Scotland gains exciting new winter series for eventers

Scottish event riders are set to benefit from an additional winter series, thanks to a collaboration between British Eventing (BE) and BE Scotland. The series will run under the Anyone Can Event (ACE) rules and is open to both members and non-members, creating more opportunities for competitors of all levels.

Qualifiers are taking place now, leading up to the Harry Hall One Club Championship at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre (SNEC) on 6 April 2025, which will also count towards the Harry Hall One Club ACE Championships at Aintree from 29 May to 1 June 2025.

In an exciting expansion, BE Scotland has announced that alongside the usual ACE classes, the Championships at SNEC will include direct-entry 1.10m and 1.20m classes, giving eligible competitors more opportunities.

Rosie Williams, CEO of British Eventing, welcomed the development. “This is really great news for members in Scotland as it will open up more opportunities for them to compete and qualify for a Championship during the winter months. We hope our Scottish members make the most of this great addition to their calendar, and we look forward to following their journey to the Championship.”

Grace Moran, Chairman of BE Scotland, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I am thrilled we have managed to get this series up and running in Scotland and we are hugely grateful that Harry Hall have come on board with such generous prizes. Hopefully in future years we can grow the series to give members an ideal platform to hone their skills during the winter months.”

Liz Hopper, Managing Director at Harry Hall said, “At Harry Hall, we’re dedicated to making the equestrian sport as accessible and affordable for as many people in the UK as possible. We do this through our One Club membership, which aims to provide a helping hand for horse owners and riders of all ages and abilities. This focus aligns perfectly with the values of the Harry Hall One Club ACE Championships, which is open to riders across a range of age brackets and skill levels.

“The championships at Aintree were a brilliant success and the feedback from the participants has been that it’s a fantastic competition and environment for riders of varying ages and abilities to have a go at arena style eventing. We’re proud to play a part in such a special event and partner with British Eventing on the series. We are very much looking forward to extending the series to Scotland and attending the championships at Scottish National Equestrian Centre in April.”

Further details will be available on the British Eventing website (britisheventing.com) in due course.