ACE series crown the champions

The newest championship competition from BE brings new blood to the sport

For the past eight months, thousands of horse and rider combinations have been participating in the ACE (anyone can event) series. Then, on the 1-4 June, the 332 qualified competitors arrived at the championship final which was hosted at Aintree International Equestrian Centre in Liverpool.

There were eight class champions, including Izzy Riding and her partner Brackenspa Bramble, who took home two wins in both the 80cm and 90cm junior ACE championships.

British Eventing (BE), decided to introduce ACE competitions last October, and Harry Hall came forward to sponsor the series. The aim was to make BE more inclusive, by inviting horse and riders to compete in an arena style event, and the ACE series involves riders tackling a course of showjumps, followed by a stimulated cross-country course of fences.

Open to all, the competition begins with hosted qualifying legs at equestrian competition centres across the UK. Here, riders will compete for a qualifying ticket in the championship finals. Classes are split into juniors and seniors, beginning at 70cm and finishing at 1m.

CEO of Harry Hall, Liz Hooper said: “There’s no doubt that the Harry Hall ACE Championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre were fantastically successful and provided loads of fun for everyone. The winners and competitors will be able to fondly remember the experience for a very long time and we eagerly anticipate the qualifiers and championships for the 2024 series.”

The winners of the 2023 ACE Championship:

70cm Junior Champion – Connie Smith & My Clonmore Braces

70cm Senior Champion – Christine Nolan & Holly

80cm Junior Champion – Izzy Riding & Brackenspa Bramble

80cm Senior Champion – Julie Barber & Just Rolo

90cm Junior Champion – Izzy Riding & Bracknspa Bramble

90cm Senior Champion – Amanda Owen & Langford

100cm Junior Champion – Grace Turner & Lady Lombard

100cm Senior Champion – Lauren Gutteridge & Jeremy Fisher

To discover more about the Harry Hall ACE Championship and how to enter for 2024, and also to watch winner interviews and highlights, click here.