Federation Equestre Internationale

FEI Press News - June 3, 1999

- Executive Board Meeting in Madrid (ESP)
- Dressage Committee Meeting in Wiesbaden
- FEI/BCM World Jumping Riders Rankings: Willi Melliger remains No 1
- Samsung Nations Cup: for the 1st time, Chinese riders in a Nations Cup
- First-ever CAI (International Driving Event) in Canada
- In Memoriam

Executive Board Meeting in Madrid (ESP)
The FEI Executive Board met in Madrid on 31 May 1999.

The following items were discussed / approved:

2001 European Jumping Championship was allocated to Arnhem (NED). The Championship will take place in August, at a date to be confirmed.

2000 Junior Eventing Championship was allocated to Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) and the 2000 Junior Dressage Championship to Lippica (SLO). As announced after the General Assembly, Hartbury (GBR) will organise the three Olympic disciplines championships for Young Riders the same year.

The Executive Board agreed that the 1999 European Endurance Championship will be open.

The marketing analysis presented last April by the Norwegian agency Thue & Selvaag at the General Assembly was further discussed. On the recommendation of the Bureau and the Strategic Planning Committee, and with the agreement of the Finance Committee, the Executive Board decided to pursue the study and ask the agency to prepare a more detailed proposal. The presentation made by Thue & Selvaag at the General Assembly is published in Bulletin 5/99 and available from the FEI Communication department.

The categorisation of Dressage CDIOs, as proposed by the Dressage Committee was approved (see below report on Dressage Committee Meeting), as well as a new shortened Grand Prix Test.

The date of the Autumn Bureau Meeting have been confirmed from 14 to 17 November 1999.

The 1st Vice President reported on the European Union (EU) Conference on Sport that was held in Olympia (GRE) from 20 to 23 May, which he attended with the Secretary General Dr Bo Helander and Assistant Secretary General Michael Stone. The meeting was attended by EU Sports ministry representatives, International sports federations and major TV stations. The conference was divided in three workshops on 1) EU model of sport structure, 2) Doping and 3) Television. One of the most interesting conclusions of the conference was the acceptance of the current structure of international sport in Europe with one International Federation per Sport and one National Federation per country.

The Secretary General presented a report on the very successful meeting between the Organising Committee of the 2002 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Jerez (ESP) and the appointed Technical Delegates. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and finalise the infrastructure of the games. Mr Antonio Ortiz, General Manager of the 2002 WEG Organising Committee presented the plans for the two event sites. The total area will be 30 hectares with the main stadium taking 22,000 spectators. The first draft of the timetable was also discussed. A visit of the site concluded the meeting.

Dressage Committee Meeting in Wiesbaden (GER)
The Annual Meeting of the Dressage Committee was held in Wiesbaden (GER), from 19 to 21 May 1999, prior to the CDI***. The Meeting was also attended by Dr Bo Helander (SWE), Secretary General and Drs Joep Bartels, World Cup Director Dressage.

The Chairman briefed the Members on the FEI General Assembly held in Doha (QAT). The Committee took the following decisions:

New Tests

The new proposed Dressage Tests for Prix St-Georges, Intermediate I and II have been finalised and will be available for printing shortly. A new Grand Prix Test will be designed with the intended introduction at the beginning of the year 2001.

Promotion of Judges to Official International Status

The Committee is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr Enzo Truppa (ITA) to Official International Status.

Appointment of Officials for Championships:

The Meeting agreed on the selection of officials for major Championships up to the 2002 WEG, to be published at a later date.

CDIOs categorisation

In order to encourage more countries to host CDIOs, the Committee agreed to revise the current format and introduce two categories of CDIOs:

CDIO***: Will remain in its present format with the current Championship Formula and costs to the OC.

CDIO**: Will not have the Championship Formula and competitors will have to chose whether they wish to ride in the Grand Prix Special or in the Free-Style. Costs to OC will be meals for riders, grooms, Chefs díEquipe and Team Veterinarian, Transport Costs from the border / port of Entry and Stabling.

Each country will be allowed to run one of each of the two categories per year.

World Cup Rules

The Committee agreed that at all World Cup Qualifiers, League Finals and Finals, the Short Grand Prix would be used.

Out of 5 events, 4 would count (Art. 480.9).

New Young Rider Championship Formula will be introduced, which will include the Prix St-George Freestyle test.

The request for a Free-Style Pony Test was rejected for the present time.

A open Forum was organised at the Wiesbaden Show grounds with the participation of the International Dressage Riders Club, Trainers Club and the members of the Committee. A detailed report will be published shortly.

FEI/BCM World Jumping Riders Rankings: Willi Melliger remains No 1
The four CSIOs of La Baule (FRA), Rome (ITA), St-Gallen (SUI) and Madrid (ESP) brought only small changes to the Top Ten in the World Jumping Rankings. To note the moving of Thierry Pomel (FRA) from 7th to 5th place and the reverse of Jos Lansink (NED) who is now No. 6 after having been 3rd for 10 month, and 4th for four month. Lesley McNaught (SUI) remains the top lady rider in the 12th place. The top North American is Nona Garson in 27th place.

The Rookie of the Month: Stevie Macken (IRL) The Rookie of the Year: Eliza Shuford The Jump of the Month: Gilles Bertrand de Ballanda (FRA) (from 114th to 60th rank!)

Samsung Nations Cup: for the 1st time, Chinese riders in a Nations Cup
At the recent CSIO-W ** Almaty (KAZ) for the first time a team from the Peopleís Republic of China took part in the Two Star Nations Cup. The Chinese team, riding Kasak-bred horses, finished fourth behind Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan.

First-Ever CAI (International Driving Event) In Canada
The first ever international Driving event in Canada was recently held in Windedge. In both the competitions for Singles and Pairs victory went to US drivers. But the Canadians took in both categories the following placings.

IN MEMORIAM
Mr Jiri David (CZE), President of the Czechoslovak Equestrian Federation and Member of the FEI Driving Committee died on 10 May 1999 aged 72. After a successful sports career in Jumping and Eventing, Mr David became a respected FEI Driving Judge.

Tom Barnes (GBR), a former international Jumping rider, recently died at the age of 60. From 1955 to 1957 he rode for Great Britain in five Nations Cups. Among them, he earned a victory in Rotterdam in 1956, riding the famous Sudden.

HorsesDaily Related Links
FEI / BCM World Riders Rankings
Visit the Samsung Nations Cup web site
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