National Schools And Riding Clubs Two Day Event Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The National Schools and Riding Clubs Two-Day Event, organised by Stoneleigh Riding Club and Princethorpe College, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. One of only a few ‘long format’ events open to all grassroots riders, the popular event offers an unmissable opportunity for competitors to experience the thrill of a full weekend of competition.

For the 11^th year running, the event will be hosted on the Princethorpe College estate. Its rural Warwickshire countryside, parkland and heritage buildings providing the perfect backdrop to the competition. This year, the two-day event is kindly sponsored by Vantage Building Solutions, a construction company delivering residential and commercial projects, from extensions and new builds to larger-scale site developments. Joining them in sponsorship is Midland Timber Buildings, specialists in bespoke timber structures for residential and commercial use, including garden buildings, workshops, and site units.

This year’s competition takes place from Saturday 23 to Sunday 24 May with dressage and showjumping on day one, and roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross-country on day two.

It will bring together hundreds of competitors from across the UK, including those from Schools and Riding Clubs, from enthusiastic amateur riders to emerging new talents. Entries are now open and will close on Friday 15 May. For more information and to enter visit: https://www.stoneleighridingclub.com/schedules

Over the last 25 years, the competition has gone from strength to strength with many exciting developments. From the introduction of a permanent water-jump complex and bank and drop fences out on the cross-country course, to the inclusion of new classes, that have opened the event up for more competitors to enjoy. Run by the riding club community, it is eventing at its best with a welcoming atmosphere, community spirit and education paramount. It provides a fantastic opportunity for riders to step up and get a taste of the traditional form of eventing in an enjoyable and encouraging environment. The two-day event is always popular, and many competitors return time and again.

Bud Jackson, Stoneleigh Riding Club Chair, said: “We are looking forward to working with the Princethorpe team once again. This is a key date in the equine calendar for so many schools and riding clubs across the country. Stoneleigh’s long-format event is one of only a few and this year’s 25^th anniversary event is already shaping up to be the best one yet.”

The ‘long format’ event is open to all and offers classes at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm providing opportunities for a wide range of competitors to engage with. The 70cm event has a shortened roads and tracks course which excludes the steeplechase, before moving on to the unique cross-country course designed and built by Lloyd Hunt from LandS Eventing. Individual and team entries from riding clubs and schools are particularly welcome and there are classes for all schools and independent schools.

College Headmaster, Grove du Toit, added: “We have been involved with this event for many years and are delighted to confirm our commitment to it. This will be the eleventh year that we have hosted the event on the Princethorpe estate, and we are looking forward to welcoming Stoneleigh Riding Club and all the competitors, many of whom have Princethorpe connections. Watching the riders make their way around the cross-country course is always exciting and a huge highlight of the weekend. We are especially pleased to be building again on the success of the 70cm class, which broadens the entry, especially to schools’ competitors.”

Admission to the event for spectators is free, with the event running from 8.30am to 6.30pm on both days.