PSOA Launches Showjumping "Fun" Series For
Affiliated Riders
The
Permanent Show Organisers Association, whose members run most of
the UK' s equestrian centres, is to launch a new showjumping series
aimed at affiliated riders who are "jumping for fun."
It
includes classes for both senior and junior riders, with successful
rider qualifying directly to a two-day final at the National Agricultural
Centre, Stoneleigh, in August 2004.
PSOA
chairman Norman Bargh said: "We have run the Trailblazer series
for unaffiliated, leisure riders now for four years, and have been
asked time and time again why we had no classes for affiliated riders
who just jumped for fun. The demand has become so great that we
have decided to go one better and have a complete series for these
people who form the backbone of the British Showjumping Association."
Seniors
will have four classes - 95cms for horses not to have won £250,
1.05m for those who haven't achieved £500 and a 1.15m open.
Riders in all three classes must be outside the top 150 in the BSJA
ranking list. A fourth 1.20m open is for riders outside the top
50.
Three
of the four junior classes are for riders who have not been placed
in the top five of a junior Showjumper of the Year class during
2003, one for small JD or JC ponies, one at 95cms for ponies not
having won £300 and the third at 1.05cms for JD or JC ponies
with winnings below £600. The remaining 1.10m class is for
rider and pony combinations also not placed in the first five of
a 2003 junior Showjumper of the Year competition.
"Three-quarters
of all BSJA entries during 2002 were in British Novice and Discovery
classes, which can be seen as proof that there is a definite need
to cater for people who take their showjumping seriously but still
do it for fun," said Mr Bargh.
"PSOA
members are very close to the sport and very much in touch. They
realise that a series like this will satisfy a lot of people and
could very well produce and identify horses and riders who can go
on to even greater things."
Qualifying
competitions will start at 25 PSOA centres around the country in
January and run through to the end of May. For details and a full
list of participating centres, visit www.psoatrailblazers.co.uk
.
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