Send Date:28-Jul-2010 12:54

The Royal County of Berkshire Show is expecting to welcome many of the UK’s top show jumpers over the weekend of 18th -19th September 2010, as it hosts two prestigious showjumping classes in the Main Arena.

For the second year running the Show hosts the final leg of the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway Competition - a showjumping series that identifies and assesses both potential and existing British Team Competitors. The series includes seven other qualifiers which are taking place at County Shows around the Country, with the class on the Sunday afternoon of The Royal County of Berkshire Show being the last chance for Riders to impress.

Funded jointly by the British Showjumping Business Partnership and the eight County Show venues hosting the qualifiers, the series has a total prize fund of £60,000 and has therefore been attracting some of the country’s top horse and rider combinations.

With riders testing themselves at the level required for GB team selection, Helen Tredwell a British show jumper based in Buckinghamshire is currently the run-away leader of the series, with her 14 yr old British Bred Chestnut Mare, Opportunity B. Other riders hoping for a share in the Rider Ranking points and the prize money on offer at Berkshire include Geoff Luckett, Tina Fletcher and Robert Whitaker.

On Saturday afternoon the Show holds the ever popular Wendy Green Six-Bar, named in memory of the former Chairman of the Show’s Light Horse Committee who sadly died suddenly in 2008. The winner of the class will receive £750 which has been donated by Wendy’s husband Edgerton GH Green OBE.

The Six-Bar competition, which will start at 1.25m high, is also set to attract some top British names and no doubt show jumper William Funnel will be looking to attend and defend his title after winning the class in 2009.

Pat Parsons, chairman of the Royal County of Berkshire Show’s Light Horse Committee said: “Once again we are delighted to host two excellent showjumping competitions at The Royal County of Berkshire Show. The classes are always very well supported by spectators coming to watch their favourite riders. We’re delighted the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway Series has proved so popular across the Country and we’re looking forward to hosting a qualifier to remember!”

The Show will also be welcoming some very young show jumpers to its grounds. The Park House School Team Jumping competition takes place on Saturday, where local schools send teams of four children to compete and, naturally, the competition is very fierce!

Additionally, there is lots of other equestrian action on offer at the show. Don’t forget the plethora of Showing classes, including those for Coloured Horses; British Appaloosas; Standard and Miniature Shetlands; Highlands, Fells and Dales and the popular Mountain and Moorlands. Lightweight and Heavyweight Working Hunters also have qualifiers for the Royal International Horse Show. There are also classes for Retrained Racehorses and a special class called the Jenny Pitman OBE & Heros Challenge Cup which supports the Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation (Heros). The Challenge Cup aims to encourage and educate owners, loanees and riders of horses, which have raced under the rules of racing and have undergone retraining.

Finally, the Heavy Horse Turnout; The Coaching Marathon and Scurry Driving competitions make up a feast of equestrian competition to remember.

Ticket Information:
There are some attractive discounts on tickets bought in advance, plus fast track entrance into the Show. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.berkshireshow.co.uk or by telephone from the Newbury & District Agricultural Society on 01635 247155. Other local outlets in and around newbury are also selling tickets – details of which can be found at http://www.berkshireshow.co.uk

Ticket prices:
Advance .. £14 adults, £12 concessions, £40 family
On The Gate .. £17 adults, £14 concessions, £48 family