About
Each year around 500 students take part in British national equestrian competitions run by British University & Colleges Sport (BUCS), from which the most successful ones are selected to represent Great Britain as part of a team either at home or abroad.
Riders travel all over the world to countries such as Canada, Belgium and Romania to compete at Student Riders Nations Cup (SRNC) events, as well as the World University Equestrian Championships (WUEC), which take place every two years. Five SRNCs are run each year with the countries earning the most points battling it out in December at the SRNC World Finals. The competitions are run under Association Internationale des Etudiants Cavaliers (AIEC), the governing body for the sport.
A Student Riders Nations Cup is an International Combined Dressage and Showjumping event in which competitors ride horses provided by the host country in a knockout competition. The Luck of the Draw - horses are drawn by each country's chef d'equipe before commencement of the competition. Three riders from three countries each ride the same horse once and the best scoring rider moves to the next round. Each round becomes increasingly more challenging and requires horses of different calibres. The finalists must compete on two different horses to determine the winner. What makes these competitions so challenging is that riders only have five minutes to warm up on their Dressage horses, and two practice jumps before Showjumping rounds.
The first round of dressage is ridden as a team test. In all subsequent rounds riders compete individually and the fourth round of dressage also involves a freestyle test to music. The first round of Show Jumping is judged on style, the second round is judged on faults and style, and the results of the third and fourth rounds are based on faults and time.
With the AIEC philosophy being 'One world, one sport, many friends', Great Britain looks to send the best riders we have into an environment where meeting people is as important as the competition itself.
Riders travel all over the world to countries such as Canada, Belgium and Romania to compete at Student Riders Nations Cup (SRNC) events, as well as the World University Equestrian Championships (WUEC), which take place every two years. Five SRNCs are run each year with the countries earning the most points battling it out in December at the SRNC World Finals. The competitions are run under Association Internationale des Etudiants Cavaliers (AIEC), the governing body for the sport.
A Student Riders Nations Cup is an International Combined Dressage and Showjumping event in which competitors ride horses provided by the host country in a knockout competition. The Luck of the Draw - horses are drawn by each country's chef d'equipe before commencement of the competition. Three riders from three countries each ride the same horse once and the best scoring rider moves to the next round. Each round becomes increasingly more challenging and requires horses of different calibres. The finalists must compete on two different horses to determine the winner. What makes these competitions so challenging is that riders only have five minutes to warm up on their Dressage horses, and two practice jumps before Showjumping rounds.
The first round of dressage is ridden as a team test. In all subsequent rounds riders compete individually and the fourth round of dressage also involves a freestyle test to music. The first round of Show Jumping is judged on style, the second round is judged on faults and style, and the results of the third and fourth rounds are based on faults and time.
With the AIEC philosophy being 'One world, one sport, many friends', Great Britain looks to send the best riders we have into an environment where meeting people is as important as the competition itself.
SRNC GB 2014
Medals galore for British riders at The Mark Todd Collection AIEC-SRNC GB
GREAT Britain student riders are celebrating after netting a host of medals at their home Student Riding Nations Cup (SRNC).
The team of three, made up of Hector Payne, Lottie Kennedy and Rory Newton-Dunn, took on riders from across the world at the three-day dressage and showjumping competition.
Great Britain achieved excellent results, taking bronze overall and in the showjumping at the Mark Todd Collection AIEC-SRNC GB.
Individually, 21-year-old Birmingham University sport scholar Lottie took silver in the dressage and Rory bagged silver in the showjumping.
Second year sports and exercise science student Lottie has also competed for Great Britain at both Pony and Junior European Eventing Championships.
In the final round of the dressage, Lottie went head-to-head with Esteban Benítez from Spain where they both rode a set Prix St George level test and a Freestyle test to music.
Speaking about going into the final round she said: “To be honest I was so over the moon to have won the semis and qualified for the finals, I was probably still in a bit of a state of shock!
“During the final two tests I just tried to give it my all and enjoy every minute of it as it's not every day (ever!) that you get to ride two amazing Grand Prix horses!
“The final round horses were amazing; they were a real treat to ride. I was so pleased to qualify for the dressage final and come away with individual silver and team bronze against a field of such great riders.
“I had such a fab weekend. The competition ran so smoothly and there was a great team spirit all throughout the event.”
Cardiff University student Rory made it through to the showjumping final, where fences were around 1.20m, and jumped against Spain’s Victoria Gargallo.
Rory, 22, praised the excellent facilities on offer at Wellington Riding.
He said: “It was a real honour to compete at Wellington Riding against some of the most talented young riders and on some beautiful horses that were so kindly lent for the competition.”
“Then to come third made the weekend one I will never forget. I am so privileged to be part of the amazing team that not only competed but put such a well organised and fun event together.
“It was a really amazing weekend and I can’t wait for the next!”
Team gold for the combined competition went to the Netherlands, who also picked up team gold in the dressage, with Spain taking top honours in the showjumping.
The individual combined competition was won by Esteban.
Great Britain National Representative Henry Womersley Smith said: “Myself, Lauren Innes and GB Student Riders are extremely proud to have hosted an SRNC in the UK.
“We were provided with some fantastic horses from both Wellington and local owners, which were matched with some impressive riders from 14 different nations as far afield as the US.
“I’d like to thank all the owners, judges, fellow organisers, riders and supporters for making what was an unforgettable three days.
“Thanks also go to The Mark Todd Collection, Baylis & Harding, Horse & Rider Magazine, Grove Wealth Management, Decathlon, Lycetts, a2b Medics, Robinsons, Site-Equip, Scats, JumpStands, Shearwater Insurance, Darlow Rosettes and Kate Negus Saddlery for their sponsorship and support.”
The competition was held at Wellington Riding in Hampshire from August 22-24 and there were a total of 45 competitors plus around 50 supporters.
The Organising Committee was made up of President Henry Womersley Smith, Treasurer Lauren Innes, Chairman Charlie Knapp, Rose Alexander and Jayne Guy.
Ireland’s Eric Smiley was the international judge for the competition.
GREAT Britain student riders are celebrating after netting a host of medals at their home Student Riding Nations Cup (SRNC).
The team of three, made up of Hector Payne, Lottie Kennedy and Rory Newton-Dunn, took on riders from across the world at the three-day dressage and showjumping competition.
Great Britain achieved excellent results, taking bronze overall and in the showjumping at the Mark Todd Collection AIEC-SRNC GB.
Individually, 21-year-old Birmingham University sport scholar Lottie took silver in the dressage and Rory bagged silver in the showjumping.
Second year sports and exercise science student Lottie has also competed for Great Britain at both Pony and Junior European Eventing Championships.
In the final round of the dressage, Lottie went head-to-head with Esteban Benítez from Spain where they both rode a set Prix St George level test and a Freestyle test to music.
Speaking about going into the final round she said: “To be honest I was so over the moon to have won the semis and qualified for the finals, I was probably still in a bit of a state of shock!
“During the final two tests I just tried to give it my all and enjoy every minute of it as it's not every day (ever!) that you get to ride two amazing Grand Prix horses!
“The final round horses were amazing; they were a real treat to ride. I was so pleased to qualify for the dressage final and come away with individual silver and team bronze against a field of such great riders.
“I had such a fab weekend. The competition ran so smoothly and there was a great team spirit all throughout the event.”
Cardiff University student Rory made it through to the showjumping final, where fences were around 1.20m, and jumped against Spain’s Victoria Gargallo.
Rory, 22, praised the excellent facilities on offer at Wellington Riding.
He said: “It was a real honour to compete at Wellington Riding against some of the most talented young riders and on some beautiful horses that were so kindly lent for the competition.”
“Then to come third made the weekend one I will never forget. I am so privileged to be part of the amazing team that not only competed but put such a well organised and fun event together.
“It was a really amazing weekend and I can’t wait for the next!”
Team gold for the combined competition went to the Netherlands, who also picked up team gold in the dressage, with Spain taking top honours in the showjumping.
The individual combined competition was won by Esteban.
Great Britain National Representative Henry Womersley Smith said: “Myself, Lauren Innes and GB Student Riders are extremely proud to have hosted an SRNC in the UK.
“We were provided with some fantastic horses from both Wellington and local owners, which were matched with some impressive riders from 14 different nations as far afield as the US.
“I’d like to thank all the owners, judges, fellow organisers, riders and supporters for making what was an unforgettable three days.
“Thanks also go to The Mark Todd Collection, Baylis & Harding, Horse & Rider Magazine, Grove Wealth Management, Decathlon, Lycetts, a2b Medics, Robinsons, Site-Equip, Scats, JumpStands, Shearwater Insurance, Darlow Rosettes and Kate Negus Saddlery for their sponsorship and support.”
The competition was held at Wellington Riding in Hampshire from August 22-24 and there were a total of 45 competitors plus around 50 supporters.
The Organising Committee was made up of President Henry Womersley Smith, Treasurer Lauren Innes, Chairman Charlie Knapp, Rose Alexander and Jayne Guy.
Ireland’s Eric Smiley was the international judge for the competition.