Amanda Knapp
The Badminton Grassroots Championships, also known as the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships, is an annual eventing championship for amateur riders. It takes place at Badminton House in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, ahead of the main five-star Badminton Horse Trials. The grassroots championship features dressage, cross-country, and showjumping events at the BE90 and BE100 levels. Riders traditionally qualified through regional finals, but since 2020, area festivals have served as the primary route to the Badminton Grassroots Championships.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships |
| Location | Badminton House, Gloucestershire, UK |
| Competition Level | BE90 and BE100 |
| Qualification Pathway | Regional Championships, replacing previous area festivals |
| Number of Regions | Five |
| Qualification Criteria | Achieving two double clears in the respective class during the qualifying period |
| Qualification Rate | Top 10% of finishers from each region |
| Additional Direct Qualifications | Top 10% of finishers at the 3DE at Bicton and top 20% at the Scottish Championship |
| Related Events | NAF Five Star BE80 Championship at Bramham, Main Five-Star Badminton Horse Trials |
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What You'll Learn
The Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships
The championships moved to Badminton in 2010 and take place at BE90 and BE100 levels. The traditional route to qualification was through fiercely contested regional finals, but these were replaced by area festivals in 2020, which provided a target while also being part of the route to the championships. The opportunity to ride at Badminton has caused huge excitement among grassroots riders since the move to Gloucestershire. The event has increased interest in these levels of eventing and boosted the market for competitive horses in the BE90 and BE100 classes.
The first year the grassroots championships ran at Badminton, the cross-country event was on the same day as the dressage for the showcase class, causing issues with top-level horses being excited by the tannoy and cross-country atmosphere. The timetable was changed, and the grassroots cross-country is now scheduled for the trot-up day of the main event.
British Eventing has restructured the pathway to the championships for 2024 and beyond. The main route to competing at the finals will be through the new Regional Championships, which will launch in 2023, replacing the Area Festivals. Five Regional Championships across the country will give more riders the chance to compete and be crowned Regional Champion. These riders can then progress to the finals at Bramham or Badminton.
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Qualifying for Grassroots
The Badminton Grassroots Championships is a prestigious event that many grassroots riders aspire to compete in. The qualification criteria are typically extended to allow more members to participate and experience the thrill of competing at renowned venues.
For example, in 2024, the qualification criteria for the Voltaire Design BE90 and BE100 Grassroots Championships at Badminton included the following:
- Top 15% of BE90 Regional Championships
- Top 20% of BE90 Scottish Championships
- Top 20% of BE903DE in 2023
- Top 30% of BE100 Regional Championships
- Top 20% of BE100 Scottish Championships
- Top 20% of BE1003DE in 2023
- Eligible combinations from the top 75 of the BE80 OBP League who had not already qualified
Similarly, for the 2025 LeMieux BE90 & BE100 Grassroots Championships, the criteria were extended to include:
- Eligible combinations from the top 5 of the BE90 OBP League who had not already qualified
- Eligible combinations from the top 10 of the BE100 OBP League who had not already qualified
While the specific percentages and league rankings may vary from year to year, the key to qualifying for Grassroots lies in consistent training, dedication, and taking advantage of qualification opportunities. It is important to stay updated with the latest qualification criteria and plan your competitive strategy accordingly.
Once you have qualified, the real challenge begins – preparing yourself and your horse for the championships. This entails diligent planning, care, commitment, and a bit of good fortune to ensure a smooth journey to the competition.
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The experience of competing
The traditional route to qualification has been through fiercely contested regional finals, but these were replaced by area festivals in 2020, which served as both a target in themselves and a route to the championships. From 2024 onwards, the main route to competing at the finals will be through British Eventing's new Regional Championships, which will be held across five regions in the country. This will give more riders the chance to experience competing in a championship environment, with the top 10% of finishers from the Regional Championship sections receiving qualification for Badminton.
The Badminton Grassroots Championships have fuelled interest in these levels of eventing and created a market for competitive horses. The event has not been without its challenges, with the first year running at Badminton seeing issues due to the cross-country event coinciding with the first day of dressage for the showcase class, causing excitement in the top-level horses. However, competitors have expressed that the experience is well worth the effort, care, planning, commitment, and durability required to get there.
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The journey to the Badminton Grassroots Championships
The traditional route to qualification for the championships has been through fiercely contested regional finals. However, in 2020, these were replaced by area festivals, which still provide a path to the championships. From 2023 onwards, British Eventing has announced that the main route to competing at the finals will be through their new Regional Championships, held across five regions in the country. These championships will allow riders at the BE80, BE90, and BE100 levels to experience the thrill of competing in a championship setting. The top 10% of finishers from each section will earn a qualification for the finals, with additional spots filled from the respective leagues if numbers allow.
Preparing for the Badminton Grassroots Championships requires dedication, planning, and commitment. Riders aim to fine-tune their performance in all three phases, which include dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The cross-country phase, in particular, can present challenges, with horses sometimes getting excited by the atmosphere and tannoy.
The journey to the championships is filled with a range of emotions, from excitement to nervousness. Riders like Laura Barber, who competed with her horse Tally, have shared their experiences of the build-up to the event, including the emotions, training, and travel involved in pursuing their grassroots dream.
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British Eventing restructuring
British Eventing has announced a significant restructuring of its training programme, focusing on delivering high-quality coaching within members' geographical locations. This exciting change is a direct response to feedback received from British Eventing members. The restructure will see the introduction of newly appointed lead regional coaches who will collaborate with existing accredited coaches to provide members with the best possible training experience.
The lead regional coaches include Jo Rimmer (South West), Will Murray (North), Phil Brown (East Midlands), and Emily Lochore (East). Jo Rimmer is a UKCCL3 and PMP coach and a former schoolteacher, while Will Murray has been involved with the BE youth programme in the Northern region for six years. Phil Brown has extensive coaching experience at all levels of the sport, and Emily Lochore has competed up to the 5* level and has organised horse trials.
In addition to the regional coaches, British Eventing has appointed Tina Cook, an international event rider and medallist, as the National U25 Coach. Sam York has been appointed Lead on Social License and Horse Welfare, bringing her expertise as a freelance coach and consultant in the equestrian industry. Katie Williams, a former Regional Youth Coach for Wales and the Midlands, will take on the role of Lead Coach on International Development Experiences.
British Eventing has also restructured its 2022 competing membership categories, introducing a three-tier structure and a 'PAY AS YOU GO' system. These changes aim to reduce the cost of annual membership and make it more accessible for entry-level competitors to benefit from British Eventing's offerings. The new membership options will be available for purchase on the British Eventing website.
The membership fee structure will reflect a significant reduction for new members joining at the two lowest levels of competition, with approximately a 33% decrease in fees. Existing members in the same category will also see a discount of around 26% at their renewal. These changes are part of British Eventing's effort to address the balance between membership fees and the number of times members compete at different levels.
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Frequently asked questions
The Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships, also known as the Badminton Grassroots Championships, are annual grassroots eventing championships that take place at Badminton House. The competition includes dressage, cross-country, and jumping.
The main route to competing in the Badminton Grassroots Championships is through British Eventing's (BE) Regional Championships, which are held across five regions in the country. Riders need to achieve two double clears in their respective class during the qualifying period. The top 10% of finishers from the Regional Championship sections will receive a qualification for Badminton (BE90 and BE100).
The Badminton Grassroots Championships cater to different levels of competition, including BE80, BE90, and BE100.
