The British Open Championship has confirmed that following representation, there has been an amendment to the rules governing player eligibility for the 2025 British Open and Spring Festival Championships.
The initial rule change which was announced in August 2024 for UK bands will now contain an exemption.
Eligibility
From 1st January 2025 only players permanently registered as resident in the UK, or who are resident as current students on nationally recognised higher education courses of study, will be eligible to compete at the Spring Festival and British Open Championship.
Players who perform in the British Open may not perform with a different band at the following year’s Spring Festival and then return to play with their original band at the British Open the following year. They would, however, be eligible to play with a third band at that year’s British Open.
In addition, players who perform in the Spring Festival may not perform with a different band at that year’s British Open and then return to play with their original band at the Spring Festival the following year. They would, however, be eligible to play with a third band at that year’s Spring Festival.
Exemption
The exemption allows as follows:
Players, who are not permanently registered as resident in the UK, or who are not resident as current students on nationally recognised higher education courses of study as of the 1st January 2025 will be able to perform at future Spring Festival and British Open Championship events, only with the band they were registered and performed with at either the 2024 Spring Festival (Grand Shield, Senior, Senior Trophy) or the 2024 British Open Championship.
The player will not be able to perform at future Spring Festival and British Open Championship events if, from 12th May 2024 onwards they have subsequently registered or performed with a band at any other recognised National Championship event.
Best interests
Speaking about the decision, a spokesperson for the Mortimer family stated: “Following the initial announcement we have listened closely to the representations made and have considered our response carefully.
In doing so we believe that the best interests of the competing bands and the competitive integrity of the British Open and Spring Festival Championships has been maintained.”
Rules update
The full, revised rules for the British Open and Spring Festival will be published on a new British Open Championship website in the near future.
