Following feedback from a very well-supported online survey regarding the proposed restructure of Eventing Ireland classes, the board of EI has announced a range of changes effective from January 1st, 2014. Designed to be more flexible for owners and riders, they include alterations to class eligibility, class names and amalgamation, as well as downgrading and qualifications.

“There’s nothing there that will change people’s lives,” commented EI chairman Georgia Stubington. “But we hope that the class changes will offer more flexibility and go some way to eliminating the need to run hors concours.”

The most immediately obvious changes are the new title names, which will now mirror those used by British Eventing. These have been introduced to help explain the standard of each class and will also come into line with the format currently in use by ShowjumpingIreland.

“We haven’t made any changes to class names for a long time and we wanted them to do what they say on the tin,” explained Stubington.

From this season, the intro classes will be known as EI 90, with a suffix of (S) for the former Sportsman C category and a (P) for the Pony C. Similarly, the pre-novice classes will run under the title EI 100 and again will carry the additional letters for the old Sportsman B (S), Junior C (C) and the former CNCP*/Pony B (P). Moving up through the grades, the sole change will be that the Sportsman A will be renamed CNC*S.

One of the more emotive rule changes concerns the possible amalgamation of classes with six entries or less. Although event organisers have always held the right to do this, they are now permitted to make the decision without consulting riders.

The new and improved online entry system allows riders to view the number of entries at closing and those not wishing to compete in an amalgamated class have the right to withdraw.

They will receive a full refund if they do so by noon on the Thursday prior to the competition.

The exception to this will be CNCP** which will always have its own class regardless of the numbers of entries received. In the situation of classes being amalgamated there will be an extra prize and rosette for the leading sportsman, young rider, junior and pony rider placed outside the class prizes, so long as they finish in the top 25% of the starters.

“Overall, I think it has to be a good thing,” commented senior rider Jane O’Flynn. “I think the bigger classes should improve the standard of the competition and we may find that us seniors will have to pull our socks up! However, there is no mention of the young horse classes for five and six-year-olds, and I strongly hope these classes will continue in the same format as before as they are an important tool in our horse industry.”

Understandably, those most affected by the new rule hail from the junior, sportsman and pony ranks. More notably, in the case of amalgamation, riders in the sportsman classes (B and C) will no longer have the opportunity to tackle a higher level of dressage, but it is anticipated that amalgamation will be rare at this level. Prominent sportsman campaigner Zoe Kavanagh has mixed feelings, but was nevertheless pragmatic, saying: “I feel that the unique aspect of sportsman has been diluted in pursuit of overall efficiencies as the higher level dressage is removed and standalone classes, particularly at the upper level, face amalgamation.

“While the sportsman category continues within EI, the reward and recognition mechanism will result in a somewhat diminished experience, despite its substantial financial contribution. However, the sport needs to evolve and choices exist for the rider should they wish to withdraw their entry in an amalgamated scenario.”

As regards the varying and popular leagues, the highest placed riders of each sector will still gain points as in previous years.

MER

The introduction of the much-discussed minimum eligibility requirements (MER) has been shelved for 2014. This is due to the ongoing development of the new website and database and the desire of the board to complete that work before making any major changes. This year, points will determine upgrading and will be awarded for CIC/CCI completions, which gain an FEI MER rather than just a completion.

POINTS

Points for horses will still be awarded from CNC* level upwards, but a new system has been put in place whereby horses and riders can compete over, at least, three levels based on the points gained.

Full details can be found on the website, but basically from this season horses with zero points can run in EI 90, EI 100 and CNC* classes, as can horses with up to 20 EI points. Those with between 11 and 20 points can participate in all the former classes as well as CNC** competitions.

Moving through the grades, horses who have gained between 21 and 50 points can compete in CCI* and CCI** classes, while those with in excess of 50 points can also take in a CNC***.

DOWNGRADING

Another sensitive issue is the aspect of downgrading. Riders will be downgraded a level if they persist at a class/grade at which they are struggling. However, as horses can now run at up to three different levels, downgrading is easy and can be at the choice of the owner/rider.

“This is purely on safety grounds,” confirmed Stubington

Compulsory downgrading will be enforced if the same horse/rider combination has two consecutive eliminations (not technical eliminations) for a horse fall at a fence, rider fall at a fence or accumulated refusals in the cross-country phase. The combination will need to attain one clear cross-country at the lower level before upgrading again.

EI 90 riders who have received two consecutive eliminations must attend training with a Horse Sport Ireland-affiliated trainer and submit a letter from their trainer to the EI head office before being allowed to compete again.