World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

FEI suggests to reinstate the Table C competition at the World Equestrian Games

Thursday, 09 March 2017
Sport

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson The Table C competition will most likely continue to be the opening round at the World Equestrian Games. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

The FEI Bureau has suggested to reinstate the Table C competition as the first round of jumping at the World Equestrian Games.

The format for the jumping at the World Equestrian Games was changed at the 2016 FEI General Assembly, with the Table C competition – the former opening round of the Championships – being removed, together with the Top Four Final.

However, three months after the rule changes were voted through at the FEI General Assembly it looks like the Table C competition will be reinstated. “The FEI Bureau has decided, at the request of the Jumping Committee, to reinstate the Table C as the first Jumping competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018. The reassessment of the rule change that was approved at the 2016 General Assembly in Tokyo followed input from National Federations and stakeholders received after the General Assembly, including the view that starting with the Table C and carrying penalties forward is a proven and successful formula that guarantees excitement in the individual Final,” a FEI spokesperson commented to World of Showjumping.

“The National Federations have been advised of the proposed revision to the approved rule and asked to provide any further feedback prior to confirmation towards the end of the month of the decision to reintroduce the Table C competition,” the FEI spokesperson said.

Several riders spoke out against the removal of the Table C. One of them was reigning World Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam, who in World of Showjumping’s series ‘The Voice of the Riders’ said: “Removing the opening round with a table C is also something I think is a little bit dangerous, and under the new rules the chances to get through from the first day of competition to the second is reduced considerably. I don’t know how this will affect the motivation of the riders, perhaps some will think that it is not worth it to try when the chances are so much smaller. I also think that the speed competition should be a part of any championship. A good rider should be able to do a decent table C round, it is a part of our sport and a part of our championship-tradition.”

Also Rodrigo Pessoa – World Champion from the 1998 World Equestrian Games – and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum – bronze medallist at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006 – were among the many riders in favour of keeping the Table C competition. To World of Showjumping, Pessoa said: “The table C should remain, for many reasons. First of all, it lets the horses get going with a bit of ease. It is a speed class, so the course designer usually builds it a bit lower – which lets the horses get a good start before the difficulties increase over the following days. Secondly, it challenges the rider and the horse – you have to handle the speed format and then keep the horse together for the next rounds when it gets bigger and more technical. Furthermore, removing the top four final, they already took four rounds out so I don’t see why they should take the table C away as well.”

 


Text and picture © World of Showjumping



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.