Winters 2021: let the qualification mission begin

The 2020/21 winter season is building to its exciting second stage with Regional Championships and Petplan Equine Winter Area Festivals getting underway this Friday and running into early June.

Many have worked hard to secure their qualification spot and are hoping their performance earns a coveted place at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, 28 June – 2 July, at Hartpury College. But what’s required to qualify? All the detail you need is provided here – plus there’s exciting news for our under 21 riders in the Area Festivals! Read on…

Regional Championship > Winter Championships

You must achieve a score of at least 65% to qualify for Hartpury from a Regional and the numbers who qualify from each regional in each class and section are based on the number of starters as below:

KBIS PRELIMINARY SILVER: 1 in 17 to qualify
1 – 17 = 1 qualifies
18 – 34 = 2 qualify
35 + = 3 qualify

KBIS PRELIMINARY GOLD: 1 in 11 to qualify
1 – 11 = 1 qualifies 
12 –22 = 2 qualify 
23 – 33 = 3 qualify
34 + = 4 qualify  

PRESTIGE ITALIA NOVICE SILVER: 1 in 13 to qualify
1 – 13 = 1 qualifies
14 – 26 = 2 qualify
27 – 39 = 3 qualify
40 + = 4 qualify

PRESTIGE ITALIA NOVICE GOLD: 1 in 11 qualify
1 – 11 = 1 qualifies
12 – 22 = 2 qualify
23 – 33 = 3 qualify
34 – 44 = 4 qualify

EQUI-TREK ELEMENTARY SILVER: 1 in 17 qualify
1 – 17 = 1 qualifies
18 –34 = 2 qualify
35 + = 3 qualify

EQUI-TREK ELEMENTARY GOLD: 1 in 8 qualify
1 – 8 = 1 qualifies
9 – 16 = 2 qualify
17 – 24 = 3 qualify
25 – 32 = 4 qualify

MEDIUM SILVER: 1 in 12 qualify
1 – 12 = 1 qualifies
13 –24 = 2 qualify
25 – 36 = 3 qualify

MEDIUM GOLD: 1 in 8 qualify
1 – 8 = 1 qualifies
9 – 16 = 2 qualify
17 – 24 = 3 qualify
25 – 32 = 4 qualify

CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM SILVER: 1 in 8 qualify
1 – 8 = 1 qualifies
9 – 16 = 2 qualify
17 – 24 = 3 qualify
25 – 32 = 4 qualify

CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM GOLD: 1 in 8 qualify
1 – 8 = 1 qualifies
9 – 16 = 2 qualify
17 – 24 = 3 qualify
25 – 32 = 4 qualify

MAGIC PRIX ST GEORGES GOLD: 1 in 15 qualify
1 – 15 = 1 qualifies
16 - 30 = 2 qualify
31 +  = 3 qualify

SUPERFLEX INTERMEDIATE I GOLD: 1 in 7 qualify
1 – 7 = 1 qualifies
8 – 14 = 2 qualify
15 – 21 = 3 qualify
22 – 28 = 4 qualify

Freestyle numbers to qualify

BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS FREESTYLE NOVICE SILVER: 1 in 9 qualify
1 – 9 = 1 qualifies
10 – 18 = 2 qualify
19 – 27 = 3 qualify
28 – 36 = 4 qualify

BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS FREESTYLE NOVICE GOLD: 1 in 6 qualify
1 – 6 = 1 qualifies
7 – 12 = 2 qualify
13 – 18 = 3 qualify
19 – 24 = 4 qualify

PDS SADDDLES FREESTYLE ELEMENTARY SILVER: 1 in 12 qualify
1 – 12 = 1 qualifies
13 –24 = 2 qualify
25 – 36 = 3 qualify

PDS SADDLES FREESTYLE ELEMENTARY GOLD: 1 in 4 qualify
1 – 4 = 1 qualifies
5 – 8 = 2 qualify
9 – 12 = 3 qualify
13 – 16 = 4 qualify

SPILLERS FREESTYLE MEDIUM SILVER: 1 in 9 qualify
1 – 9 = 1 qualifies
10 – 18 = 2 qualify
19 – 27 = 3 qualify
28 – 36 = 4 qualify

SPILLERS FREESTYLE MEDIUM GOLD:1 in 3 qualify
1 – 3 = 1 qualifies
4 – 6 = 2 qualify
7 – 9 = 3 qualify
10 – 12 = 4 qualify

NUPAFEEDS FREESTYLE ADVANCED MEDIUM SILVER: 1 in 7 qualify
1 – 7 = 1 qualifies
8 – 14 = 2 qualify
15 – 21 = 3 qualify
22 – 28 = 4 qualify

NUPAFEEDS FREESTYLE ADVANCED MEDIUM GOLD: 1 in 3 qualify
1 – 3 = 1 qualifies
4 – 6 = 2 qualify
7 – 9 = 3 qualify
10 – 12 = 4 qualify

Once the final regional is completed, any remaining championship places will be allocated using wild cards based on the highest scoring combinations across the eight regionals. Those who are awarded wild cards will be notified by the BD office via a list published on the website on Tuesday 8 June 2021.

Petplan Equine Winter Area Festivals > Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships at Hartpury

Combinations who place in the top two (or win at the half shows) in each class/section earn a place at the championships provided they score 63%. Where classes are split, only the winner qualifies.

Once the Area Festivals are completed and total qualification numbers are known, any free spaces will be filled by wild cards based on the next highest placed percentages across all the Area Festivals. The list of wild cards will be published on our website as soon after the final Area Festival as possible in early June, expected to be Tuesday 8 June 2021.

Are you under 21? In recognition that our riders aged under 21 have missed several opportunities throughout the lockdowns, we’re going to run dedicated championship sections at Prelim to Medium at the Championships. Originally these youth sections, introduced in 2017, were due to cease in 2021 but we felt that our up and coming talent deserves an extra championship chance after a tough 12 months. At each Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival, the highest placed U21 rider will receive a special rosette to acknowledge their achievement but also, a championship spot at Hartpury at that level.

If a U21 rider finishes in the top two (or wins in Scotland), the next highest placed ‘adult’ rider will earn a qualification space at the championships which will be awarded by the BD office. Again, any qualification spaces at the championship that remain on completion of the Winter Area Festivals will be filled by wild cards based on highest percentages across the Area Festivals.

* Under 21/U21 is defined as riders in the calendar year of their 21st birthday or younger, so some may be 21.

Those who qualify at either regionals or Area Festivals will be emailed a qualification email to include entry details for the respective championships - entries open on 13 May.

Good luck everyone - don't forget to collect your plaque if you're competing!