BE untangles qualification nightmare

In response to the FEI’s changes to three-day event qualification rules, British Eventing has drafted in two new competitions at CIC*** level.

The altered FEI rules dictate that riders must have CIC*** results to qualify for three day events at CCI*** and CCI**** level. The changes have left some of Britain’s top event riders, who did not compete in a CIC*** last season, unqualified for Badminton. “Some people who thought they had obtained their qualifications for next year are now unqualified,” confirmed Paul Graham of British Eventing.

But British Eventing has come to the rescue and introduced two new CIC*** competitions at the beginning of the season. The Easco Metal Recycling Burnham Market International Horse Trials (13 – 15 April) and Chatsworth Ssang Yong International Horse Trials (13 – 14 May) will now run normal CIC*** sections alongside their existing FEI World Cup Qualifiers (CIC-W***). Schedules for both events are on the BE Website www.britisheventing.com.

The FEI has also tried to help matters by amending the cut off date to achieve qualification from four weeks before an event to three weeks in the first half of 2006. To this end, Chatsworth CIC*** (13-14 May) will now count for Bramham (8-11 June). However as of 1 June, the four-week rule will apply.

By putting more onus on CIC*** competitions, the FEI hopes to develop eventing in the eastern European block where national competitions are not up to the standards of western Europe.

“If it is compulsory to complete a CIC*** at least they will have jumped the height of international tracks,” Graham explains. “The FEI has good intentions. The changes are designed to better the standard of eventing.”

In the past British riders have been reluctant to compete in CIC*** because of the added costs. The FEI charge a levy on international competitions making it impossible for British event organisers to lower entry fees. But now riders will have no choice but to pay up if they want to qualify for CCI*** and CCI****.

An easy quick reference guide to the new qualifications can be found on the BE website www.britisheventing.com as a news item or under Downloads. Any FEI qualification queries should be directed to Paul Graham in the British Eventing Office (tel:02476 698852) or email paul.graham@britisheventing.com.

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