news Countdown to Aintree is on for Goffs UK National Championships

• Six day RoR Goffs UK National Championships runs from 21^st August
• Gold Cup winning rider Nico de Boinville will be among the judges
• Entries close on 1^st August

The fourth running of the RoR Goffs UK National Championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre opens on Tuesday 21^st August and runs through to Sunday 26^th August. The annual equine extravaganza showcases the versatility of former racehorses in a variety of equine disciplines.

The six day event, generously sponsored by leading bloodstock auctioneers Goffs UK, has established itself as a highlight in the charity’s calendar and includes the RoR Dressage Series Championships and RoR National Showing Championships, as well as a range of classes open to all former racehorses registered with Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British racing’s official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses.

The six days conclude with an evening performance on Sunday 26^th August, the highlight of which is the RoR Elite Performance Award for Showing leading to the crowning of the 2018 Goffs UK Supreme Champion, with its prize of £2,500 to the winner.

Cheltenham Gold Cup and dual Champion Chase winning jockey, Nico de Boinville, will be one of three judges tasked with awarding the title of Supreme Champion. Nico will be joined by his wife, Serena, who like Nico has a background in showing and is herself a breeder of Connemara Ponies, and trainer Jonathan Geake, who is also an experienced show horse judge and show horse breeder.

Sunday’s evening performance will also feature a parade for former ‘Stars of the Racing World’, as well as the popular Veterans’ Championship class and the novelty Glamour Stakes, alongside the crowning of a number of series winners.

Over the course of the six days there will be a total of 90 classes with more than £6,000 awarded in prize money and an expected entry of over 200 horses. Tuesday to Thursday is the RoR Dressage Series Championships, Friday is a performance day of jumping classes and Arena Eventing and at the weekend the RoR National Showing Championships takes centre stage.

The closing date for entries is midnight on Wednesday 1st August. The event is also open to the public on all six days and admission is free.

Carly Sage, Aintree Equestrian Centre Manager, said: “We are delighted and proud to once again stage the RoR Goffs UK National Championships. The event has grown in terms of both its scale and quality each year and it is evidence of Aintree’s year round commitment to promoting horse welfare.”

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), said: “It’s wonderful how the event has established itself and this year represents another step forward. In particular, I would like to thank Goffs UK for their support, as well as the team at Aintree and all involved with making the six days happen.

“The whole event has a wonderful feel-good factor and it is vastly rewarding to see the pleasure working with former racehorses can give people. Whether they are competing in the elite finals or not it does not matter, just so long as they and their horses are happy.”

For entries to the RoR National Championships at Aintree Equestrian Centre, please click here