Eventing Entry Fee Increase Sparks Heated Debate

It will cost more to compete next year but prize money will also increase

- Lucy Elder

THE increase in 2018 eventing entry fees and prize money versus the huge costs of hosting an event has sparked lively debate online.

Some riders have criticised British Eventing (BE), while others pointed out the cost of running events is “staggering”.

Entry fees and prize money will increase by 5% at all BE levels from 2018. Start fees will not go up and the abandonment insurance premium has been reduced by 0.75%. This takes the total increase per entry to 4.3%.

This means a BE90 or BE100 (with prize money) entry fee will go up by £3.32 to £80.59, including VAT. The lower-limit prize money for first place increases by £1.95 to £40.09, and upper limit by £3.75 to £78.75.

Advanced entry fees will increase by £7.12 to £172.80, while first-place prize money increases from a lower limit of £360 to £378 and upper limit from £890 to £934.50.

Some riders said they, and others, already struggle and the rise will make it “unaffordable to the average person”. Others said the sport is becoming more elite and less accessible.