Junior Event Team EU CH Selection Criteria 2014 – updated 20.05.14

Horse Sport Ireland Selection Policy and High Performance Programme – Junior Event Team 2014 updated 20.05.14.

European Championships Bishop Burton, England (14^th – 17^th August 2014)

The programme of training in the early months of 2014 will provide all junior riders the opportunity to enhance their training and management methods. The management & coaching team will be available throughout the year in various locations, & will be more than obliging in consulting & advising, when necessary & appropriate. Every effort will be made by the High Performance Manager to ensure that all of those who participate in the programme will gain from the education received.

Prior to the selection events, it is the responsibility of the junior rider and their connections, to ensure that each rider/horse combination has the required MER for the level of the Championship. In this case the MER is ONE CCI* as a combination. This is only a MINIMUM requirement, and the Manager would stress the need to be competing regularly at this level or above.

Veterinary support is crucial to achieving success. Riders must be open with the Team Veterinarian and Team Management in relation to any veterinary issues with their horse.

The Manager must be aware of any medical problems that a rider has, and the medication (if any) being taken. This will not exclude riders from being part of the squad, but will allow the management to complete the necessary paperwork, to avoid any complications at the Championships.

Once the squad has been selected after Camphire CICYR**, training will commence for those squad riders AND the reserves. Reserves will be selected on a priority basis by the Manager, and any reserve not willing to partake in the training at this stage will be bypassed and the next reserve will be selected. All reserves are selected and should be available (if necessary) to step in to the squad up until the squad leave for the Championships.

Please make yourselves aware of the FEI & NF Rule changes for 2014. These rules can be viewed on http://www.horsesportireland.ie/athlete-noticeboard/eventing-news.13484.html

SELECTION PROCESS 2014 JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BISHOP BURTON, ENGLAND, 14^th – 17^th AUGUST 2014

A total of six athlete/horse combinations are available to Ireland for participation in the European Championships 2014. TWO places on this squad of six can be ‘won’ based on a point ranking system, covering the following events.

• Tattersalls (28^th May – 1st June 2014) CCIJ* & CCI(u25)**

OR Hopetoun (26^th – 29^th June 2014) CCI* (Points will be allocated at both events, but if an individual chooses to do both, their best result from either event will be the only one to count)

• Camphire (25^th – 27^th July 2014) CICYR**

PLEASE NOTE – that in the case of Tattersalls CCI(u25)**, the CCI* at Hopetoun and the CICYR** at Camphire, it is the combinations position in the class in line with the Points System rather than amongst the Junior Riders only, which will determine their points allocation if any.

IT IS THE ATHLETES RESPONSIBILITY TO ORGANISE & COVER THE COST OF TRAVEL, ENTRY & STABLING FOR THE SELECTION EVENTS

• The first two combinations in the rankings will be allocated a place on the European Championship squad of up to six riders, in Bishop Burton (England) subject to them securing their FEI qualifications, maintaining fitness and form up to the championship and complying with ALL requests of the Team Manager/ Chef d’Equipe. These places will be officially allocated after Camphire (25^th – 27^th July 2014) CICYR**. Following this allocation of four additional combinations plus reserves will be selected by the Team Manager/ Chef d’Equipe. The manager will make a decision for the selection based on the following criteria:

• Performance of the combination during 2014, with particular emphasis on form in the lead up to selection
• The Team veterinarians opinion on the likely ability of the horse to cope fully with the three day test posed by a European championships
• The riders previous performances at European championship level
• The rider and their support teams ability to operate as part of a team
• The commitment of the rider and their support team to the High Performance Programme
• In the case of the 6th place (2nd individual), if the rider is eligible for junior selection for the following year this may be taken into account with a view to giving such a combination championship experience.

Please be advised that horses will be requested to stable overnight at a selected venue for the team vet to inspect horses the following morning (28^th July) before confirmation of selection can be made.
• These rankings will not carry to Bishop Burton. Following arrival in Bishop Burton, the Team Manager/Chef d’Equipe will select the four combinations to compete for Ireland in the team competition from amongst the six that travel as part of the squad.
• For the avoidance of doubt the two successful combinations from the points ranking system will be allocated places on the travelling squad of up to six combinations. In the case where combinations finished level on accumulated points using the system set out above, the combinations finishing position in the last leg in Camphire (25^th – 28^7h July 2014) CICYR** will determine their final ranking compared to the other combinations that finish on the same accumulated score.
• If a combination does not compete in Camphire (25^th – 27^th July 2014) CICYR** they will be considered to have finished behind all those who did compete there for the purposes of resolving a tie in the accumulation of points as set out above.
Once the squad has been selected after Camphire CICYR**, training will commence for those squad riders AND the non – travelling reserve combinations. Reserves will be selected by the Team Manager when the six squad riders have been selected. All reserves selected should be available (if necessary) to step in to the squad up until the departure date for the Championships.
At this stage it is not intended that Horse Sport Ireland will collect any funding directly from riders by way of a squad levy. Instead riders will be asked to contribute directly towards the cost of training sessions organised by the Team Manager/ Chef d’Equipe.

It is anticipated that HSI Team Management support will be in attendance at the following venues at no cost to the individual. This is funded by Horse Sport Ireland, with thanks to allocations from the Irish Sports Council and Eventing Ireland

1. Tattersalls CCIJ*/U25CCI** – Team Manager, & Ian Fearon
2. Hopetoun CCI* – Team Manager
3. Camphire CICYR ** – Team Manager ,Terry Boon (dr & xc) & Ian Fearon (s
4. Final Training- Team Manager ,Terry Boon (dr & xc) & Ian Fearon (sj) and Team Veterinarian
5. European Championships – Team Manager ,Terry Boon (dr & xc) & Ian Fearon (sj) and Team Veterinarian, Will Lalor.

Please note that while every effort will be made to adhere to the process set out above Horse Sport Ireland can alter it at any time or can choose to abandon it if they consider that to be in the best interest of the Irish squad travelling to Bishop Burton (England). In addition, Horse Sport Ireland in consultation with the Team Manager /Chef d’Equipe can leave any selected rider or horse at home if they consider it to be in the best interest of the Irish squad travelling.