The Permanent Show Organisers Association, whose members run most of the UK' s equestrian centres, is to launch a new showjumping series aimed at affiliated riders who are "jumping for fun."

It includes classes for both senior and junior riders, with successful rider qualifying directly to a two-day final at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, in August 2004.

PSOA chairman Norman Bargh said: "We have run the Trailblazer series for unaffiliated, leisure riders now for four years, and have been asked time and time again why we had no classes for affiliated riders who just jumped for fun. The demand has become so great that we have decided to go one better and have a complete series for these people who form the backbone of the British Showjumping Association."

Seniors will have four classes - 95cms for horses not to have won £250, 1.05m for those who haven't achieved £500 and a 1.15m open. Riders in all three classes must be outside the top 150 in the BSJA ranking list. A fourth 1.20m open is for riders outside the top 50.

Three of the four junior classes are for riders who have not been placed in the top five of a junior Showjumper of the Year class during 2003, one for small JD or JC ponies, one at 95cms for ponies not having won £300 and the third at 1.05cms for JD or JC ponies with winnings below £600. The remaining 1.10m class is for rider and pony combinations also not placed in the first five of a 2003 junior Showjumper of the Year competition.

"Three-quarters of all BSJA entries during 2002 were in British Novice and Discovery classes, which can be seen as proof that there is a definite need to cater for people who take their showjumping seriously but still do it for fun," said Mr Bargh.

"PSOA members are very close to the sport and very much in touch. They realise that a series like this will satisfy a lot of people and could very well produce and identify horses and riders who can go on to even greater things."

Qualifying competitions will start at 25 PSOA centres around the country in January and run through to the end of May. For details and a full list of participating centres, visit www.psoatrailblazers.co.uk

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