Trailblazer Entries For 2003 Are "Staggering"

Decision taken to extend 2004 championship to four days

Nearly 58,000 riders have taken part in first round qualifying competitions for the PSOA/South Essex Insurance Brokers Trailblazers national championship.

The series is run by the Permanent Show Organisers Association (PSOA), and 43 of its member centres around the country have been running qualifying competitions in showjumping and dressage. The series is aimed at an estimated 200,000 unaffiliated competitors.

PSOA spokesman Norman Bargh said that more than 1,950 riders were expected to qualify for the national final, which will be held on August 1-3 at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh.

"The figures for this year are staggering," said Mr Bargh, "but still fall a long way short of the number of leisure and weekend riders who choose not to affiliate for one reason or another.

"Five more of our member centres have decided to run qualifying rounds next winter and we have already taken the decision to extend the 2004 final to four days, so we will see next year how close we can get to that target figure."