2023/4 British Eventing ACE RULES

ACE Championships Qualifying Competitions

Qualifications for the BE ACE Championships 2024 are at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm ACE classes at
participating venues.
Qualifying competitions are organised and run by the venue, competitors are requested to abide by the venue’s rules
and guidance when competing there. Qualifying venues will be provided with rules, regulations and format details
relating to how each qualifier should be run.
Competitors who qualify for the BE ACE Championships 2024 at Aintree Equestrian Centre will receive a British
Eventing ACE Championships 2024 qualification card from the BE Office on receipt of the results at BE from the
Qualifying venues. Upon receipt of the qualification card competitors will have 14 days to become a member
(minimum PAYG) of BE to retain their qualification. Failure to do this will result in the qualification being passed
down the line to the next placed combination that have not already qualified. Qualifying period is between 1st
October 2023 and 12th May 2024. Each Qualifying venue must include the agreed BE statement* relating to rule and
data on their online entry platform. Competition results (rider name, horse name, position, penalties, competition
class and date) will be shared with British Eventing to support Championship entry validation.
When entering both the qualifier and championships the same horse’s name must be used (no stable names).
ACE Qualifying Rules
QUALIFICATION IS AS FOLLOWS:
For 70cm, 80cm & 90cm classes

• below 15 starters in a class > top 4 qualify.

• up to and incl 30 starters in a class > top 6 qualify.
• 31 or more starters in a class >top 8 qualify.

For 100 cm class

• below 15 starters in a class > top 6 qualify.
• up to and incl 30 starters in a class > top 8 qualify.
• 31 or more starters in a class >top 10 qualify.

British Eventing reserve the right to increase the number of qualifying places from ACE Qualifiers and include those
combinations who feature in the Newcomers & OBP BE80, BE90 & BE100 Leagues.

Qualification is for combinations only. Substitutions will not be possible. If a combination is qualified for all 3
Championships, their Championship entries will be limited to the 2 higher level classes.

COMPETITION STRUCTURE AND SCORING

Classes range from BE70 to BE100 (1.00m) level.

• They consist of six to eight show jumps, followed immediately by eight to 10 simulated, knock-down cross-
country fences including a skinny, corner.
• There will be no more than 20 jumping efforts.
• The whole round will be timed.
• Penalties will be given as per the table below.
• The winner will be the competitor with the lowest number of penalties.
 • In the event of a tie the winner will be the one closest to the optimum time.
• The optimum time is calculated based on a speed of 350m per minute.
• Stop watches are not permitted.
• Penalties as follows:

ACE Penalties
First disobedience 4 penalties
Second disobedience at same fence 8 penalties
Third disobedience Elimination
Knock down of obstacle 4 penalties
Fall of horse Elimination
Fall of rider Elimination
Every commenced second in excess of the optimum time 0.4 penalties
Every commenced second in excess of 5 seconds under the
0.4 penalties
optimum time
Exceeding time allowed* Elimination
Error of course Elimination
Retaking obstacle already jumped Elimination
* Time allowed is twice the optimum time.

ACE Championships
The Championships are open to BE members only. A minimum of PAYG membership is required for the rider, no
need to purchase a horse season ticket, just a free horse registration.
entries for the ACE Championships will be taken via the BE Website or an approved third-party provider.
The British Eventing ACE Championships will run the following classes: -
• ACE70u18
• ACE80u18
• ACE90u18
• ACE100u18
• ACE70
• ACE80
• ACE90
• ACE100
It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure they enter the correct section.
(Members competing in the u18 sections are not to have attained their 18th birthday on or before the date of the
Championships)

• Any Grade of horse can compete in all ACE Championship classes.

• If the horse has not competed in BE competitions before, the horse is Grade 4 and is eligible for any ACE
Championship class.
• The Championships are run and administered under British Eventing Rules and Regulations, 2024 body
protector and protective headwear to 2023/4 guidelines must be worn. Stop watches are not permitted.
When entering the 2024 Championships competitors will agree to abide by BE Rules which include but is not
limited to the rules relating to vaccinations, BEFAR and standards of protective dress. BE compliant Cross-
country kit must be worn.
• Riders must be in their 10th birth year or older in 2024; horses/ponies must be foaled in 2018 or
older. Heights: for ACE70, ACE80 and ACE90 Championships ponies must be at a minimum 132cm’s, for
ACE100 they must be a minimum of 142cms.
Championships refund policy as per Championship Schedule on the BE Website.
A BE Official will be present at the ACE Championships to oversee competition and deal with any scoring queries,
discipline and horse welfare issues that may arise, they will also complete vaccinations spot checks. Hats will also be
checked and tagged.
If stabling onsite you will be required to comply with Aintree vaccination requirements.

*Data protection Statement for Entry Platforms

You agree that the information you have provided in connection with your entry will be disclosed to British Eventing.

Should you receive an injury as the direct result of an accident occurring whilst you are participating in any event
organised by an affiliated event organiser, any medical reports relating to your condition will be passed to British
Eventing. Any medical reports passed to British Eventing will be held on your records and passed in confidence to the
UK Transport Research Lab for the purposes of safety analyses.

☐ I Agree

The competitor confirms that they have appropriate third-party insurance cover in place for the day of the
competition for which they are entering.

The competitor agrees to comply with all the relevant BE rules as detailed in the BE Rules and Members' handbook,
including those relating to vaccinations & BEFAR (BEF Anti-Doping Rules).

☐ Please tick this box to acknowledge and accept these terms and conditions and those relating to entries
detailed in the Rules and Members' Handbook and to give consent for the organiser to share contact details with
British Eventing.