HOW TO REGISTER & QUALIFY

THE SUNSHINE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS offers unaffiliated and amateur competitors the chance compete at the UK’s most famous showground, The All-England Jumping Course at Hickstead. This prestigious 4-day championship show features dressage, show jumping, showing and eventers challenge championship classes, from 11th to 14th September 2025.

Your Journey to Hickstead Starts Here …………

Step 1: REGISTER both horse and competitor to take part in qualifying competitions. Note! restrictions apply to both horse’s & competitor’s previous winnings and level of competition. Check your eligibility to participate via the Rules & Restrictions page HERE

  • Register a Horse HERE (awaiting 2025 update)
  • Register a Competitor HERE (awaiting 2025 update)

Step 2: QUALIFY by converting an eligible placing, gained in an qualifying class into a verified qualification.

Eligible Placings

  • 1st-3rd in an open unaffiliated Dressage or Show Jumping class, held from 1st January to 31st July at a registered centre or club.
  • 1st-4th in an open unaffiliated Showing or Eventers Challenge class, held from 1st November to 31st December at any centre or club, from 1st January to 31st July at a registered centre or club.

Eligible Classes

  • Classes eligible for qualifying HERE

Convert to a Verified Qualification

  • Submit result and evidence for verification (screenshot/photo of published results) within one month of the qualifying competition.
    Note! November & December early qualifier competition results must be submitted by 31st January. July competition results must be submitted by 4th August.

Qualification DOES NOT guarantee availability of entry.

  • Submit results for verification HERE (awaiting 2025 update)

Step 3: ENTER. Online entries open 10th August, postal entries open 11th August.

 

KEY INFORMATION ABOUT QUALIFICATION

  • Qualification is free. After submitting an eligible result, The Sunshine Tour will check your submission and, if valid will issue a unique qualification code.
  • Each successfully verified result allows you to enter in ONE championship class (same horse/competitor combination, discipline and level). Each horse/competitor combination can qualify up to 6 times in show jumping and 6 times in dressage, up to 3 times in eventers challenge, and without limits in showing – limitations to the range of classes may apply.
  • Paid for entry is necessary to take part in the championship show. Entries open 10th August.
  • Qualification does not guarantee availability of entry in championship classes.  We make very best efforts to match qualification numbers to availability of entry numbers. However, this is not always possible – entries are taken in order of receipt and some classes can fill very quickly.
  • Class Criteria – rules used to judge qualifying classes (e.g. format/rules of class, restrictions on age of rider, height/colour/breed of horse, etc.) might not exactly match the championship class.

RULES & ELIGIBILITY

  • Qualification can only be gained in an eligible class at an eligible centre or club, within the qualification period.
  • If you cannot find a registered centre or club near you, you can apply for an Open Qualifier. Email info@sunshinetour.co.uk for information.
  • Verifiable results are required to be submitted within one month of a qualifying competition (by 31st January for Early Qualifiers and by 4th August for July Qualifiers).
  • Restrictions on amateur status, previous experience and competitive success apply for both horse and competitor.
  • Horse and competitor must comply with the restrictions at the time of qualification and at the time of championships.
  • Qualification is awarded to horse & competitor combination, no substitutes are permitted.

 

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