THE International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) director Eleonora Ottaviani has said that club must work together to achieve a meritocratic sport.

She was speaking of their recent Extraordinary General Assembly, saying: “The club is working with, and not against, the national federations, the organisers and the FEI. Even if differences of opinion sometimes occur, we are all in the same boat, and the IJRC will always try to find a reasonable solution, doing its best for the sport.”

She welcomed French Olympic team gold medallist Kevin Staut as the new president of the club and focussed attention on the ranking points issue.

During the last FEI General Assembly in Montevideo last November, the club proposed and got approval for the following percentage of invitations for all five-star events: 60% in descending order of the riders that entered the event (including home riders); 20% to the O.C; 20% to the home national federation.

It was clearly stated that ranking points (which can affect the athletes’ Olympic participation) cannot be distributed at shows that are open, or give priority, to competitors who pay a direct or indirect financial contribution in order to take part.

“We are working in order to achieve our goal: to give equal chances to all the athletes. We believe we are all in the same boat and we are trying to find a reasonable solution.

“In order to so do, we are working together with national federations, organisers and the FEI. The Longines Ranking Working Group is seeking a good solution for all the stakeholders involved,” Ottaviani said.

The meeting ended with an acknowledgement that the topics under consideration are complex and numerous. However, the club believes that dialogue and collaboration between athletes, national federations’, the FEI, organisers, owners and the media is the best way to ensure a positive and meritocratic future for the sport.