FEDERATION
EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
FEI PRESS NEWS 33/03
13 OCTOBER 2003
FEI PRESS NEWS 33/03
13 OCTOBER 2003
The FEI Jumping Committee held its annual statutory meeting on 25 August
2003, following the European Jumping Championship in Donaueschingen (GER).
Among the items on the agenda for discussion were the following items:
* Prize money for European and World Jumping Championships
The Committee reaffirmed that the minimum amount of prize money acceptable
for each of the above championships was 300'000 Euro. This amount does not
include the prize money for the CSI competitions at these Championships.
* European Jumping Championships Entry fees
The Committee established a maximal global entry fee of 250 Euro per rider
for European Jumping Championships.
* Nations Cup
A number of items relating to the Nations Cup and the Samsung Super League
will be discussed in detail by the Committee on the occasion of its second
meeting in 2003. These will include the method of establishing the starting
order in the first round of Nations Cup Super League competitions, Wild
Cards for Super League events, increasing the number of CSIO events held in
North America, as well as invitation of riders and teams from outside Europe
to international events in Europe.
The Committee agreed upon a number of alterations to the rules for the Super
League which will be presented to the Nations Cup Committee for
consideration during its meeting in Lausanne on 11 November 2003.
* World Cup
The Committee supported a request to have the formula one round with a
jump-off effective for the 2003 / 2004 Western European World Cup
competitions, with the understanding that this formula could be changed
immediately if a sponsor is found for the Western European World Cup League.
* CSI Categorisation and Invitations to CSI events
Additional criteria for the categorisation of CSI events will be considered
by the Committee following discussion with the International Jumping Riders
Club (IJRC) and the organisers.
Also under consideration by the Committee is a proposal to regulate
invitations to CSI events based on the riders' ranking list.
* Jumping Rule - Use of Hard Hat
The use of a hard hat during parades for the Nations Cup competition and
during prize giving ceremonies for the Grand Prix and Nations Cup
competitions will be left to the discretion of the organising committee. In
any case the decision whether to wear a hard hat or not will rest with each
rider.
* Timing Systems
The FEI will produce a list of recognised timing systems.
* Recognition of Owners
The Committee supported the introduction of an International Owners' Club
and additionally decided that the owners' names must be added to all start
lists and result sheets from the 1 January 2004.
* List Footing Experts
A list of experts on footing was created. A meeting of those involved will
be held in the near future.
* Olympic Competition formula
A meeting of the Jumping Committee is scheduled for 12 November to discuss
the competition formula at the Olympic Games.
* Owner's Category
The Bureau will be asked to authorise the introduction of an owners'
category for Jumping.
SELECTION OF THE TOP TEN FINAL
An advanced edition of the FEI Gandini World Jumping Riders Rankings will be
published on 24 NOVEMBER 2003 to decide on the participating field of the
Top Ten Final to be held in Geneva (SUI) on 6 December 2003 at 21.00. The
following list will be published at the end of December.
The 3rd Top Ten Final, open to the best 10 riders of the FEI Gandini World
Jumping Riders Rankings will take place in, Geneva on Saturday 6 December
2003. The first two editions of the Top Ten Final saw the victory of Ludger
Beerbaum (GER), with Goldfever in 2001 and Gladdy'S in 2002.
DECISION OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ON COMPLAINT BY SWEDISH EQUESTRIAN
FEDERATION
The Judicial Committee rejected the Complaint filed by the Swedish
Equestrian Federation in regard to the allocation of the venues for the
Super League events during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
The Swedish show jumping team qualified among the eight teams to be
represented during the 2003 season of the Super League. However, a
competition venue in Sweden was not selected among the eight venues for the
Super League events during the first three seasons of the Super League.
During the first season Sweden and Belgium had teams but no events, while
Switzerland and Spain had events but no teams.
The Swedish Equestrian Federation has filed a Complaint with the FEI
claiming that the concept of no linkage between the eight Super League teams
and the eight Super League events violates sport fairness and principles of
equal and fair conditions for participants and that the selection of
Barcelona as one of the eight venues for the initial three years of the
Super League violates the Super League Rules.
In the meantime, and while this case was pending, the first season of the
Super League has ended. At the conclusion of the first season, the Swedish
team ended last and will, therefore, be replaced next season by the top team
from the Nations Cup Series. By a letter dated September 29, 2003 the
Swedish Equestrian Federation requested that regardless of the fact that
Sweden will not be represented in the 2004 Super League season, the
Complaint should be addressed since it questions the principles behind the
selection of the Super League events.
In rejecting the Complaint the Judicial Committee concluded that the concept
of eight events and eight teams not necessarily from the same country was a
primary published principle from the very inception of the Super League
during the 2001 General Assembly. While the principles of fair play,
equality and promotion of equal and fair conditions in the conduct of
international events are well recognized by all international sport
federations and are among the most important principles of the FEI,
selecting venues independently of teams and based on sport considerations
without any bias to any one team did not violate such principles.
Many important sporting events are held on the turf of one or more (but not
all) of the competing teams. There is no rotation system that guarantees
that each team shall be granted "home advantage", to the extent competing on
home turf may provide any such advantage.
The Judicial Committee concluded that the principles of fairness and
equality have not been violated by the separation between the selection of
teams and the selection of competition venues. No empiric evidence was
presented to support a claim that competition on home grounds provides an
advantage to the home team in equestrian sports and no claim was made that
the principle of separation between selected teams and venues was based on
non sport considerations or on any intent to prejudice any one or more teams
or was approved arbitrarily, capriciously or in bad faith.
The Super League Rules were drawn up by the Nations Cup Committee and the
Jumping Committee and were discussed and approved by the Executive Board and
by the Bureau, with the final draft approved by the Bureau during its
November 2002 meeting and published on the FEI website as well as in the
Bulletin.
The Bureau approved the Super League Rules established and proposed by the
Jumping Committee and by the Nations Cup Committee in accordance with
Statutes 018.4.
A Nations Cup Screening Committee selected the venues. This selection was
also reaffirmed by the Bureau during its April 2003 meeting.
The selection of Barcelona over Gijon as a Super League venue was concluded
between the National Federation and the FEI in accordance with the Super
League Rules and for purely sport consideration. There was no claim that the
selection of Barcelona was made arbitrarily or in bad faith or in an effort
to prejudice any one organizing committee or any one team.
The Judicial Committee mentioned that better clarity in some of the rules
could have assisted in avoiding any misunderstanding as to their
interpretation. The Judicial Committee did not impose fees or costs on any
of the parties. The complete decision will be published in due course in
the FEI Bulletin.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GLOBAL DRESSAGE FORUM
There were many highlights at the third Global Dressage Forum, which was
held on 6 and 7 October at the Dressage Academy in Hooge Mierde (NED).
European champion Ulla Salzgeber gave an exciting interview, followed by a
perfect demonstration of top riding. Arthur Kottas, ex chief rider of the
Spanish Riding School, showed the real art of working horses 'in hand'.
TheAustralian 'sit trainer' Richard Weis talked about body dynamics and body
awareness. Many interesting discussions took place between top trainers and
judges, chaired by the President of the FEI Dressage Committee Mariette
Withages.
The Global Dressage Forum was presented by the international dressage rider
Richard Davison and the President of the Trainers, David Hunt. During her
clinic at the Forum Ulla Salzgeber rode her horse Wall Street and explained
the details of her preparation for a big international dressage class.
Hans van Zetten, an expert in gymnastics, gave a lecture on the practice of
judging other Olympic sports. He explained the necessity to have an
extensive handbook, or so called 'code of points', where the details of
every movement and the possible mistakes have to be explained in details.
After an interesting discussion with the audience, it was the current
Olympic champion Anky van Grunsven, who concluded 'we must think about what
we can learn from the experiences of other artistic sports.
On the second day of the Global Dressage Forum, ex-Chief Rider of the
Spanish Riding School, Arthur Kottas gave an impressive demonstration of
work 'from the ground' (hand work). Kottas trained a horse in hand,
demonstrating the skill and kindness that is essential to get a relaxed
horse working through its whole body. Afterwards, the horse was ridden by
Kottas' daughter with her father explaining his training methods. Arthur
Kottas himself went into the saddle during the second clinic of the day,
which was presented by Richard Weis from Australia. He is an Alexander
therapist and specialized in the correct seat of the rider. Weis explained
his work as a therapist and trainer, and even managed to get the whole
audience of 250 persons moving around, and jumping to do some exercises. The
afternoon session was presented by the German Equestrian Federation (FN).
Veterinarian Dr. Gerd Heuschman gave a lecture on the anatomy of the horse.
Christoph Hess and Holger Schmezer, national trainer, presented four horses
and riders from top national young rider level to Grand Prix.
At the end of the Forum, the President of the Dressage Trainers Club (IDTC)
David Hunt presented the IDTC award to Wiltrud Duckeck, who had been running
the Trainers Club with her late husband Hermann for many years.
ANNEE HIPPIQUE
Please note corrected reference:
EUROPE
BCM, P.O. Box 1392, 5602 BJ Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0) 40-84 47 644 Fax: +31 (0) 40-84 47 611
E-mail: lannee@bcm.nl Website: www.bcm.nl
USA
Classic Communications, Beth Gold Tel.: +1 508 698 6810 Fax: +1 508 698 6811
E-mail: classic.pr@verizon.net
CANADA
BCM Canadian Agent Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at tel:
(613) 569-2423, fax: (613) 235-8030 or by e-mail: jward@iosphere.net.
IN MEMORIAM: CALVARO V
The legendary horse Calvaro V of Willi Melliger (SUI) died on 1 October
2003, aged 17 ½. The huge grey holsteiner, son of Cantus, was born in 1986
and bought from Axel Wöckener in 1994. With Willi Melliger he won the team
gold and bronze individual at the 1995 European Championship, and individual
silver at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and finished second of the World
Cup Final in Geneva the same year, where the public literally fell in love
with him. Calvaro V earned the bronze again in 1997 at the Europeans, was
the Best Horse but only placed 4th at the World Equestrian Games in Rome
(final with exchange of horses) in 1998, earned the silver medal at the 1999
European Championship in Hickstead and the team silver medal at the Sydney
Olympic Games in 2000. He also won a number of Grand Prix including Zurich,
Bremen and Paris.
After 1996 Olympic Games and until the end of his career, Calvaro V was
receiving three to four thousands letters from fans all over the world every
year.
Calvaro V was retired for 18 months in Melliger's installations in Neuendorf
and had made his public farewell early February 2003 with the complicity of
tennis player Martina Hingis during a special ceremony at CSI Zurich.
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Muriel Faienza, FEI Communications
FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
