Long wait for top show in Sheffield is finally over

The new Yorkshire International Showjumping Event will be run over the Easter weekend at the Sheffield Arena, initially for the next three years.

The event is being backed by the county's tourist board, Welcome to Yorkshire, and former Bramham Horse Trials organiser Debora Homewood is the brains behind the idea.

It is welcome news for showjumpers in this country, particularly for those in Yorkshire and also for Sheffield itself.

The British Open Showjumping Championships were launched in 2003 at Sheffield Arena but in 2007 moved to a larger venue when it switched to the NEC in Birmingham.

Organisers Grandstand Event Management announced in June that they would not be running the championships next year.

There will be in the region of 150,000 prize money on offer and an amateur championship as well as top level international competitions will be held over the three days. The news was greeted with enthusiasm by Yorkshire's John Whitaker who lives just a short drive from the venue, near Huddersfield.

"I'm very pleased," he said "It's good for us because we pass Sheffield Arena every week going elsewhere and abroad to compete. There's nothing internationally in the north but there is so much showjumping history here so it's really good news.

"We desperately need more international shows in this country."

While we stage around half a dozen international shows in this country, France and Germany have between 80 and 100 top events. This means our riders must spend a great deal of time travelling abroad to compete, in order to retain their places on the ranking lists.

"We are up against it all the time," he added.

"Everything goes off the world ranking list, so you have to compete abroad to stay on it. I think it's affected British showjumping in general and things like the county circuit because you find yourself having to go abroad, chasing ranking points.

"I hate to miss the Yorkshire Show, it's the best."

John Whitaker is usually a regular at the Great Yorkshire Show and this year he did have to miss it but that was because he was competing with the British team in Aachen.

Debora Homewood has been working in event management since organising Bramham Horse Trials in 2008 and was keen to get involved in another big equestrian event.

"I knew there was something lacking in the North regarding showjumping," she said.

When she put the idea to Welcome to Yorkshire they were equally enthusiastic. The Easter dates subsequently became available on the competition calendar with the demise of the British Open.

"We have lots of different ideas about how to make it a bit different, how to get riders more involved with the spectators and so on," she added.

"We want to make it a fun event. We hope the event will benefit the local economy too, bringing people in from outside Yorkshire."

Tickets will be sold at a price of 20 a day if bought in advance. The earlier the tickets are bought, the better position the seats will be.

Spectators will be able to see national finals, young rider competitions and international classes, as well as other displays. People who buy early tickets will also be eligible for inclusion in behind the scenes tours and accompanied course walks.

Details about the national championships that the event will host will be announced shortly, along with where riders can qualify.

British Showjumping spokeswoman Maria Clayton agreed with John Whitaker's view that the sport was desperately in need of top level competitions.

"To say we are delighted that this new event has come to fruition would be an understatement," she said.

The box office is due to open at the beginning of October. For more information go to www.yorkshireinternational.

co.uk.