the Horse & Hound show guide special issue, on sale Thursday 27 February, here are seven competitions all grassroots riders should have in their 2020 diary...
Science Supplements Cup
Badminton, Glos, 5-6 May
What’s on: hosted over two days, the championship brings together winners from regional finals from around the country to contest the coveted BE90 and BE100 titles.
What we love most: the opportunity for amateurs to ride on the hallowed turf of the stunning and historic Badminton Park.
SEIB Trailblazers Championships
Stoneleigh Park, Warks, 24-26 July, 29 July-1 August
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What’s on: the Dodson & Horrell dressage championships (24-26 July), Trailblazers showing and working hunter championships (25-26 July), Cavaletti Saddles showjumping championships (29 July-1 August) and FMBs combined training championships (30-31 July)
What we love most: the superb array of classes at a first-class venue with a truly championship feel.
Amateur Festival of British Showjumping
Bicton Arena, Devon, 31 July-2 August
What’s on: a host of unaffiliated classes from 60cm to 1m with money and product prizes alongside BS classes from 85cm to Foxhunter with sashes and rugs for champions.
What we love most: a fancy dress mini-major competition on the Saturday evening, perfect for those who love dressing up!
The Shearwater Equine Sports UK Grassroots Championships
Arena UK, Lincs, 6-9 August
What’s on: more than 150 classes across showjumping, dressage, showing, combined training and fun classes.
What we love most: alongside the great choice of classes, this event is aimed purely at the amateur and grassroots levels, so riders compete on a truly level playing field.
Scottish Grassroots Eventing Festival
Blair Castle, Perthshire, 27-29 August
What’s on: a culmination of Scottish grassroots eventing at BE90 and BE100 level, with riders competing for the coveted titles.
What we love most: the celebration of Scotland’s finest grassroots riders at one of the country’s most stunning settings.
The British Eventing BE80(T) Championship
Burghley, Lincs, 1-2 September
What’s on: qualified combinations from 12 regional finals will battle it out for the BE80 championship title on the hallowed turf of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
What we most love: the opportunity to compete at Burghley over a brand-new course being developed especially for the championship.
Weston Park Regional Team Challenge
Weston Park, Shrops, October TBC
What’s on: a new team eventing competition for grassroots riders, the Team Challenge is a brand new team competition for adults run at BE80(T) and BE90 Open level.
What we love most: riders select their own teams of four to compete at regional qualifiers, leading to a national championship at Weston Park in October.
Stephanie Bateman began her career working for Horse & Hound’s sister title HORSE magazine in 2009 after studying a BSc Equine Science degree at Hartpury university. After a few years working in-house for a national equestrian title, she went freelance in 2011, and now writes for a variety of print and online platforms, editing sections of national monthly magazines and contributing regular features and event reports to Horse & Hound. She juggles working with being a mummy and wife, and riding her coloured mare Matilda.
