Twenty one of the brightest young names in show jumping will compete in the BEF World Class Development Programme Championship class, at the British Open Show Jumping Championships held at Birmingham’s NEC in April 3rd-6th 2008.

After six qualifying competitions, the top eighteen riders based on points accumulated throughout the qualifying series, and one wild card show where three riders qualified, all now have the chance to compete in this prestigious class and one rider will be crowned World Class Development ‘U23 Champion’ 2008.

A number of World Class Development riders have qualified, including last year’s winner William Whitaker, who this year will be riding Loxley 57, and with a mixture of some old and new faces in the final line up, it will be a highly sort after title.

To determine the starting order of the Championship class, the riders will jump in the WCD Programme Pathfinder class the day before, with all clear rounds going through to a jump-off against the clock. The winner is the rider with the least faults in the fastest time that will then have the advantage of going last in the WCD Programme Championship class.

With an increase in the prize fund for the Championship class to £3,000 and training vouchers awarded to the top eight placed competitors ranging from £800 to the first placed winner to £100 to the eighth placed rider, it signifies the importance these young riders place on winning this class.

Caroline Griffith, World Class Development Manager says, “This is the fourth year that we have supported the U23 Championship, and again we have been delighted with the interest that it has generated amongst the best young show jumping riders. With the calibre of the top twenty one riders who have qualified for the final, this will be a very exciting competition”.

The World Class Development Programme, is Lottery funded through UK Sport and is designed to assist in the development of talented riders, with the best opportunities to maximise their competitive potential through an established training pathway that will see them progress onto the Olympic Performance Programme for 2012 and beyond.

Qualified Riders

• Louise Pavitt on Unbelievable Darco or Hamilton Tropics
• Nicole Pavitt on Maestro De Rend Peine
• Timothy Page on Quentin Tarantino or Heathcliffe
• Lance Whitehouse on My Boy
• Claire Bailey on F.A.N Piz Palu
• Louise Saywell on Cyprianus Z
• Laura Hutt on Song Bird
• Scott Brash on Sebastian
• William Whitaker on Loxley 57
• James Taylor on Horia Du Neretz
• Tim Gredley on Timo
• David Harland on Le Marquind
• Heledd Thomas on Feeling Fine Too
• Daniel Moseley on Lucy May
• Maria Lovett on Arkas
• Ryan Prater on Whisker
• Louis Godber on Seander
• Ellen Whitaker on C S Online
• Zoe Adams (Wild Card) on Murkas Idle Dice III
• Anthony Condon (Wild Card) on Whinny Jackson
• Gemma Paternoster (Wild Card) on Osiris