Federation Equestre Internationale

FEI Press News - August 28, 1999

- Working party on Eventing safety
- Meeting of the FEI Jumping Committee in Hickstead
- FEI/BCM World Jumping Rankings: The medallists of the European Championship move up
- Samsung Nations Cup: Bucharest (ROM) 29 August
- European Junior Dressage Championship in Achleiten
- IEOA congress 4-5 December 1999 "Equestrian Sport in the next Century"
- Open European Young Riders/Juniors Endurance Championships in Donaueschingen (GER)
- European Young Riders Dressage Championship in Ksiaz (POL)
- In Memoriam

Working party on Eventing safety
After the very tragic accidents, which have occurred in Eventing in the past 5 months in Great Britain, the FEI has decided to establish an Official enquiry Working Party on Eventing safety .in co-operation with the British Federation (British Horse Trials Association.

The Chairman of this Working Group will be Mr Michael Tucker (Former Member of the FEI Eventing Committee and current FEI Director of the CIC Series).

In addition, the FEI has appointed Wayne Roycroft, member of the FEI Eventing Committee and Chairman of the Australian Equestrian Federation who will responsible to co-ordinate any further investigations instigated by other countries. The FEI will appoint additional experts from outside the sport to contribute to the Working party’s investigations.

This group will investigate all possible elements involved in the sport i.e. cross-country fence construction, format of One Day Events and medical support including protective clothing of riders.

In addition, the Dutch Equestrian Federation will present the results of their 2-year study on breakable construction material for Cross Country fences, at the FEI Eventing Open Forum in Boekelo (NED) on 6 October 1999. Two obstacles will actually partly consist of this material at CCI*** Boekelo from 7 to 10 October 1999.

The FEI is determined to conduct this investigation on a worldwide basis and will endeavour to communicate its recommendations as soon as possible and take any necessary action to ensure the safety of the sport.

According to FEI Rules and Regulations an ad hoc working group was set up in Burghley to report on the fatality, which occurred on Saturday 4 September.

Meeting of the FEI Jumping Committee in Hickstead
The FEI Jumping Committee met on 30 and 31 August in Hickstead (GBR). Following the successful Forums in Winnipeg and Hickstead, the main topic was the format and the formula of the Nations Cup.

After considering several proposals and the statement made during both Forums, the Jumping Committee took the following decision:
- Four-Star Nations Cups: to keep the present formula with 4 riders in both round, 3 to count in each round.
- Three-Star Nations Cups: 3 riders in both rounds, all to count.
- In both Fourth- and Three-Star Nations Cups, 6 teams to return for the second round (plus the home team if not qualified, provided it is within 8 penalties of the 6th placed team).

As to separate a possible tie for first place after the second round, the Jumping Committee felt it to be too complicated to use the time of the riders in the second round. Instead a jump-off should decide. Both the representatives of the riders and the organisers in the Committee will consult their members to propose one of the two possibilities:
- As presently a jump-off with all riders
- Only one rider per team to perform the jump-off

Pending approval by the FEI Executive Board, the new Nations Cup rules will take effect following the Sydney Olympic Games, i.e. as from 2 October 2000.

In addition, the Committee decided the following changes to the Rules for Jumping events:
- A first refusal incurs 4 penalties, i.e. the same as a knock-down
- The second refusal incurs elimination
- For a refusal with a knock-down, 4 seconds will be added to the riders time wherever it occurs on the course
- Time faults are penalised with one penalty per second or commenced fraction of a second.

FEI/BCM World Jumping Rankings: The medallists of the European Championship move up
The three individual medallists at the European Jumping Championship moved up in the new FEI/BCM World Jumping Rankings.

European individual Champion Alexandra Ledermann moved from 16th to 11th place. Markus Fuchs enters the Top 10 and is now 9th and Lesley McNaught from 12th to 10th. We now have four Swiss riders in the Top 10!

Lars Nieberg, who did not compete in Hickstead and Trevor Coyle who retired after the 1st competition, dropped out of the Top 10. Willi Melliger remains Number 1 followed by Ludger Beerbaum who overtook Rodrigo Pessoa again to regain the No 2 spot.

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH : CAROLINE PERSSON
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR : ELIZA SHUFORD

Samsung Nations Cup: Bucharest (ROM) 29 August
Running the same weekend as the European Championship at Hickstead, only a small field of three nations travelled to Eastern Europe to compete in Bucharest where an interesting battle ensued between Turkey at the home side. With a total of 8.25 points penalties, Turkey won the Nations Cup ahead of the home team Romania with 15 pts and Bulgaria with a massive 68 fault total.

With just two Nations Cup events remaining before the Final in Gijon (24-28 September), Holland maintain their half point lead over Switzerland (56 and 55.50) with France and Germany in equal third place at 53 points. The USA with 51.50 have also qualified the sixth and final place is still to be decided, however, with just 2.50 points separating Belgium and Italy in 6th and 7th place respectively. Neither nation will be represented at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, but Italy has confirmed that they will be sending a team to Sofia.

The next Nations Cups will be take place in Sofia (BUL) on 10 September and Calgary (CAN) on 11 September.

European Junior Dressage Championship in Achleiten
The European Dressage Championship for Juniors was held from 24 to 29 August 1999 in Achleiten. Riders from 19 nations participated, among whom for the first time riders from Belarus, Latvia and Slovakia.

Germany was very successful and won the Team competition ahead of the Netherlands and the host country Austria. In the Individual competition, two German riders, Nicola Giesen on Slow Fox V and Wilhelm Kröncke on Larso earned the gold and silver medals, followed by the Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer on Agrigento.

IEOA congress 4-5 December 1999 "Equestrian Sport in the next Century"
The International Equestrian Organisers’ Alliance (IEOA) and the organisers of Jumping Amsterdam plan to organise a congress on Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5 December 1999 during the international show Jumping Amsterdam (NED).

Several speakers have been invited, including prominent representatives from other sports. The congress will be divided in three sessions, which will conclude with a panel discussion:
1 - The challenge for the equestrian sport to join the top level of successful and popular sports
2 - Enhancement of the attractiveness of the equestrian sport
3 - Satisfying public, sponsors and TV broadcasters
The Bureau of the FEI, the FEI Discipline Committees, the FEI Strategic Planning Committee, all organisers of international events, the National Federations, the riders’ clubs, the horse owners, the judges’ clubs and other FEI officials, the Dressage Trainers Club and the members of the IAEJ will be invited to this congress

For further information :
Phone: 0031-20-6654835, fax: 0031-20-6655500
Email: mail@Jumping-Amsterdam.nl

Open European Young Riders/Juniors Endurance Championships in Donaueschingen (GER)
The Castle park in Donaueschingen (GER) provided the venue for the Young Riders and Juniors Open European Endurance Championship, which was held on 14 August 1999. Riders from 15 countries took part: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The United Arab Emirates and of course the host nation, Germany.

On 13 August, of the 69 horses presented for the preliminary veterinary inspection, only one was eliminated.

The ride started with a mass start of 68 riders at 6 a.m. on Saturday 14 August. The course mainly took the riders through the Black Forest and open farmland with 4 Vet. Gates en route at 25 km, 57 km, 86 km and 106 km with the finish back at the Castle park, total distance 120 km. First across the line was Miguel Casas of Spain who was sadly eliminated for lameness at the final veterinary inspection, leaving Merce Oms Molist of Spain to take Individual gold medal on her 7-year old grey gelding, Polvorillo (breed unknown) at a speed of 18.01 km/h.

European Young Riders Dressage Championship in Ksiaz (POL)
Fifty riders coming from 16 nations participated in the European Young Riders Championship, which was held from 12 to 15 August in Ksiaz.

The Team Medal was taken by Germany, followed by the Netherlands taking Silver and the Austrian Team taking Bronze. The German also earned the three individual medals. Christine von Olderhausen on Amica Farina received the gold medal.

A very friendly atmosphere marked the European Championship. The stud facilities offered superb conditions for horses and riders.

In Memorium
Simon Long The British event rider Simon Long suffered a fata accident while competing at Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) on Saturday 4 September. He was 38. The accident was at the rails coming out of the water at Fence 20. The horse, Springleaze Macaroo, a 9 year old Liver Chestnut Gelding, was uninjured.

Kyra Downton We just learned that on 7 February 1999 Kyra Downton passed away, aged 91. The Russian-born American rider was Pan American Dressage Champion in 1967, riding Kadett, and the following year she was a member of the US Dressage team at the Olympic Games.

HorsesDaily Related Links
dressagedaily.com View the archives for features on International Dressage Riders
FEI / BCM World Riders Rankings
Visit the Samsung Nations Cup web site
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