The UK Riders Challenge 2011 “The friendly competition series for the unaffiliated rider.”
The UK Riders Challenge is a national competition series aimed at unaffiliated combinations of horse and rider. It gives every day riders the chance to compete for national glory in dressage and show jumping. The aim is simple – to help you enjoy your horse more! The Challenge has a three-tier competition structure. Local qualifiers are held at centres around the country from July 10 until the 31st May 2011. Successful partnerships then go on to compete in Regional Finals held during June/July and the challenge culminates in the National Finals, held on one day in the centre of the country in mid August 2011

There are options to compete at Intro, Preliminary, Novice & Elementary level in dressage and at Restricted Novice (0.65m) Novice (0.75m), Intermediate (0.85m) or Open (0.95m) heights in show jumping. The competition is split into junior (under 16 on 14/8/10 for the 2010 Challenge) and senior sections, but there are no restrictions on the height of horses and ponies in either section, so a junior can ride a horse or a senior can ride a pony.

Challenge Classes

DRESSAGE: There are five levels of dressage classes:

Intro A or B

Preliminary Scales Of Training
Preliminary
Novice
Elementary

Please note: There will be no differentiation between Prelim and Prelim 1 Scales of Training at qualifier level for the 2011 Challenge. However, as with the 2010 Challenge, at Regional and National Final level a Prelim ‘Scales Of Training’ class will be run alongside the standard Prelim class. Competitors qualified at Prelim level will be eligible to enter Regional Finals in both Prelim and Prelim Scales Of Training and we will hold National Final classes in both. Competitors also competing at Novice/Elementary level will not be eligible to compete in the Prelim Scales of Training Regional Finals.

SHOW JUMPING: There are four heights of Show jumping competitions:

Restricted Novice: fences up to 0.65m
Novice: fences up to 0.75m
Intermediate: fences up to 0.85m
Open: fences up to 0.95m

Combinations of horse and rider qualifying for Intermediate or Open show jumping classes of the UK Riders Challenge are not eligible to go forward to Regional Finals in the Restricted Novice class. 

Show jumping heights will remain at class height at Regional Final level. At the National Finals, the fences will be raised by 5cm.

Show Jumping Baton Relay: Course height: 0.80m. The competition is judged under BSJA table as per rule 282. All members of the team enter the arena together. Each team member will jump one round against the clock in relay, passing the baton to the next team member.
Dressage: Test Level: Prelim – the special pairs dressage test will be available from the UKC&R office in July. The pair will ride the test together in the arena at the same. Marks will be given for overall impression and how well the pair work together. The test will be ridden under BD first round rules.

UK Riders Challenge 2011
Competition structure and qualifying criteria

Challenge Rules

Qualifiers are held until 31st May 2011

Regional Finals are held during June/July 2011

The National Finals will be held in the centre of the country in August 2011

Both members and non-members of UK Chasers and Riders are eligible to compete in qualifying rounds, but non-members must join within 14 days of qualifying to progress to Regional Finals.

Affiliated riders and/or horses may enter the qualifiers, however no combination of horse and rider may qualify for Regionals if they are affiliated to the British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) or British Eventing (BE) for Showjumping classes, or British Dressage (BD) or British Eventing (BE) for dressage classes. Novice unaffiliated riders competing on an affiliated horse are eligible, as are affiliated riders competing on young or inexperienced horses. The only competitors excluded are fully paid up affiliated combinations of horse and rider as this is a competition designed specifically to encourage unaffiliated combinations.

If a horse and rider combination qualify for a Regional Final and then subsequently affiliate they are still eligible to continue to the Regional and National Finals of the current year’s competition at the level(s) they gained qualification in before affiliating.

Juniors are those under 16 on 14/8/11 for the 2011 Challenge. If you qualify as a junior and subsequently turn 16 before the Regionals you will still compete as a junior for the Regionals and Finals of the 2011 Challenge.

Combinations of horse and rider competing at Novice/Elementary dressage level will not be eligible to compete in the Prelim Scales of Training Regional Finals.

Combinations of horse and rider qualifying for Intermediate or Open show jumping classes of the UK Riders Challenge are not eligible to go forward to Regional Finals in the Restricted Novice class. If a combination qualifies for the Restricted Novice and either the Intermediate or Open Class, the restricted novice qualification will become invalid.

Wherever possible qualifications should be passed down the line if the qualifying competitor is affiliated or has already qualified at that level. This is dependant on achieving the normal qualifying criteria- eg. Over 58% in dressage classes or a clear in the first round show jumping.

All dressage classes will be run in accordance with British Dressage first round rules. Please refer to the BD rulebook for further information.

All show jumping classes will be run in accordance with BSJA first round rules. Please refer to the BSJA yearbook for further information.

A riding hat which conforms to PAS015 or BSEN1385 with a three point linkage harness properly adjusted and fastened must be worn at all times whilst mounted.

No horse/pony under 4 yrs of age is eligible

The decision of the centre holding individual competitions is final.

Additional rules may be implemented at each individual competition centre’s discretion. Please check the venue’s schedule for further information.

UK Chasers & Riders may make changes to the rules at any point during the competition year. Any rule changes will be posted on our website at www.ukchasers.com and all Challenge Centres will be informed.

Qualifying for the Regional Finals in Dressage:

All competitors with 58% and over qualify for regional finals

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All dressage qualifiers MUST receive 58% or over in their test to qualify.

Qualifying for the Regional Finals in Show Jumping:

The first 10 placed competitors in the class will qualify, providing they go clear in the first round.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All show jumping qualifiers MUST go clear in the first round to qualify.

	Regional Finals
	All centres running qualifiers for the UK Riders Challenge may choose to run a Regional Final. Regional Finals take place during June and July 2011 and are the second round of the competition.
	All competitors qualifying in the first round will be sent a certificate of qualification and a list of dates and venues of Regional Finals in May.
	Competitors enter Regional Finals in the same way as the qualifying rounds but must produce their certificate of qualification at the Regional Final for their entry to be validated.
	Competitors may enter as many Regional Finals as they wish to go to, only dependant on how far they wish to travel.
	No Regional Finals for the 2011 Challenge may be held later than 15th July 2009.
	We prefer centres to run only one Regional Final in each discipline but they may choose a maximum of 2 if they wish.

Qualification for the National Finals from the Regional Finals

Showjumping

The first 10 achieving a double clear at a regional qualifier qualify for the National Finals Additional places at the National Finals may be offered to placed competitors at the discretion of UK Chasers and Riders, subject to class sizes.

Dressage

All competitors achieving 60% or more at a regional final qualify Additional places at the National Finals may be offered to placed competitors at the discretion of UK Chasers and Riders, subject to class sizes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All qualifiers from the Regional Finals in both dressage and show jumping MUST enter the National Finals within SEVEN days of qualifying or their place will be passed down to the next placed competitor in that class.