ARENA EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024 – QUALIFIER RULES
Arena Eventing is a two-phase competition, run at 80, 90, 100, 100Open where riders can qualify for the BE Arena Eventing Championships to be held at Aston le Walls, NN11 6RT on the weekend of 24/25 February 2024.
1. Qualifying competitions are to be run at 80cm, 90cm & 100cm levels. Championship classes will be run AE80, AE90, AE100 as well as an AE100 Open championship for BE graded or BE downgraded horses.
2. Qualifying competitions are organised and run by the venue, please abide by the venue’s rules and guidance when competing there. Each qualifying venue must include the agreed BE statement* relating to rules and data on their online entry platform. Competition results (rider name, horse name, results, contact details) will be shared with British Eventing to support Championship qualification validation.
3. The qualifying period will be between 1st October 2024 and 11th February 2025
4. The Qualifiers are open to non-members, but everyone must be a BE member (minimum PAYG members) to be eligible for the Championships.
5. When entering both the qualifier and championships the same horse’s name must be used (no stable names).
6. Qualified combinations will be identified via the British Eventing website and email following receipt of qualifying competition results from the qualifying venues. Upon receipt of the qualification email from BE, competitors will have 14 days to become a member (minimum PAYG) of BE to retain their qualification. Failure to do this may result in the qualification being passed down the line to the next placed combination that has not already qualified.
7. Qualification is for combinations only. Substitutions will not be possible. If a combination is qualified for all 3 Championships, their Championship entries will be limited to the 2 higher level classes.
8. Competition Structure & Scoring
· Competitors will jump a course of 8-10 show jumps immediately followed by 10-12 cross country fences including a water fence (this may be a water tray) and will finish with the last fence as a show jump, the joker fence. The joker fence will be approximately 10cm higher than the rest of the course and is not optional.
· There will be no more than 20 jumping efforts.
· The whole round will be timed.
· Penalties will be given as per the table below.
· The winner will be the competitor with the lowest number of penalties.
· In the event of a tie the winner will be the one closest to the optimum time.
· Optimum time will be based on a speed of 375mpm for 100, 360mpm for 90 and 350mpm for 80 as agreed with the course designer depending upon the size and terrain of the arena.
· Time allowed is twice the optimum time.
· Stop watches are not permitted.
Penalties will be awarded as follows for all qualifiers and championship classes:
| Show Jumping | Cross Country |
First disobedience | 4 penalties | 20 penalties |
Second disobedience at same fence | 8 penalties | 40 penalties |
Third disobedience | Elimination | Elimination |
Knock down of obstacle | 4 penalties | N/A |
Knock down of Joker fence | 6 penalties | N/A |
Fall of horse | Elimination | Elimination |
Fall of rider | Elimination | Elimination |
Every commenced second in excess of the optimum time | 0.4 penalties | 0.4 penalties |
Every commenced second in excess of 5 seconds under the optimum time | 0.4 penalties | 0.4 penalties |
Exceeding time limit* | Elimination | Elimination |
Error of course | Elimination | Elimination |
Retaking obstacle already jumped | Elimination | Elimination |
9. Qualification is as follows:
For 80cm & 90cm classes
• below 15 starters in a class > top 4 qualify.
• up to and incl 30 starters in a class > top 6 qualify.
• 31 or more starters in a class >top 8 qualify.
For 100 cm class
• below 15 starters in a class > top 6 qualify.
• up to and incl 30 starters in a class > top 8 qualify.
• 31 or more starters in a class >top 10 qualify.
10. Horse eligibility for the Championships
a. Grade 4 horses can compete in all AE Championship classes. If the horse has never competed in BE competitions before, the horse is Grade 4 and is eligible for any championship class.
b. There is no limit on Foundation Points earned.
c. BE Graded or BE Downgraded horses can compete in AE100Open Championships only.
d. If the horse of a qualified combination is higher than BE Grade 4 (i.e. has earned BE Grading* points at BE Novice or above), it can only enter the AE100Open Championship.
*BE Grading explained here https://www.britisheventing.com/about/what-is-eventing/the-competition-levels
11. Competition results (rider name, horse name, position, penalties, competition class and date) and competitor contact details will be shared with British Eventing to support championship qualification validation.
12. The Championships are run and administered under British Eventing Rules and regulations 2024. Body protectors and protective headwear to 2024/25 guidelines must be worn. Stop watches are not permitted.
13. Riders must be in their 12th birth year or older in 2024; horses/ponies must be foaled in 2019 or older. Heights: for AE80 and AE90 Championships ponies must be at a minimum 132cm’s, for AE100 they must be a minimum of 142cms.
14. Riders who have completed an Advanced, 3*, 4* or 5* competition prior to time of entry in the current season, or in the two previous seasons, and horses who have BE Grading Points, may only take part in the BE100Open class.
15. The winner will be the competitor with the lowest number of penalties. In the event of a tie the winner will be the one closest to the optimum time. Time allowed is twice the optimum time.
Participating venues are listed on the BE website, further venues and dates may be added. Please see the venues schedule page for details on how to enter.
*Data protection Statement for Entry Platforms
You agree that the information you have provided in connection with your entry will be disclosed to British Eventing.
Should you receive an injury as the direct result of an accident occurring whilst you are participating in any event organised by an affiliated event organiser, any medical reports relating to your condition will be passed to British Eventing. Any medical reports passed to British Eventing will be held on your records and passed in confidence to the UK Transport Research Lab for the purposes of safety analyses.
The competitor confirms that they have appropriate third-party insurance cover in place for the day of the competition for which they are entering.
The competitor agrees to comply with all the relevant BE rules as detailed in the BE Rules and Members' handbook, including those relating to vaccinations & BEFAR (BEF Anti-Doping Rules).
By entering this event you acknowledge and accept these terms and conditions and those relating to entries detailed in the Rules and Members' Handbook and to give consent for the organiser to share contact details with British Eventing.