AIRC ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
A NUMBER of major changes are being introduced to this year’s National Dressage Championships. They include changes to the structure of the team championship while introducing a qualification system for the individual championships.
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.
