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SEVENTH IN LUMMEN

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:41:29 +0000

SEVENTH IN LUMMEN

Great Britain finished in seventh place in the Belgian Nations Cup in Lummen last Friday.

Finishing the first round on a total of just four penalties, with faultless rounds from both Mark Armstrong and Philip Spivey, Rob Hoekstra’s quartet started the second round in equal third place with France, both nations just a single fence behind Ireland and Australia.

In the second round Ellen and Ocolado emulated their first round score, lowering a single pole for just four faults. Mark and Thesaura jumped a superb round to leave all the fences standing, yet clocked up a single time fault and an uncharacteristic twenty six faults from Philip and Romanov II saw the British Team slip to seventh place in the final rankings.

Ireland and Australia both finished the second round on a zero score, therefore a jump off ensued to decide the victor. Australia’s Chris Chugg produced a very fast time but sadly a pole on the floor left the door wide open for Ireland’s Billy Twomey who jumped a perfect clear round to take the victory for Ireland.

CSIO4* Lummen BEL
Nations Cup
Friday 30th April 2010

1st Ireland
2nd Australia
3rd Norway
4th France
5th Germany
6th Sweden

7th Great Britain
Ellen Whitaker & Ocolado – 4/4
Mark Armstrong & Thesaura – 0/1
Philip Spivey & Romanov II – 0/26
Ben Maher & Wonderboy III – (12)

8th Belgium
=9th Italy
=9th Spain

11th Canada
12th Finland
13th Brazil

Full results can be viewed at www.scg-nl.nl.

Champion’s sponsorship of the British Nations Cup Team is the result of the brand’s deep-seated belief in the importance of continual development, dedication and professionalism, together with a desire to offer British equestrian talent every possible opportunity to reach the very top of competitive showjumping.

The British Showjumping Teams continue to be strongly supported by the UK Sport lottery funded BEF World Class Programme.

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Surrey based Scurry Drivers prepare for battle at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:52:05 +0000

Surrey based Scurry Drivers prepare for battle at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010!

Charlotte Adams-Lane from Chessington and ponies Balanced Rid & Tear, Jemma Millman from Chestsey and ponies Drayton Piglet & Eeyore and Alison Millman from Addlestone and ponies Drayton Branstone & Pickle have confirmed they will be competing in the Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Challenge at the British Open Show Jumping Championships, 7th â€“ 10th April at the NEC, Birmingham.

The Scurry Challenge will take place over four rounds, with the final on Saturday 10th April and promises to have the audience on the edge of their seats all week. Pairs of ponies pull a scurry vehicle round a twisting course at break neck speed and the fastest pair wins. The aim of the competition is for the drivers to steer their ponies through a series of gates made up of between 12 to 14 pairs of cones. Each cone has a ball balanced on the top so that if a pony or scurry cart makes contact with the cone the ball will fall off. For each ball knocked from a cone a penalty of 4 seconds will be incurred added to the competitorâ€™s time. The winner is the team with the quickest overall time

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Surrey based Scurry Drivers prepare for battle at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:51:41 +0000

Surrey based Scurry Drivers prepare for battle at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010!

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Clwyd based Scurry Driver to compete at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:50:30 +0000

Clwyd based Scurry Driver to compete at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010!

Richard Griffiths from Wrexham and ponies Titch & The Talisman have confirmed they will be competing in the Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Challenge at the British Open Show Jumping Championships, 7th – 10th April at the NEC, Birmingham.

The Scurry Challenge will take place over four rounds, with the final on Saturday 10th April and promises to have the audience on the edge of their seats all week. Pairs of ponies pull a scurry vehicle round a twisting course at break neck speed and the fastest pair wins. The aim of the competition is for the drivers to steer their ponies through a series of gates made up of between 12 to 14 pairs of cones. Each cone has a ball balanced on the top so that if a pony or scurry cart makes contact with the cone the ball will fall off. For each ball knocked from a cone a penalty of 4 seconds will be incurred added to the competitor’s time. The winner is the team with the quickest overall time.

Last year’s winner Amanda Saville, from Lockerbie, and her ponies Mac and Munch.
Please credit Nico Morgan – A high resolution version of this image is available on request.

The British Open promises to be an Easter treat for all the family where world-class riders from Britain and abroad will be invited to compete for the Championship title and the £25,000 top prize. Leading British rider and three times Champion, Robert Whitaker will return to defend his title as the 2009 British Open Show Jumping Champion and compete in the top speed and jump-off international classes on offer at this FEI 4* event. The crowd favourite Puissance competition, featuring the legendary red wall, will also take place during Friday’s performance.

The unique format of the British Open Championship involves four competitions held over consecutive days with each competition designed to test the riders’ skill and ability in different ways. Round one commences on Wednesday with two further rounds on Thursday and Friday, after which a ‘cut’ will decide the top twenty riders who will go forward to contest Saturday’s Final.

In addition, the jam-packed British Open also features a range of national show jumping and showing classes.

New classes for 2010:
Ponies UK Super League
John Whitaker International JA Championship
British Showjumping, British Riding Club & Pony Club Team Competition sponsored by Horseprint’s Pop Up Spooky Fillers
BS Business Partnership Winter Grade C Championship

Entertainment includes:
The H Factor
British Open Indoor Cross Country
Dressage Lecture Demo with expert Richard Davison
Dakota
Parelli Zone
Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing

Plus The Shopping Pavilion featuring over 100 trade stands, catering for you and your horse’s every need!

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website at www.britishopenshowjumping.com

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Lancashire based Rider to Compete in the Indoor Cross Country Championship at the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010!

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:07:00 +0000

Ben Hobday from Rossendale has confirmed he will be competing in the Indoor Cross Country Championship at the British Open Show Jumping Championships, 7th – 10th April at the NEC, Birmingham.

The class takes place on Thursday 8th April, which promises to have the audience on the edge of their seats. The exhilarating event was launched to great acclaim at the 2006 British Open Show Jumping Championships and has continued each year to give visitors the only opportunity in the UK to witness top-level indoor cross country alongside world-class show jumping and thrilling equestrian entertainment.

In addition, the jam-packed British Open also features a range of national show jumping and showing classes.

Entertainment includes:
The H Factor
British Open Indoor Cross Country
Dressage Lecture Demo with expert Richard Davison
Dakota
Parelli Zone
Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing

Plus The Shopping Pavilion featuring over 100 trade stands, catering for you and your horse’s every need!

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Budding Sports Commentators make it through to the final Stage

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:31:50 +0000

Budding Sports Commentators make it through to the final Stage!

Grandstand Group, the team behind Horse of the Year Show and the British Open Show Jumping Championships, is searching for a new voice in equestrian commentating. After receiving a very impressive number of entries for the competition, the team of judges have whittled the final list down to just three contestants who will be put to the test in front of a live audience at next month’s British Open Show Jumping Championships (7th – 10th April).

Following two tough rounds, the judges, renowned Equestrian Commentator Mike Tucker and International show jumper Tim Stockdale, decided on their three finalists:

Adam Cromarty – 25 year old from Fife

Jo Thoenes – 35 year old from Oxford

Ian Scott – 55 year old from Stamford, Lincolnshire

During the Final all contestants will have a formal interview followed by a session of live commentating during the British Open’s jam packed day of competition on Wednesday 7th April.

Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Grandstand Group, commented: “We are looking for a commentator whose aspiration is to be a leading sports commentator, such as Mike Tucker and Nick Brooks-Ward, who can also bring innovation to the world of equestrian commentating. We’ve had an overwhelming response to the competition and with so many impressive entries the judges found it really difficult to reach a decision on the final three. The Final will be a real test for them but they have all got the potential to be a great commentator at our events.”

Following the Final at the British Open, the winner will then join the Horse of the Year Show Commentary Team and become part of the world’s most famous horse show in October 2010.

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The British Open shows Support for British Serviceman

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:31:11 +0000

The British Open shows Support for British Serviceman
The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from 7th – 10th April and today announced they will be supporting British Servicemen and Women by providing tickets to Help for Heroes, and the Military Ward at Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital.
With the show’s close links to the Household Cavalry, donating tickets is one of the great ways for the British Open organisers, Grandstand Event Management Ltd, to support the men and women who fight for our country, through the charity Help for Heroes and also the Military Ward at Selly Oak Hospital. Both organisations will benefit from the tickets by using them in their fundraising activity and also offering them to servicemen and women and their families for a day out over Easter.
Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Grandstand Event Management, commented: “I am delighted that the British Open can provide support to these very worthy causes. Both Help for Heroes and Selly Oak Hospital offer essential support to our troops and this is a great way showing appreciation for what the Armed Forces do for our country.”
As well as providing tickets to both Help for Heroes and the Military Ward at Selly Oak Hospital, the British Open will also offer a special discount to all servicemen and women. They can receive £5 off adults & £2.50 off concession tickets when booking for opening day, Wednesday 7th April, only. Customers must quote their Military ID number & the offer code – BOHFH10.
The British Open promises to be an Easter treat for all the family where world-class riders from Britain and abroad will be invited to compete for the Championship title and the £25,000 top prize. Leading British rider and three times Champion, Robert Whitaker will return to defend his title as the 2009 British Open Show Jumping Champion and compete in the top speed and jump-off international classes on offer at this FEI 4* event. The crowd favourite Puissance competition, featuring the legendary red wall, will also take place during Friday’s performance.

In addition, the jam-packed British Open also features a range of national show jumping and showing classes.

Entertainment includes:
The H Factor
British Open Indoor Cross Country
Dressage Lecture Demonstration with expert Richard Davison and Family
Dakota
Parelli Zone
Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing
Plus The Shopping Pavilion featuring over 100 trade stands, catering for you and your horse’s every need!

Related Blogs

Michael Whitaker’s Olympic Eligibility Restored

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:46:01 +0000

Michael Whitaker’s Olympic Eligibility Restored
The British Olympic Association (BOA) today confirmed that Michael Whitaker, an equestrian athlete, has had his eligibility for Team GB selection at future Olympic Games restored with immediate effect following a successful appeal under the BOA’s Eligibility Byelaw.
At an event in La Baule in France on 15th May 2009, Whitaker’s male horse Tackeray tested positive for a substance prohibited by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Whitaker, as the person responsible for the horse, was suspended from competition for four months from 25th June 2009 at an FEI tribunal.
In accordance with the BOA’s Eligibility Byelaw Whitaker was automatically rendered ineligible for Team GB selection at future Olympic Games.
Following an appeal from Mr Whitaker, the BOA Appeals Panel, chaired by Nicholas Stewart QC, considered the case. Mr Whitaker’s appeal was based on the grounds that:
• The doping offence was minor; and/or
• Significant mitigating circumstances existed in relation to the doping offence.
The Panel’s clear and unanimous view was that the offence could not be regarded as minor.
Nevertheless, the Panel did allow Mr Whitaker’s appeal on the grounds that it was established that there were significant mitigating circumstances in relation to the offence.
The Panel recognised that Whitaker was not personally negligent or at fault in relation to any systems, instructions or delegation about which he could have been expected to do anything more.
The Panel noted that there is no reasonable basis for concluding that Whitaker (or his groom) deliberately administered the prohibited substance, from which it follows that it did not enter the horse’s body with any intent by either Whitaker or his groom to enhance performance.
Notes for Editors
The Sport Resolutions UK is an independent body, which provides a dispute resolution for sport. Sport Resolutions UK appointed the chairman to the appeals panel and administered the appeal in accordance with the BOA’s rules.
Michael Whitaker has competed at four Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the team event at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. He has also competed in four World Championships and twelve European Championships. Whitaker had no previous doping violations.
For further information please contact the BOA communications team on 0207 842 5721.

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BEN MAHER LEADS NOMINATIONS AT NEXT MONTHS AWARDS BALL

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:39:00 +0000

Britain’s leading rider Ben Maher has been nominated for three different categories at next month’s glittering annual Awards Ball hosted by British Showjumping at the Hilton Metropole, NEC on the 6^th April 2010.

With Ben Maher’s career soaring in such a meteoric way, it comes as no surprise that he has been nominated for three different categories. The Awards Ball which has quickly become a key event in British Showjumping’s social diary and is heavily attended not only by those within the sport but by those that follow and support the sport as spectators.

Contesting the title of Leading International Horse/Rider combination with his consistent Robin Hood W, Ben is also challenging the Riders Rider and Personality of the Year award titles on offer. “It’s always great to have your achievements recognised and be nominated for one award. To be nominated for three is just superb and I’m really pleased that not only myself, but my owners Michael and Emma Philips alongside the rest of the team supporting me have received such acknowledgement” commented Ben.

With eleven awards on offer, many of Great Britain’s top riders are expected to attend and a full list of the Awards and the nominee’s for each category will be issued shortly. The Awards Ball supports the GB competition framework with all funds being re-invested back into the sport, so if you are able to attend please do purchase a ticket and join them for an evening that not only see’s the Awards being presented but includes a four-course meal followed by dancing to a live band until the early hours.

Five hundred guests are already confirmed but there are still some tickets available should you like to attend. Tickets are £80 per person and can be purchased individually, in pairs or in numbers up to a table of ten by calling 02476 698806 or online at www.britishshowjumping.co.uk .

______________________________________________________________________
British Showjumping
http://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/

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Wildcard expert, Nicola Wilson scoops a ticket to the British Open Indoor Cross Country again!

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:52:05 +0000

Nicola from Milland in Hants, Sally Chamberlain from Shardlow in Derby and Lauren Shannon from Wymeswold in Leics will join leading British and foreign eventers at the British Open Show Jumping Championships at Birmingham’s NEC (7^th – 10^th April) on Thursday 8^th April after securing their place in the prestigious Indoor Cross Country competition at the Addington Manor Equestrian Centre qualifier last Friday (5^th March).

The evening began with a fascinating lecture demo by member of the senior British eventing team and European Individual Silver and Team Gold Medallist, Piggy French. Once the exciting competition got underway over 30 eventers tackled the bespoke course of fences comprising show jumps and cross country fences.

This competition is a real spectator sport with plenty of speed and agility needed in equal amounts to get round clear and fast. Nicola Wilson is clearly becoming a specialist in this field after winning convincingly last year and returning with the same form for this year. She came into the ring meaning business and with her foot very much to the floor on her lovely mount, Portersize Top Dollar, she rode round in a time that just couldn’t be beaten to take first place. In second was Sally Chamberlain riding Leroy and third was Lauren Shannon riding Quixotic. All three riders will now join leading eventers in the British Open Indoor Cross Country competition on Thursday 8^th April.

The Indoor Cross Country competition at the British Open Show Jumping Championships is a competition not to be missed. Britain’s top equestrian course designer, Bob Ellis, and Eventing guru Mike Tucker will create the course of approximately 16 jumps consisting of show jumps and cross country fences – some of which will be jumped in both directions. The show jumps will be set at near maximum height allowed in eventing and will form the first phase of the course. The exhilarating event was launched to great acclaim at the 2006 British Open Show Jumping Championships continuing each year to provide visitors the only opportunity in the UK to witness top-level indoor cross country alongside world-class show jumping and thrilling equestrian entertainment.

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7^th – Saturday 10^th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website at www.britishopenshowjumping.com

ENDS

For more information, images or quotes regarding the British Open Show Jumping Championships 2010 please contact:

British Open Press Office

Grandstand Event Management

Tel: 01582 711411

Email: press@grandstand.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Background information on the British Open Show Jumping Championships

World-class riders from Britain and abroad will be invited to compete in this unique Championship competition held over four days next April. Leading British rider and three times Champion, Robert Whitaker will return to defend his title as the 2009 British Open Show Jumping Champion and compete in the top speed and jump-off international classes on offer at this FEI 4* event. The crowd favourite Puissance competition, featuring the legendary red wall, will also take place during Friday’s performance.

In addition, the jam-packed British Open also features a range of national show jumping and showing classes.

New classes for 2010:

Ponies UK Superleague

John Whitaker International JA Championship

British Showjumping, British Riding Club & Pony Club Team Competition sponsored by Horseprint’s Pop Up Spooky Fillers BS Business Partnership Winter Grade C Championship

Entertainment includes:

The H Factor

British Open Indoor Cross Country

Dakota

Parelli Zone

Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing

Plus The Shopping Pavilion featuring over 100 trade stands, catering for you and your horse’s every need!