NSEA Eventers Challenge Series 2025‐26  (EC) The Eventers Challenge Championships is at the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead in May 2026.

• The intention of these rules is to reward riders who have a clear round and to penalise riders who have jumping penalties or who are significantly faster than the Optimum Time.
• Riders are penalised for riding too fast rather than too slow, to encourage good riding .
• Riders aim is to complete their round as close to the Optimum time as possible.
• Where there are several competitors with a clear round, then the nearest to the Optimum Time will win, rewarding an appropriate judgement of pace around the course.

EC1) Open to Teams and Individuals

• Riders will jump a course of 5‐8 show jumps and then proceed immediately into the XC phase of 10‐15 simulated XC fences, depending on the size of the arena. 
• The speed for the combined SJ & XC phases will be between 325m/m to 375m/m depending on the size of the arena – smaller arena = tighter turns which slow you down. A larger arena with flowing lines will ride on a quicker time. The speed for each class will be given in the schedule or on the noticeboard at the event. Times will be recorded to one‐hundredth of a second if the timing equipment allows. The judges reserve the right to adjust the Optimum Time after the first 8 horses (if they deem the Optimum time has been set too fast / too slow) and will notify competitors of any change immediately.
• The Optimum time will be published, but the display clock should not be visible as it could influence the rider to go faster / slower.
• NSEA/BE Eventing Rules for tack and rider equipment for XC.
• No stopwatches allowed.
• No outside assistance.
• A bridle with a bit (worn in the horse’s mouth) browband and noseband is compulsory and must be used in the conventionally accepted manner.
• There will be no style mark.
• Top two teams and 4 Individuals at each height (70cm, 80cm, 90cm & 1m) to qualify for the NSEA Eventers Challenge Championship to be held at Hickstead in May. (Full details on the NSEA website)
• A rider who competes at 1.00m on any horse, at any competition, may not compete at 70cm at any NSEA competition
• No age restriction on the 70/75cm class

EC2) Dress:

• XC colours, body protectors are compulsory.
• Hair must be above collar length, long hair to be kept in place in a hair net.
• Rider must wear BE approved skull caps, no fixed peak SJ hats.

EC3) The competitor with the fewest penalties wins.

• In the event of a tie, the competitor closest to the optimum time will be the winner.
• In the team competition, the total of the best three scores is used to place the team.
• The combined difference from the Optimum Time of the 3 best scores is used to break any ties. 

EC4)

• Organisers are asked to ensure that the XC phase includes elements that give a choice about the track and therefore, the time taken.
• Organisers are asked not to display a clock showing the time taken, visible to the rider, as the aim is to educate riders to ride by rhythm and feel, rather than looking at a clock or stopwatch. XC fences may include fences that you would see on a XC course.
• Larger arenas may include banks, steps, water complexes and BE style approved portable fences etc.
• Other XC type fences may include rustic show jumps, palisades, brushes & arrowheads etc that may knock down (incurring jumping penalties)

Penalties are awarded as follows:

ALL CLASSES ARE PRE-ENTRY – ENTRY FEE £28.00 to inlude FIRST AID

• Payment is secure and it goes directly to West Wilts EC. You will receive an email confirmation of your class entry and payment.
• All TEAM MANAGERS must declare teams to info@westwilts.com NO LATER than 9am on Thursday16th January 2025.
• EMAIL ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
• WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CHANGES AFTER 9am Thursday 19th January.
• YOU ONLY NEED TO DECLARE TEAMS IF THEY ARE NOT MADE CLEAR WHEN ENTERING

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Individuals – Rosettes 1st – 6th place
Teams – Rosettes 1st - 3rd place

• All competitions are pre-entry only, no refund or transfer is possible after initial close of entries date as published on the schedule.
• All withdrawals to be made via e-mail please.
• The booking fee is non-refundable in all cases.
• For withdrawals before the published closing date refunds of the Entry Cost can be made less booking fee & £5.00 Admin Fee 

By entering this event you agree to West Wilts terms and conditions along with any other government guidelines we may need to include.

·         All entries and payments to be made online.

·         ALL horses must not be under current investigation for infectious diseases including, for example, Equine Herpes Virus (EHV), Equine Influenza, Strangles.

·         All Horses must not have been in contact with and is not kept on the same premises as a horse known to have or be under investigation for the neurological form of EHV, Equine Influenza, Strangles or Equine Viral Arteritis. 

·         All activity will be in accordance with the advice from the relevant national body.

·         Please park considerately.

·         HORSES/PONIES MUST NOT BE LEFT TIED UP OUTSIDE UNATTENDED.

·         Please do not park in front of or block access to the loading bay.

·         PLEASE PRINT/MAKE YOUR OWN ALLOCATED RIDER NUMBER OR USE YOUR NUMBER DISKS. NUMBERS WILL BE ALLOCATED WITH TIMES. THIS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES AND MUST BE EASILY READABLE.

·         NO spectators or filming are allowed in any of the warm-up or competition arenas. Please use viewing areas.

·         Warm up time may be limited by numbers allowed in arena to an estimated 30 – 40 minutes.

·         You are expected to ride on your allocated times. If you do not do so, you risk being unable to compete.

·         No scoreboards or screens will be used on event and all scores/results will be published online.

·         PLEASE CLEAR UP ANY DROPPINGS OR HAY IN THE LORRY PARK.

·         Dogs are allowed but MUST be kept on a short lead at all times. No Exceptions.

Disclaimer
Except for the negligence of the Organiser and his agents or others for whom in law he is responsible, the Organiser does not accept responsibility in respect of any accident, illness or disease caused to or suffered by any horse, owner, rider, spectator, sponsor and others present at the site of the event and their property and accoutrements

Health and Safety
The Organiser of this event has taken reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone present. For these measures to be effective, everyone must take all reasonable precautions to avoid and prevent accidents and must comply with any instructions given by the Organiser, Officials and Stewards.

All competitors and those associated with their school are the responsibility of the Team Manager whilst at the competition. All enquiries are to be made by the Team Manager please.

TV & Photography
Please note that professional photographers will be present at NSEA competitions. There may also be TV cameras at the Championships. Please indicate on the online entry notes if you do not wish to appear in press coverage/ TV or photos taken by our official photographers

Child Protection & Safeguarding
If you have any concerns, please contact the NSEA on tel 07552 836032 / competition@nsea.co.uk to be put in contact with our designated Child Protection Officer. If you have immediate concerns, you can contact Childline tel 0800 1111 or NSPCC tel 0808 800 5000

General information
Please ensure that you do not muck out your horsebox onto the Car Park. Take all litter home with you.
All dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times. Any dog mess must be cleared up.

Outside assistance will not be tolerated and could result in elimination. NSEA affiliated competitors only may warm up & compete horses on the show ground.

All competitors, parents and representatives from every school must ensure that they act courteously to stewards and officials at all times. Most of them are volunteers and rudeness is not acceptable.

In the event of cancellation, your entry will be refunded via online payment system, less booking fee & £3 admin fee.

Rules
NSEA General Rules 2025-26