National Championships added to programme Achterhoeks Equestrian Festival
Good news for all riders of the wonderful eventing sport… The well-known Achterhoeks Hippisch Festijn at Varsseveld will most definitely take place this year! On 18, 19 and 20 September, De Radstake of the Venderbosch family will as always be the location of this event. For the upcoming edition, even extra sections have been added to the beautiful programme.
On the weekend of 18-19-20 September, for the time being with restrictions, a real national (KNHS) championship ball will be held on the grounds of De Radstake. Due to the COVID-19 measures, many eventing competitions were already cancelled from the calendar, to the disappointment of many. Riders and horses were very eager to compete again for the various prizes, but also the top of the European eventing world repeatedly asked if Varsseveld would continue.
Robert Venderbosch of the Achterhoeks Equestrian Festival: “For us, the sport is paramount”. We have therefore asked our national federation, the KNHS, if we could add the topsport competitions for the national championship for Juniors and Young Riders to our existing programme. KNHS Team Manager Ad Wagemakers immediately responded enthusiastically to this initiative. It gives the riders something to look forward to in these difficult times,and the national coaches can finally work with their pupils towards a date.”
At Varsseveld, the KNHS Championship CCI3*-S has been on the schedule for years including the KNHS titles for 6- and 7-year-old horses. This year the Dutch Junior and Young Riders Championships have been added. In addition, the KWPN championship for 5-year-old horses is also on the programme.
This means the schedule now consists an international 2* and 3* short and long format (CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L), an international 1* for Ponies (CCI(O)P1-L) and a national M competition (100cm). This M section may be ridden on the Friday. An exact time schedule follows.
The annual event usually runs because of many sponsors who have been hit hard by the corona crisis and therefore, most likely, cannot contribute as usual. Nevertheless, the competitions can count on the support of volunteers, the municipality of Oude IJsselstreek and the province of Gelderland. Creative solutions save costs. The luxury VIP-tent and the jury tent will be missing, for which the halls of De Radstake serve as accommodation.
All plans around the Achterhoeks Equestrian Festival can be followed via the Facebook & Instagram page of the event:
https://www.facebook.com/hippischfestijn
https://www.instagram.com/achterhoekshippischfestijn/
