Balkan Championship dates set for 2023
08. Dec 2022 / Category: Press Release
The locations and dates for the 2023 Balkan Championships for Dressage, Jumping, and Endurance have now been confirmed.
The Jumping and Dressage championships will return to Athens, Greece after they last hosted in 2021. From the 7-10 September the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center, home of the 2004 Athens Olympic events, will welcome athletes and horses from across the Balkan regions.
The Hellenic Equestrian Federation said “We believe very much in the institution of the Balkan Championships and we want to support it. It is a very good opportunity for our young athletes to stand out at an international level and of course to gain valuable experience.
Our Federation has successfully organized many Balkan Championships throughout the years. The last one was successfully held at the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center in 2021, despite the difficult conditions due to Covid. We are hoping that in 2023 we will be able to welcome riders from all Balkan countries to Markopoulo for another successful event..”
The endurance championships have been awarded to Bulgaria and will take place from the 29-30 September in Ruse. Another centre with great experience, Ruse will once again create a fitting challenge for the riders competing in Senior individual and team categories.
Speaking about the championships, BEF said "The Balkan Endurance Championships are extremely important for the development of the discipline in the region and a step towards the participation of our riders in the European and World Championships. Along with the Balkan Championship, we will also organize a competition for young riders and juniors, with which we lay the foundations for the future of the Endurance on the Balkan Peninsula."
EEF President Theo Ploegmakers added; “We are very grateful to the Greek and Bulgarian National Federations for hosting next year's Balkan Championships. These events are really important for the development of our sport in the Balkan region and create memorable experiences, particularly for our youth riders. We enjoyed some wonderful moments from the Championships this year, and look forward to the 2023 editions”
The date and location for the Balkan driving championships will be announced shortly.