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, Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) or Irish Long Distance Riding Club (ILRDA) 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 will go forward to compete in the Final. In addition the top ten from all the remaining teams will go forward to the Final. Some wild card places may also be awarded by the national organisers.
The changes to the rules for 2013 from those of 2012 are summarised in the table below.
| I. | A Riding Club can now have a pool of any number of combinations from which teams of three or four can be selected for Qualifiers and for the Final, with one or two combinations competing as individuals. |
| II. | The 5 point penalty for EGB and ILDRA members competing above Novice Level and for SERC members competing above BTQ Level has been removed. |
| III. | A cash prize of £100 will be available for the highest scoring combination riding as an individual in the Final. |
| IV. | The closing date for the League Tables is Sunday 15th September 2013 |
| V. | The date of the Final is Sunday 6th October 2013 (but the venue remains at the British Horse Feeds Red Dragon Festival of Endurance) |
Note that a Ready Reckoner for the scoring system is included below as an Appendix.
2. The Competition
2.1 Declaration of Horse and Rider Combinations
Each horse and rider combination wishing to compete in the Team Event 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).
A Riding Club can declare any number of horse and rider combinations they wish, making up a "pool" of combinations from which teams may be chosen. 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 combination 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.
One rider may declare up to two horses, but both combinations must hold separate Mastercards (see Section 2.5 below). A horse may be ridden by up to two riders (on different occasions), but again both combinations must hold separate Mastercards. All horses must be at least 5 years of age, but there is no maximum age.
A rider must be a member of an affiliated Riding Club to be part of a team, but they do not have to be a member of EGB, SERC or ILDRA. However if any riders in a team are members of EGB, SERC or ILRDA, then only two of them can be above EGB's Novice Level, above SERC's BTQ Level or ILDRA’s Novice Level. A trophy will be awarded to the highest placed team in the Final that has no EGB, SERC or ILDRA members and no EGB, SERC or ILDRA registered horses.
2.2 Teams & Individuals
A Riding Club can have any number of teams made up of combinations from the pool of combinations. Each team must have a unique name. A team may enter as many Qualifiers as they wish on or before the closing date of the League Tables (see Section 2.9 below). A team can be made up of a minimum of three to four combinations, with one or two combinations competing as individuals.
The best three scores from the 3 or 4 combinations in the team will be counted towards the League Table score, replacing any existing lower score (see Section 2.9 for further details).
A combination can be entered in a different team at each Qualifier. The combinations entered in a team can be different for each Qualifier provided that they have been declared to the national organisers. New combinations can be added to the Club's pool at any time during the season, but they must be declared to the national organisers and be in receipt of a Mastercard before they can compete.
2.3 Junior Riders
For combinations 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 team 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 same team. One adult may accompany no more than two junior riders, who must be named in the appropriate box on the junior rider's entry form (see section 2.6 below for details of the entry form to be used).
For combinations 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 team 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 same team. The Parental Consent Form should be completed in the usual way for all Junior Riders.
For combinations competing in ILDRA Qualifiers, Juniors are deemed to be people between the ages of 8 and 17 on the day of the event. Juniors may be part of a team 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 same team. The Junior Rider Consent Form should be completed in the usual way for all Junior Riders. This form can be downloaded from the ILDRA website, www.enduranceridingireland.com (from Contact > Downloads).
SERC members should also read Section 6 below which gives additional guidance for Junior Riders and the need for them to be accompanied.
2.4 Team Manager
Each Riding Club must appoint a Team Manager, who may or may not be a rider in a team, to act as the single point of contact between the Riding Club and the national organisers. It is essential that they should have access to email.
2.5 Riding Club Mastercards
On declaration, a special "Riding Club Mastercard" will be sent to the Team Manager for each new combination where the horse is not already registered with EGB, SERC or ILDRA. These Mastercards must be taken to and presented at the Ride Office at each Qualifier entered. A member of a team will not be allowed to start any Qualifier without presenting their Mastercard. A Riding Club Mastercard relates specifically to a rider and horse combination.
2.6 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 teams must be made on these forms only, even for EGB and SERC members. Note that it is not necessary to complete the standard EGB or SERC Entry Form as well. Entries for ILDRA rides can be made on their standard CTR Entry Form, but please write the name of your Riding Club on the top of EACH entry form. This form can be downloaded from the ILDRA website, www.enduranceridingireland.com (from Contact > Downloads).
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 TEAMS only 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 combinations in the team and those competing as individuals (if any). Changes to the nominated team can be made up to and including the day of the Qualifier or Final and should be notified to the national organisers OR a ride official before the team starts.
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.
2.7 Qualifiers
2.7.1 Qualifiers at EGB Rides
Qualifiers at EGB rides and the Final will be held over a standard Graded Endurance 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 regulated by 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.
2.7.2 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 6.2 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.
2.7.3 Qualifiers at ILDRA Rides
Qualifiers at ILDRA rides will be held over a standard Bronze Shamrock Qualifier Rides of between 32 and 35km. The minimum and maximum speeds will be 10 kph (approximately 6 mph) and 13 kph (approximately 8 mph) respectively.
2.8 Scoring
The BRC Team Endurance Formula will be used to calculate a score for each combination in a team as follows:
Score = ([Actual Speed] - 5) x 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 nominated team must complete the event in order for a score to be put forward to the League Table. Only the best three scores from each team are counted if all four combinations in the nominated team complete successfully. Scores of individuals do not count but they will still receive the standard EGB awards for successful completion.
All successful combinations will also receive the standard EGB awards for successful completion.
The same scoring mechanism will be used for the Final.
2.9 Regional League Tables
A team may enter as many Qualifiers as they wish anywhere in the country, not just within the Riding Club's 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 team 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 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 15th September 2013.
2.10 Qualification for the Final
If a team qualifies for the Final then two combinations from the pool of combinations declared to the national organisers who passed the final vetting at any one of the Qualifiers must compete in the team in the Final.
Teams will be awarded automatic places in the Final as already stated in the Introduction (see Section 1 above).
The Team Manager for each Riding Club will be informed of a team's qualification for the Final 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 three working days, otherwise their team's place in the Final may be offered to another team. A Riding Club may be represented by any number of teams in the Final.
2.11 Entries for the Final
The Final will be held at the British Horse Feeds Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, Builth Wells, Powys on Sunday 6th October 2013.
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 team 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 if more than four combinations enter the same ride from any one Riding Club. |
| III. | Crossed cheques should be made payable to "Endurance GB" |
SERC Qualifiers
| I | SERC / EGB Members - £17.00 per combination. Non-members - £25.50 per combination |
| II | Crossed cheques should be made payable to “SERC + name of organising Branch” |
ILDRA Qualifiers
| I | ILDRA Members - £20.00 per combination. Non-members - £25.00 per combination |
| II | Crossed cheques should be made payable to “ILDRA + 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. Grading rosettes are not awarded by ILDRA.
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 which has no riders who are members of EGB and no horses registered with EGB, with a cash prize of £100. |
| III. | Highest placed combination riding as an individual, with a cash prize of £100. |
| IV. | Best presented team |
| V. | Horse with the highest score |
| VI. | Highest placed Junior Rider |
5. Additional Guidance for EGB Members Only
5.1 Open & Advanced Riders in Riding Club Teams
EGB members may compete in the Team Endurance Event as Open and Advanced Level combinations, subject to the team restrictions set out in Section 2.1 above.
In order to pass the ride under EGB rules, Open and Advanced Combinations must compete the course at a minimum speed of 10kph. However, completing the course at a minimum of 8kph will still contribute points to their team.
Open and Advanced combinations can complete the course at up to 18kph under EGB rules and will receive the usual EGB rosettes and will be awarded the standard EGB National Trophy Points in the usual way. However, combinations finishing with a speed over 15kph will be eliminated from the BRC Team Endurance Event only.
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. EGB, SERC and ILDRA Rules
These Riding Club Team Event (RCTE) Rules are to be applied in conjunction with the EGB Rules, the SERC Rules and the ILDRA rules. In the case of any conflict between the RCTE and EGB, SERC or ILDRA rules, then the EGB, SERC or ILDRA rules will take precedence.
8. 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
