AQHA-UK Championships

 Rules 2009

1. The Classes

1.1  Championships are offered in the following six Disciplines in Open, Amateur and Youth Divisions:

1.2  The Championships do not apply to the Novice Divisions (Amateur or Youth).However, Novice Amateur  may elect to have either their Novice points or their Amatuer points, but not both, counted towards qualification in the Amatuer Divisions. Novice Youth may also count either the Novice Youth or the Youth points, but not both, towards qualification in the Youth Division.

2. Prizes

2.1  Prizes awarded are:

                         AQHA-UK Amateur 

4    If sponsorship is obtained, prize money will be allocated.

Note: Presentations at the Championship Show will use a pattern buckle for photographic purposes.Actual Championship engraved buckles will be presented at the following AGM awards ceremony.

3. The Finals

3.1  Qualification for the Open, Amateur and Youth Finals will be from Open, Amateur, Novice Amateur, Youth and Novice Youth classes respectively held at AQHA approved events in the UK throughout the year. 

3.2  The Open Division covers all Junior, Senior and All Ages classes.  Points earned by individual horse/rider combinations in any of these classes will count towards qualification.

3.3  Amateur and Youth riders may qualify for Open Finals.Where they have qualified for both Open and the Amateur/Youth Final, they compete in one or both.

3.4  No competitor or owner may exhibit more than three horses in any one Final.

4. Qualification

4.2  Points are awarded to horse/rider combinations in each class according to the number of entries and placing as per the following table:

Number of entries

                                1   2     3     4    5      6    7    8    9 & over

Place

1                              1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9                                  

2                                     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8

3                                            1     2     3     4     5     6     7

4                                                   1     2     3     4     5     6

5                                                          1     2     3     4     5

6                                                                 1     2     3     4

7                                                                        1     2     3

8                                                                               1     2

9                                                                                      1

4.3  Disqualified entries will be taken into account when calculating points but will not receive points themselves.

4.4  Points will not be aggregated across more than one division i.e. points earned in Amateur classes will count only for qualification for the Amateur Final.  Similarly for Youth.

4.5  A qualifying points level will be set for each Final and once an eligible  horse/rider combination has achieved that level qualification will automatically be granted.

Qualifying points for each Final are as follows:

                                    Open               Amateur          Youth

Pleasure                       10                      10                     5

Trail                             15                       8                      2

Reining                         10                      8                      2

Western Riding                5                      5                      2

Horsemanship               n/a                     8                      2

Hunter U Saddle              5                      2                      2

4.6  Additionally, where the number of places awarded in the Final under clause 4.5 is less than 12, qualification for the Final will also be granted as necessary to the next highest point earners to bring the number of Finalists up to 12.  Where there are ties for the 12th place all ties will qualify.

4.7  Points records will be maintained by AQHA-UK and an updated list of points earned will be maintained on the AQHA-UK web site.  The standings will be updated following each of the qualifying shows

4.8  After the last qualifying show proir to the Championship Show a full list of qualifiers will be posted on the Association Web site.

5.  Management

5.1  A Championship Series Coordinator will be appointed by Council and be responsible to Council for the overall management and administration of the Series including the calculation and maintaining of points records and the determination of qualifiers for each Final. 

5.2  The Sponsorship Committee and Council as a whole will be responsible for sponsorship issues.

5.3  The Championship Series Coordinator will work with the Championship Show Management regarding arrangements for the Championship Finals, including the ordering of buckles, rosettes and other prizes.

5.4  The Championship Series Coordinator will work with the Sponsorship Committee, the PR Committee, participating show managements and the Championship Show team regarding sponsor promotion and hospitality.  Responsibility in this respect applies throughout the qualifying show season, the Championship Show itself and the post Championship Show period.

5.5  The Championship Series Coordinator will work with the Association Treasurer regarding the finances of the Series and to arrange for prize cheques to be prepared for presentation at the Championship Show.

5.6  The Championship Series Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring that  results are recorded and kept safe.

5.7  The Championship Series Coordinator will, in general, and in co-operation with the PR Committee and Show Managements, seek every opportunity to promote the Series, the Sponsors and the Champions.  This to include the Association and other web sites, pre and post show literature and reports, advertisements, trade stand deployments, posters and arena banners, media articles and, where possible, local TV & radio.

6. Appeals