1. Introduction
This document sets out the rules of and provides initial guidance for the KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event.
Riding Club Teams will be able to compete at any Endurance GB (EGB) ride or Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) with a suitable class. Teams who are successful at one or more of these rides will be entered in a League Table for their Region. The top team in each League Table together with the top teams on a national basis will then go forward to compete in the national Final. Some wild card places in the Final may also be awarded.
The changes to the rules for 2012 from those of 2011 are relatively minor and in summary are as follows:
| I | The scoring mechanism has been adjusted to reduce the advantage of experienced combinations competing as part of squad, see Section 2.7 |
| II | The closing date for the League Tables is now later in the year, see Section 2.8 |
| III | The qualification criteria for the Final are different, see Section 2.9 |
| IV | There is a new venue for the Final in 2012, see Section 2.1 |
| V | Confirmation of the cash prizes, see Section 4.2 |
2. The Competition
2.1 Declaration of Squads and Teams
Each squad must be declared to the national organisers of the KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event at least two weeks before their first Qualifier (see below).
Declaration forms can be downloaded from the website, emailed on request from the national organisers or posted by sending an A5 SAE. Declaration is free of charge. A squad may not enter any ride without having declared with the national organisers first. Combinations that have declared in previous years and therefore already hold a Mastercard for the horse and rider combination need not declare again.
Each Riding Club will be able to declare as many endurance squads as they wish. Each squad must consist of a minimum of three horse and rider combinations and up to a maximum of six horse and rider combinations. A rider may have up to two horses in a squad, but both combinations must hold separate Mastercards (see Section 2.2 below). A horse may be ridden by up to two riders (on different occasions), but again both combinations must hold separate Mastercards. All horses in the squad must be at least 5 years of age, but there is no maximum age.
Any member of a squad can be a member of EGB or SERC as well as a member of their Riding Club. However, all but two of the rider and horse combinations in the squad must both be at EGB's Novice Level or both be at SERC’s BTQ level. A trophy will be awarded to the highest placed team in the Final whose squad has no EGB or SERC members and no EGB or SERC registered horses.
The squad can then declare a team of 3 or 4 combinations with 1 or 2 combinations riding as individuals for each Qualifier entered. The team of 3 or 4 must be declared by the closing date of the Qualifier entered (see below). A team member can be replaced by one of the combinations in the squad any time up to and including the day of the Qualifier provided that the replacement has made an entry to that Qualifier beforehand. The declared team can be different for each Qualifier entered provided that it is made up of combinations in the declared squad.
Riding Club's may only change the combinations in a squad with the prior permission of the national organisers. The new combination or combinations must be declared and be in receipt of a Mastercard before they can compete with the squad.
If the squad qualifies, two of the combinations in the squad who passed the final vetting at any one of the Qualifiers, either as a team member or an individual, must compete in the team in the National Final.
2.2 Junior Riders
For squads competing in EGB Qualifiers and at the Final, Juniors are deemed to be people between the ages of 8 and 13 on the day of the event. Juniors may be part of a squad provided that they are accompanied by a nominated mounted adult (18 years old or over on the day of the event) who is also part of the squad. One adult may accompany no more than two junior riders, who must be named in the appropriate box on the EGB entry form.
For squads competing in SERC Qualifiers, Juniors are deemed to be people between the ages of 8 and 16 on the day of the event. Juniors may be part of a squad provided that they are accompanied by a nominated mounted adult (17 years old or over on the day of the event) who is also part of the squad. The Parental Consent Form should be completed in the usual way for all Junior Riders.
SERC members should also read Section 6 below which gives additional guidance for Junior Riders and the need for them to be accompanied.
2.3 Team Manager
Each squad must elect a Team Manager who may or may not be a rider in the squad and will act as the single point of contact between the squad and the national organisers. It is essential that they should have access to email.
2.4 Riding Club Mastercards
On declaration, the national organisers will send to the Team Manager a special "Riding Club Mastercard" for each combination in their squad whose rider is not a member of EGB or SERC and / or whose horse is not registered with EGB or SERC in the current competitive year. These Mastercards must be taken to and presented at the Ride Office at each Qualifier that the squad enters. A member of the squad will not be allowed to start the Qualifier without presenting their Mastercard. A Riding Club Mastercard relates specifically to a rider and horse combination.
2.5 Entry Forms
KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event entry forms for EGB and SERC can be downloaded from the website (or emailed by the national organisers or posted on receipt of an A5 SAE). Entries for Riding Club squads must be made on these forms only, even for EGB and SERC members in the squad.
One form must be completed for each combination for each Qualifier entered and sent in one envelope to the appropriate Entries Secretary, accompanied by a cheque for the entry fee and an A3 or A4 envelope with 2 "large" stamps affixed for the return of the ride details.
Please note that entries will be accepted from Riding Club squads only (that is three to six combinations) and not from individual combinations.
Entries to Qualifiers should not be sent to the national organisers of the KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event under any circumstances. However, the Team Manager must inform the national organisers of each Qualifier entered, listing the rider and horse names entered and also identifying the declared team members. Any changes to the declared team should also be notified to the national organisers immediately after the Qualifier.
Note that some Qualifiers may require up-to-date Influenza Vaccination Certificates to be presented for each horse (for example when the venue is on a racecourse), so check the details of the ride to be entered before making an entry.
2.6 Qualifiers
2.6.1 Qualifiers at EGB Rides
Qualifiers at EGB rides and the Final will be held over a standard Competitive Ride of between 30 and 35km, depending on the length of the course available at the relevant ride. The minimum and maximum speeds will be 8 kph (approximately 5 mph) and 15 kph (approximately 9.4 mph) respectively. A team member will be eliminated if they do not complete the course within these speeds, or if at the final veterinary inspection the final pulse exceeds 64 bpm (beats per minute) or if the horse does not pass the final veterinary inspection for any other reason (as per the standard EGB rules). The final veterinary inspection is made no later than 30 minutes after completing the course.
EGB members should also read Section 5 below which gives additional guidance for Open and Advanced Riders and the speeds at which they are able to compete.
2.6.2 Qualifiers at SERC Rides
Qualifiers at SERC rides will be held over a standard Competitive Ride of between 30 and 35km. For all riders The minimum speed will be 9.5kph with no maximum speed. Section 6.2 should also be read which gives additional guidance on maximum and minimum speeds.
SERC members should also read Section 6 below which gives additional guidance for the minimum and maximum speeds.
All combinations at SERC Qualifiers must carry first aid kits with a minimum content of whistle, foil blanket, triangular bandage, vet wrap, wound bandage, glucose tables and small rider medical card.
2.7 Scoring
The BRC Team Endurance Formula will be used to arrive at a score for each horse in the team as follows:
Score = ([Actual Speed] - 5) * 100 / ([Final Pulse] - 20)
where the Actual Speed will be capped at 13 kph (so a speed of 13 kph will be used in the Formula even if a horse achieves a speed of over 13 kph).
At least three combinations in the declared team must complete the event in order for a score to be put forward to the League Table. The best three scores from each team are counted if all four combinations in the declared team complete successfully. Scores of individuals do not count but they will still receive the standard EGB awards for successful completion.
Five points will be deducted from the BRC Team Endurance Formula for each EGB combination competing above Novice Level and for each SERC combination competing above BTQ Level.
The same scoring mechanism will be used for the Final.
2.8 Regional League Tables
A squad may enter as many Qualifiers as they wish anywhere in the country, not just within their Region. Please see the KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event website (ref Section 7 below) for more details of these rides.
League Tables for each Region will be maintained on the website and will show the current table positions for each squad within that Region. A team's total BRC Team Endurance Formula score will be entered into the relevant League Table on the first successful completion of a Qualifier. If a team from the same squad then enters and completes another Qualifier successfully then any higher score achieved will replace that already shown in the League Table. The team scores at each Qualifier are not accumulative.
The League Tables will be closed at midnight on Sunday 9th September 2012.
2.9 Qualification for the Final
Squads will be awarded automatic places in the Final as follows:
| I. | the highest placed squad in each of the ten League Tables |
| II. | the top ten squads on a national basis excluding those squads already qualified in (I) above |
A number of wild card places in the Final may also be awarded, at the national organisers discretion, depending on the number of squads that qualify for the Final automatically.
The Team Manager of each squad will be informed of their qualification immediately after the closing date of the League Tables. They will be asked to confirm their entry to the Final in writing (by email) within five working days, otherwise their squad's place in the Final may be offered to another squad.
2.10 Entries for the Final
The Final will be held at the British Horse Feeds Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, Builth Wells, Powys on Sunday 7th October 2012.
Entries for the Final must be made no later than two weeks before the Final and should be sent to the national organisers of the KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event by completing an EGB Riding Club entry form for each combination.
Stabling, corralling and refreshments, all at additional cost, will be available at the venue for the Final.
Team Managers should note that full and up-to-date Influenza Vaccination Certificates must be submitted to the national organisers for each horse being entered for the Final in order to comply with British Riding Club regulations. There will be no exceptions to this requirement and squad entries will not be accepted until all the necessary paperwork has been received, with submission of copies of Certificates going back to "day 1" being submitted.
3. Entry Fees
The Entry Fees for each Qualifier and the Final are as follows:
EGB Qualifiers
| I. | £29 per combination |
| II. | A 10% discount will be given on the standard entry fee per combination for a squad of more than four |
| III. | Crossed cheques should be made payable to "Endurance GB" |
SERC Qualifiers
| I | SERC Members - £17.00 per combination. Non-members - £25.50 per combination |
| II | Crossed cheques should be made payable to “SERC + name of organising Branch” |
4. Awards
4.1 Awards at Qualifiers
Grading rosettes will be awarded to all combinations successfully completing a Qualifier organised by EGB and SERC.
4.2 Awards at the Final
The following awards will be presented at the Final:
| I. | Overall winning team, with cash prizes of £300 to the winning team, £200 to the second placed team and £100 to the third placed team. |
| II. | Highest placed team whose squad has no riders who are members of EGB and no horses registered with EGB, with a cash prize of £100. |
| III. | Best presented team |
| IV. | Horse with the highest score |
| V. | Highest placed team with at least one junior rider |
| VI. | Highest placed individual competitor (that is, not competing as part of a team) |
It is also hoped that various products and clothing will be awarded to the trophy winners.
5. Additional Guidance for EGB Members Only
5.1 Open & Advanced Riders in Riding Club Squads
EGB members may compete in the Team Endurance Event as Open and Advanced Level combinations, subject to the squad restrictions set out in Section 2.1 above.
However, Open and Advanced combinations must complete the course at or above a minimum speed of 10kph, otherwise they will fail the ride on speed under EGB rules, but will still contribute points for their team provided that they complete the course at or above a minimum speed of 8kph.
In addition, although Open and Advanced combinations can complete the course at up to 18kph under EGB rules, combinations finishing with a speed over 15kph will be eliminated from the Team Endurance Event.
Five points will be deducted from the BRC Team Endurance Formula for each EGB combination competing above Novice Level and for each SERC combination competing above BTQ Level.
6. Additional Guidance for SERC Members Only
6.1 Junior Riders
Junior Riders who are members of SERC and aged between 13-16 years on the day of the event and have achieved SERC's BTF level may ride unaccompanied.
6.2 Minimum and Maximum Speeds
Riders who are members of SERC not qualified to BTF standard will be asked to select a Speed Category on the entry form and on the vet sheet in the usual way.
7. National Organiser's Contact Details
For more information or assistance, contact the national organisers: Jane and John Hudson
Phone: 01398 332089 after 9.00am and before 9.00pm
EMAIL:
Address: Springdale, Cove, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 7RT
KBIS British Riding Club Team Endurance Event Website: www.rcteamevent.endurancegb.co.uk
