The hotly contested Championships will act as the high point of the Dengie Winter League for around 200 Pony Club competitors who have been taking part in qualifiers, at Novice and Open level, during the winter months. Near 500 preliminary rounds have been staged up and down the country, accommodating a substantial 5000 competitors; successful riders at the preliminary rounds go forwards to battle it out at one of nineteen Area finals in a bid to claim their golden ticket to the Dengie Winter League Championships.

The Dengie Winter League Show Jumping was first introduced in 1995 and has become a rite of passage for talented grassroots show jumpers, with the introduction of the Open level in 2006 allowing a pathway for those Members who have advanced the chance to tackle bigger jumping tracks.  Isabel Lindsay, from the Fife Hunt, will again be making to long journey down to the Championships for 2014, hoping to better her 2013 placing “I am very excited to have qualified for the Dengie Championships again this year” comments Isabel, “it was so much fun last year and I am hoping to improve on my 4th place!”

The Dengie Winter League Dressage was introduced in 2007, and has gone on to quickly gain equal kudos to the show jumping, with many of its success stories going on to feature at The Pony Club Championships in the summer. Another Member hoping to make the long trip worthwhile is Katie Mcdonnell, from the *Duke of Buccleuch’s Hunt, who has qualified for the Novice Dressage Championship.  “Dressage was a bit of a mystery until last year” laughs Katie, “but when I started doing Eventing I realised how important it was to get a good score, so I began to pay more attention, we have worked really hard and it has definitely paid off. I couldn’t believe it when we got through the first round of the qualifiers, then the Area and now the Finals. It’s amazing!”

“The championships are a real showcase of young talent and there is a terrific buzz about the entire event” comments Lisa Wilson, Marketing Manager at Dengie. “We will be bringing the Dengie weigh bridge along, presenting prizes to the winners and remaining on hand throughout the two days to provide dietary advice to competitors. It promises to be a really exciting weekend and we wish everyone the best of luck!”

Spectators are welcome to attend the event. Further information can be found on the website at www.pcuk.org

Notes to Editors:

From this year, clubs will now be permitted to enter teams of three or four riders and these must contain no more than two riders from any one grade representing no less than two grades on the team.   Reserves must also be nominated in advance of the qualifier, similar to the team show jumping championship.

The number of teams qualifying at each regional qualifier will depend on the number of teams which start on the day of the qualifier. One team for every four teams, or part thereof, will go forward to the championships. Teams, however, may only qualify at their respective regional qualifier.

In the individual classes, the top four rider and horse combinations from the Advanced Primary, Intermediate and Advanced Intermediate classes at each qualifier will go forward to the championships.  Individuals, however, may qualify at any of the regional qualifiers. Individual qualification will not be sought for the Primary, Open and Advanced Open championships.

If an individual rider and horse combination has already qualified at a previous qualifier, the next best placed rider will go forward to the final.

Should a qualified team or individual be unable to attend the championship final, the place will not be re-allocated.

It is envisaged that the championship classes will take place on sand at the finals while national classes will take place for those who have not qualified for the individual championships on grass.

A.I.R.C. chairman Tony Ennis said, “when reviewing our dressage championships, we set out with the key objectives to foster and increase participation, add prestige to the championships and allow a potential move to a sand based surface for the championship classes at the finals.”

“I believe we will achieve our goals with these changes and I’d like to thank the dressage committee and national committee for their valued contributions during our review processes,” he added.