The National Amateur and Veterans Championships 2023 starts today!
Tuesday 14 November 2023
.jpg "The National Amateur and Veterans Championships 2023 starts today!")
The National Amateur and Veterans Championships for 2023 at the fabulous Aintree International Equestrian Centre – home to the iconic Grand National – is here!
The hugely popular annual six-day extravaganza encompasses classes and Championship finals from 80cm to 1.20m – there’s something for everyone. Riders travel the length and breadth of the country for the fun, camaraderie and social gatherings as well as the exciting competitions with champagne-spraying presentations.
Fun classes, accumulator, run alongside the more serious Championships, and the Fancy Dress night is a delight with Aintree staff, judges and officials all joining in the fun – don’t miss the inventiveness of the costumes!
The evening social events are not to missed with the Welcome and Quiz Night, Bingo Night and Cabaret and the Saturday night feature Awards Dinner Dance.
Eight Championship Finals will be decided throughout the week, starting with the Love2Swim 1m Mini Veteran Championship on Wednesday, 15 November. On Thursday, 16 November, the Minor Veteran Championship will be crowned while Friday, 17 November is devoted to preliminary qualifiers and the hugely entertaining Pairs Jumping Challenge.
On Saturday, 18 November, the Major Veteran Championship and the Micro Veteran Championship will be decided before all party the night away at the Awards Dinner Dance.
Sunday, 19 November, is the final day and plays out with the Amateur 85cm, 95cm, 1.05m and 1.10m Finals.
Two of the four amateur champions crowned in 2022 are returning this year to defend their titles.
With 5 double clears directly qualifying her for the Championship, Julia Helm is looking to claim the 1.05m Amateur title for the third year in a row with Helms Rossio, having won the class in both 2021 and 2022.
Finishing 1st in the Second Round at Dorset Showground, Kelly Read and Jack’s Diamond Cruise will also return in a bid to retain the 95cm Amateur title for the second year.
In the Veteran classes, all the champions will return in a bid to retain their titles for a second year in a row.
Katherine James will be aiming to win the 1.20m Major Veteran title again, bringing forward three rides with her this year including her winner last year, Herciro Van’t Kiezelhof.
Emily Morris will return with Westpoint Foreign Affair, one of her two winners from last year, in a bid to retain her 1m Mini and 1.10m Minor Veteran title, whilst Katherine Davis and Princess Tinara will endeavour to take home the 90cm Micro Veteran title again.
Spectators are welcome and for those unable to visit, livestream can be viewed at British Equestrian Sport TV at https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/
All information can be found at https://aintreeequestriancentre.co.uk/
Image: Katherine James & Herciro Van't Kiezelhof. Credit - Majestic Photography
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