KS's Champions' League is starting

KS's Champions' League is a series of 6 competitions where 8 disciplines are contested in from February to May 2024.

The goal of this League is to increase interest in equestrian sports in Iceland, with competitors being selected from the best equestrian athletes in the country. The competition takes place in

Svaðastaðahöllinn in Sauðárkrókur

.

The League was established in 2008 under the name KS' League (KS Deildin), but in 2017 a new board took over and the division has been called KS' Champions' League since then.

What sets KS' Champions' League apart from many other horse competitions and likely makes it more appealing for the general public and media to follow is that the division spans a long period, approximately 4 months, with good intervals between competitions, allowing the media and those following the division ample room for discussion and speculation about the progress of the events. The competitions take place at times that attract undivided attention and are short and spectator-friendly, each competition taking one evening apart from the grand finale, which is held outdoors and when riders compete in two separate disciplines.

KS' Champions' League is an individual and team competition with eight teams, each composed of five members, and three members competing in each discipline. However, each team can call upon one additional rider from outside the team to compete in one discipline, known as the "secret guest".

Last year, Védís Huld Sigurðardóttir won the individual competition, and team Íbishóll won the team competition.

Two years ago, a significant change was made by adding two new disciplines: PP1 and a 150m pace race. This was a rather significant and demanding change for the teams, to add two disciplines of the same type, but was considered to be a good way to increase interest in pace in the North of Iceland.

KS' Champions' League made an agreement with Alendis to broadcast all the events of the season live.

This year, the first event will be held on Friday, February 23, and the competition will be in "Gæðingalist" (a discipline similar to free-style dressage for Icelandic horses). The idea behind gæðingalist is to showcase well-trained horses in a artistic manner, displaying all training stages of a horse. The rider weaves together gaits and exercises and shows the overall balance, training, strength, and agility of the horse.

The other events will will take place on the following dates:

• March 6: Fourgait (V1)
• March 22: Fivegait (F1)
• April 3: Loose rein tölt (T2)
• April 20: 150m Pace race and PP1
• May 3: P2 and Tölt

The spectator stands at Svaðastaðahöllinn will be open and admission is free, but for those who cannot attend in person, Alendis.is will broadcast all the events of the division live.

This year's teams are:

Dýraspítalinn Lögmannshlíð

• Gestur Júlússon - Trainer/Team leader
• Agnar Þór Magnússon
• Höskuldur Jónsson
• Katla Sif Snorradóttir
• Sigrún Rós Helgadóttir
• Þorsteinn Björn Einarsson

Hrímnir

• Þórarinn Eymundsson - Team leader
• Arnar Máni Sigurjónsson
• Kristófer Darri Sigurðsson
• Þórdís Inga Pálsdóttir
• Þórgunnur Þórarinsdóttir

Íbishóll

• Magnús Bragi Magnússon - Team leader
• Guðrmar Freyr Magnússon
• Freyja Amble Gísladóttir
• Sigurður Heiðar Birgison
• Védís Huld Sigurðardóttir

Staðarhof

• Þorvaldur Logi Einarsson - Team leader
• Atli Freyr Maríönnuson
• Fanney Gunnarsdóttir
• Kristján Árni Birgisson
• Þórey Þula Helgadóttir

Stormhestar

• Klara Sveinbjörnsdóttir - Team leader
• Björg Ingólfsdóttir
• Erlingur Ingvarsson
• Ingunn Ingólfsdóttir
• Þórdís Erla Gunnarsdóttir

Storm Rider

• Elvar Einarsson - Team leader
• Ásdís Ósk Elvarsdóttir
• Bjarni Jónasson
• Finnbogi Bjarnason
• Þórarinn Ragnarsson

Uppsteypa

• Ísólfur Líndal - Trainer/Team leader
• Guðmar Hólm Líndal
• Elvar Logi Friðriksson
• Thelma Dögg Tómasdóttir
• Vignir Sigurðsson
• Þorsteinn Björnsson

Þúfur

• Mette Moe Mannseth - Team leader
• Barbara Wenzl
• Daníel Gunnarsson
• Gísli Gíslason
• Lea Busch