QUALIFYING EVENTS GET UNDER WAY FOR MARTIN COLLINS BHS INSTRUCTORS’ CHALLENGE

The British Horse Society’s exciting competition for instructors which climaxes at Royal Windsor Horse Show (12-16 May) enters its second year with a new sponsor, Martin Collins Enterprises.

The Martin Collins BHS Instructors’ Challenge is a combined training competition open to all BHS Registered Instructors. Qualifiers will be held around the UK, with the top two prize winners of each going forward to the final at Royal Windsor on Wednesday 12 May. Prize money for the final will be spread across the first six places, with the winner receiving a cheque for £800.

The competition is based on British Dressage Novice Tests with the maximum show jumping height 3ft for the Qualifiers and 3ft 6in in the Final. Competitors must not have ridden internationally within the last ten years, but must be listed on the BHS Register of Instructors.

Last year’s winner, Helen Barton-Smith of Pippin Equestrian Ltd, Dorset, said: “For people like me who fit competitions in when they can around their business, the opportunity to compete at a big show was amazing. It was fantastic for the children we teach as well – I had a string of children with me at the final and they came back buzzing about riding which is great.”

Commenting on their new involvement with the BHS Instructors Challenge, Glynnie Walford, Managing Director of Martin Collins Enterprises Limited said: “This is a unique series and we felt it fitted in well with the Martin Collins sponsorship profile. This competition enables us to reach another of our equestrian disciplines and we are extremely pleased to be able to support the BHS. We look forward to an exciting final held on our Ecotrack surface at this year's Royal Windsor Horse Show and wish all entrants the very best of luck.”

The first two qualifiers take place in February at Askham Bryan College, York (17 February) and Plumpton College, East Sussex (27 February).

Details of all qualifiers can be obtained from BHS Regional Development Officers, full contacts for whom can be found on The British Horse Society’s website, www.bhs.org.uk.

Full list of qualifiers
Yorkshire Region – 17 February, Askham Bryan College,York
London/South East – 27 February, Plumpton College, East Sussex
East of England – 7 March, Manor Farm EC, Cambridgeshire
South West – 12 March, Badgworth Arena, Somerset
East Midlands – 13 March, Vale View Equestrian Centre, Melton Mowbray
North West – 17 March, South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire
West Midlands – 19 March, Kingswood EC, Wolverhampton
South – 20 March, Sparsholt College, Hampshire
South West – 21 March, Duchy College, Cornwall
Wales/Channel Islands – 22 March, Pencoed College, Mid Glamorgan
North Region – 22 March, Holmeside Hall Equestrian, Co Durham
Scotland – 27 March, Ellands Farm, Morayshire