Pony show jumping – European Squad Selection System 2014

The purpose of the pony selection competition is to assist Horse Sport Ireland’s Pony Show Jumping High Performance Team Manager Tom Slattery to select the best team to represent Ireland at the European Pony Show Jumping Championships in Millstreet from July 29th – August 3rd.

While the Team Manager is endeavouring to be as fair as possible, the purpose of the programme is to achieve success at the European championships in Millstreet. Therefore, the overriding concern of the Team Manager will be to get the best team to represent Ireland at the European Championships. The Team Manager therefore reserves the right to alter, adjust, amend or disregard any of the above arrangements at any time in the best interest of selecting the best team. If any of the selection competitions or elements are cancelled or declared void then adjustments will be made and put on the Horse Sport Ireland website as soon as practical. The Team Manager reserves the right to cancel or disregard any element of the process if he sees fit. Ultimately the final team will be selected by the Team Manager based on his expertise and knowledge of the combinations involved.

Expressions of interest will be sought from combinations by the 28th March 2014 to give an indication of combinations likely to go forward for Euro Squad consideration in 2014.
A long list of ten will be formed after the Spring Tour from the top ten CSIOP 1.30m rankings. These ten riders will be required to go for training with the Team Manager on the 30th March 2014 in Abbottstown followed by training for the entire Fontainebleau squad in Barnadown on the 5th April 2014. This long list is subject to change after the International Trials.

The selection competition will take place over two legs in Ard Chuain from May 9th – 11th 2014 and Barnadown from May 23rd – 25th 2014.

There will be three counting rounds at each of the legs at Ard Chuain and Barnadown consisting of two Nations Cup style rounds on Saturday and the first round of the Pony Premier Grand Prix on Sunday. The best five scores from these six rounds will count towards the riders overall ranking in the selection competition i.e. one discard score.

For these selection competitions strict FEI style rules will apply. Ponies must present for veterinary inspection before the appointed time on Friday in Barnadown. Passports must be made available for inspection. The team vet will be in attendance at Barnadown. Ponies will be required to be presented for measuring and trot up at Barnadown.

For the two rounds of the Pony Premier Series, which form part of the six round selection, SJI competition rules will apply. Please note that the Pony premier series elements of the selection competition on the Sunday must be entered separately with the SJI in line with normal rules.

The selection competition will begin at Ard Chuain Friday May 9th with a FEI “Table A” competition where all combinations will be required to jump and their placing will determine their starting order on Saturday. Should any combinations finish tied on faults after counting the best five of the six rounds outlined above, their final ranking will be determined by their finishing position in this Friday class at Ard Chuain.

On Friday the 23rd May at Barnadown there will be a warm up/ring familiarisation style opportunity similar to that at the European Championships where combinations will need to spend time in the ring and jump a full track or part of the track. This warm up will not count towards the final ranking but is compulsory.
Starting positions in the Nations Cup style competition on the Saturday at Barnadown will be determined by the placings of combinations after Ard Chuain, counting their two best rounds there i.e. one discard score. If combinations are tied, their placing in the Friday class at Ard Chuain will decide their ranking against those who they are tied with.

The Top 5 ranked pony and rider combinations after the two legs of the selection competition will win places on the squad for Hagen (11th – 15th June 2014) and on the short list of 7 riders for the European Pony Championships. The short list of 7 riders will also be used by the Team Manager to select, at his discretion, the squad of 5 riders for the European Championships in Millstreet July 29th – August 3rd.

HSI as the National Federation reserves the right to withdraw any combination from selection, where in the opinion of the Team Vet a pony is deemed unlikely to pass the official FEI pony measurement regulations. The opinion of the Team Vet is final on such matters.

Any disputes over the outcome of the selection competition must be received in the offices of Horse Sport Ireland within 24 hours of the finish of the competition in Barnadown.

The decision of the Team Manager will be final on such matters.

Team Managers Selections
The Team Manger has, at his discretion, the right to nominate up to two of his own selections to also travel to Hagen and to be part of the squad of up to seven combinations for the European Championships. However, the team for Hagen will be selected from amongst the five who qualified from the trials.

The short list of 7 combinations should be in contention for the 5 pony rider combinations to travel to the European Championships. For the avoidance of any doubt the short list of 7 shall include the top 5 ranked combinations after the two legs of the selection trials at Ard Chuain and Barnadown (ie. the 5 combinations that are automatically given places to travel to Hagen) plus up to 2 selections at the discretion of the team manager. The Team Manager may take account of form of combinations at National and International competitions and any other factors as he deems appropriate.

The Team Manager will select from the short list the 5 combinations to travel to the European Championships before the deadline for the definite entries (07th July 2014).

The five pony and rider combinations that travel to the European Championships will be in contention for the team. The Team Manager will decide on which four to jump on the team based on form.

Important
Only the top five pony and rider combinations from the selection trials competitions will be assured of a place on the short list of seven. The pony and rider combinations that finish 6th and 7th in the trials have no entitlement when it comes to deciding on the Team Manager’s selections. These are entirely at the discretion of the Team Manager.

Eligibility for the European Pony selection competition.
All pony combinations that are eligible to jump in the 148cm class at the pony premier series in Ard Chuain and Barnadown are eligible to enter the selection competition. However the committee reserve the right to exclude any combination from the competition, at any stage, on health and safety grounds and pony welfare grounds if they consider that any combination is being over faced.

Entry to the selection competition
Entries for the Selection Competition (HSI Trials) should be made with Aileen Cartwright (045854530) in Horse Sport Ireland before 12pm 2nd May 2014. A global entry fee of €200 is payable in advance. This covers stabling for the Friday and Saturday night at both legs and entry to the Friday and Saturday classes.

*Please note that the Pony premier series elements of the selection competition on the Sunday must be entered separately with the SJI in line with normal rules.

Competition format
It is compulsory for ponies, who are competing in the selection competition, to go into secure stabling for the Friday and Saturday night of Barnadown. 24 hour Stable security will be provided. Entry to the stables will be restricted to those wearing wristbands and there will only be three wristbands issued per pony.

Ard Chuain

• Speed class (Table A) on Friday. 1.25 6pm start approx.
• Two round Nations Cup style class on Saturday. This will be a two round class regardless of Faults. 1.30
• The first round of the Pony Premier 148cm class on Sunday. 1.30

Barnadown

• Registration @ 4pm followed by Trot Up
• Warm up class Friday (not counting) 6pm start approx.
• Two round Nations Cup style class on Saturday. This will be a two round class regardless of Faults. 1.30
• The first round of the Pony premier 148cm class on Sunday. 1.30

Ponies who are involved in the selection competition are not permitted to compete in any other classes at the shows at which these legs are run.
All competitions will run on all weather surface.

Please Note: The selected team of 5 athletes to represent Ireland in the European Championships for Ponies 2014 will not be permitted to compete in any CSIP , CSI-YP or National competitions in Millstreet during the Championships