Delighted to update on the progress of the 2023 Veteran Eventing Championship, supported by BETTALIFE.
Almost 50 BE riders have taken up the challenge of the BETTALIFE & Event Horse Owners Association Veteran Eventing Championship this season. The ladies and gentlemen participating in this league – all aged 45 and over and outwith the Top 150 riders rankings in 2022 – have returned some impressive eventing results in the early part of the year, with 11 section wins and more than 20 additional top five placings to their credit from a total of 140 recorded completions. This higher than the expected number of prize-winners confirms that life-long participation in equestrian sport not only provides much fun and enjoyment but is achieved with success by elite and grassroot level riders alike.
Ultimately, each combination’s best five results will count towards the Championship but to date only one registered combination has completed the maximum number of scoring completions. Harriet Graham and her 12 year old gelding Aardagh Exceed are having a highly successful season, being placed in the top five in each of their runs to date. Congratulations also to our BE winners Deborah Burrell, Rachel Fisher and Tamsin Parker, who have all won two sections apiece, and to Romellie Brown, Bronia Hill, Sarah Bellamy, Barbara Haynes and Philippa Hendry for their section-winning achievements. Impressive performances by these riders and their horses have promoted them well up the current Championship standings. However, at the halfway point of the season anyone taking part has the opportunity to turn the results on their head by the close of play.
The BETTALIFE & Event Horse Owners Association Veteran Eventing Championship leading contenders are at present:
1st: Harriet Graham and Aardagh Exceed
2nd: Rachel Fisher and Sidney Rebel
3rd: Romellie Brown and Ironmonger
4th: Deborah Burrell and Imperial Tangle
5th: Tamsin Parker and Bazaars Twist
It has been a pleasure monitoring the thrills and not so many spills of all of the veteran competitors to date and we look forward to following their eventing endeavours over the next few months.