PRESS  RELEASE FROM B.E & NSEA  JANUARY 2012

Modification of the BENS Series

Following the initial round of qualifying for the British Eventing National Schools Series (BENS),  B.E and the NSEA have taken the difficult decisionto modify the qualification process and 2012 Championship. Due to a variety of factors it has been decided to cancel the BENS qualifiers planned for March and April 2012 but continue to run the Championships in May for those that have already qualified. The regional aspect of the series will be removed and the top eight riders in each qualifier held in 2011 will qualify for the championship. We are delighted that Simon and Patsy Bates have kindly agreed to stage the Championship classes at Keysoe on the 5th & 6th May 2012. All of those members who have qualified will be informed in the coming weeks.

Chris Farr, the Sport Operations Manager commented ”The link with the National Schools Equestrian Association is very important to B.E and this joint decision has been a difficult one. We are grateful to Simon ans Patsy Bates for stepping in to host the 2012 Championship classes and I am sure they will be a great success. We are already working on a revised and much improved B.E National Schools series for 2012/2013 and will publish details soon.”

Jill Barker, Chair of the NSEA commented” I am thrilled that the NSEA and B.E have found a more workable solution to the BENS Championships that will provide an easier qualification system for all and I am confident that Keysoe can deliver a Championship to be proud of. The future of schools eventing with B.E looks exciting.”

PLease note – you will be contacted in the next few weeks if you have qualified for the Championships at Keysoe.

Information about the following will be up on the website shortly regarding the following…

1. 2012 Championship
2. Updated rules for 2012/2013 qualifiers & Championship
3. Details of qualifiers for 2013 Championship.These will follow the academic school year, so will start in the autumn of 2012 and go into spring 2013

The confirmed list of riders who have qualified for the 2012 BENS Championships
will be available on this page by the end of February.