British eventers may have more chances to get to the World Cup final this year as British Eventing (BE) hopes to run two qualifiers in 2010.
Last year, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) only allowed one qualifier per country, but BE regional director Chris Farr said: “The FEI has realised that in nations such as Britain, where the sport is so strong, it would be beneficial to have two World Cup qualifiers.”
There will be a qualifier at Chatsworth (15-16 May), where the 2009 British qualifier was due to take place until the event was abandoned due to bad weather.
BE has also applied to the FEI for permission to hold a second qualifier.
The 2010 BE calendar also boasts a new CIC*** at Houghton (27-30 May).
Mr Farr said the more stringent qualification requirement for CCI***s brought in last year — riders and horses now need a clear cross-country round at a CIC*** to move up, before they could have 20 jumping penalties and still qualify — means riders may need more CIC*** runs.
“We wanted to give riders another option to prove themselves,” said Mr Farr.
“A couple of events put in a bid to hold a three-star, but Houghton is a superb site and it fits in well for riders to take another horse alongside their one- and two-star horses.”
There are 11 new or returning events on BE’s 2010 calendar. These include Burgham, with classes up to advanced (24-25 July), which will receive funding from Northumberland Council.
And Wales has a new CCI*, including the under-18 national championships, with the organisers from the now defunct Chepstow Horse Trials running the inaugural event at Glanusk, Powys (30 June-4 July).
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (7 January, ’10)
