Pony Show Jumping European Team Selection Criteria 2016

The purpose of the pony selection competition is to assist Horse Sport Ireland’s Pony Show Jumping High Performance Team Manager Gary Marshall to select the best team to represent Ireland at the European Pony Show Jumping Championships in Aarhus, Denmark from the 17^th – 21^st August 2016.

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 Aarhus. 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 underlined 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 as per Rule 4 HIS General Rules. Ultimately the final team will be selected by the Team Manager based on his expertise and knowledge of the combinations involved.

Selection Competition Galway Equestrian 6^th – 8^th May.

• 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 Galway Equestrian 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 or pony welfare grounds if they consider that any combination is being over faced.

• Entry to the selection competition

Entries for the Selection Competition in Galway Equestrian should be made with Aileen Cartwright (045854530) acartwright@horsesportireland.ie  in Horse Sport Ireland before 12pm Friday 29^th April 2016. The entry fee of €100 is payable in advance. This covers stabling for the Friday and Saturday night at Galway Equestrian Centre and entry to the Friday and Saturday classes.

• 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 Galway. 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.

The selection competition will begin at Galway Equestrian Friday 6^th May with a FEI “Table A” competition (1.25m) 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 at the end of the competition on Sunday, their final ranking will be determined by their finishing position in this Friday class at Galway Equestrian.

There will be three counting rounds at Galway Equestrian consisting of two Nations Cup style rounds on Saturday (1.30m – 1.35m) and the first round of the Pony Premier Grand Prix on Sunday. On Friday & Saturday strict FEI style rules will apply. SJI competition rules will apply for the round of the Pony Premier Series. Please note that the Pony premier series element of the selection competition on the Sunday must be entered separately with the SJI in line with normal rules.

The team vet will be in attendance at Galway Equestrian. Ponies must present for veterinary inspection before the appointed time on Friday.Passports must be made available for inspection. Ponies will be required to be presented for measuring, veterinary inspection and trot up at 4pm on Friday May the 6^th in Galway Equestrian.

• Galway

• Pony measuring and trot up @ 4pm
• 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

Odense & Opglabbeek

Following on from the competition at Galway Equestrian the Top 10 ranked pony and rider combinations will win places on either the squad for Odense (18^th – 22^nd May 2016) OR Opglabbeek (26^th – 29^th May 2016) and on the short list of up to 12 riders for the European Pony Championships. The Team Manger has, at his discretion, the right to nominate up to two of his own selections* to also travel to Odense/ Opglabbeek and to be part of the squad of up to 12 combinations for the European Championships.

*The manager will make a decision on the two places based on the following criteria

• Performance of the combination during 2016, with particular emphasis on form in the lead up to selection both at National and International level.
• The Team veterinarians opinion on the likely ability of the pony to cope fully with the three day test posed by an International competition
• 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
• If the rider is eligible for pony selection for the following year this may be taken into account with a view to giving such a combination International experience.

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

The Team Manager intends to inform riders which of the two International shows he wishes to see them compete at on Monday 9^th May 2016.

The short list of up to 12 riders will also be used by the Team Manager to select, at his discretion, the squad of 5 riders for the European Championships in Aarhus, Denmark from the 17^th – 21^st August 2016.

Important

Only the top ten pony and rider combinations from the selection trial competition in Galway Equestrian will be assured of a place in either Odense/Opglabbeek. The pony and rider combinations that finish 11^th and 12^th in the trial have no entitlement when it comes to deciding on the Team Manager’s selections. These are entirely at the discretion of the Team Manager. If a rider qualifies more than one pony in the top ten, the decision as to which pony travels to one of the designated International shows lies with the Team Manager.

Final Selection Competition Barnadown 25^th/26^th June

A short list of up to 12 combinations will 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 12 shall include the top 10 ranked combinations after the selection trial at Galway Equestrian plus up to 2 selections at the discretion of the team manager.

These 12 combinations will be invited to compete at a final trial on the 25^th & 26^th of June at Barnadown. Participation in this trial is recommended in order to be selected for Aarhus unless expressly excused by the Team Manager. Riders invited to the selection competition at Barnadown on the 25^th/26^th June will pay and entry fee of €100 payable in advance to HSI. This covers stabling for the Saturday night at Barnadown and entry to the Saturday’s classes.

There will be three counting rounds at Barnadown consisting of two Nations Cup style rounds on Saturday (1.30m – 1.35m) and the first round of the Pony Premier Grand Prix on Sunday. On Saturday strict FEI style rules will apply. Order of jumping will be issued by HSI prior to the event. SJI competition rules will apply for the round of the Pony Premier Series. Please note that the Pony premier series element of the selection competition on the Sunday must be entered separately with the SJI in line with normal rules.

• Barnadown
  • 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.

It is intended to run all competitions on all weather surface.

European Squad Selection

Following this final trial in Barnadown the Team Manager will select from the 12 the five combinations to travel to the European Championships and two non-travelling reserves before the deadline for the definite entries determined by the FEI.

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

European Squad training will take place in July at a date and venue to be announced. Reserves will be required to attend as an important part of the squad.

This document is a draft.  If any parent or coach has a query or proposed change to this, please forward to Triona Connors tconnors@horsesportireland.ie  before Monday 18^th April 2016 for consideration.

ENDS