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PRESS RELEASE FROM BRITISH EVENTING:
As we head towards the date where we expect to receive information from the Government about how we will exit the current lockdown, we wanted to update you on BE’s plans for sport resumption. We continue to work closely with our Organisers to ensure that we are providing all our members with optimum competition opportunities and we look forward to resuming sport as soon as possible. Fixtures planning We were delighted to see so many members, both existing and new, entering events when the 2020 season resumed in July 2020. We again expect demand to be high and have factored this into our fixtures planning to ensure that we provide you with the competition opportunities that you need. Inevitably there are some Organisers who are understandably unable to commit to running their events under the current uncertainty. We are marking these events as cancelled on the fixtures list but will leave these events showing on the list so that it is clear which events have cancelled, and which are still intending to run. We are working to fill any gaps left by these cancellations and we will update the calendar with the additions as soon as we have confirmation of when sport can restart. As with the restart last year, entries will not open until restrictions are lifted. In response to concerns about balloting levels, we have adjusted our ‘additional day’ protocol to enable an Organiser to request an additional day of competition earlier where entries levels are high. In order to help us with this, please do make your entries in good time as we will only add days where entries are high prior to ballot date. We also know that moving whole classes to a different day at short notice caused problems for you last year and we will be working with Organisers to minimise this, where possible, as we restart. It is likely that the restrictions will be lifted in a different way across Scotland and Wales and we continue to work closely with the BE Scotland Committee and other stakeholders to ensure that we can restart activity as soon as we are permitted to in each region. Training and alternative formats We expect that we may exit lockdown into a Tier system again. We are keen to provide you with opportunities to get out and have fun with your horses as soon as possible – within what is permitted – and to get you ready for when we can start the competitive season. We are, therefore, working on two alternative formats – Train for Eventing and Try Eventing. Train for Eventing will be run over two phases, show jumping and cross country, and will provide you with an opportunity to hone your skills in a training environment at BE venues. Try Eventing will run all three phases. Both will run as training and will be available at a discounted rate to BE members. More details to follow soon! Help us help you! We understand that you may not want to purchase your horse season ticket until you are ready to make your first entry. However, if you have new horses to register, you can do this ahead of time (it’s free) without needing to purchase a Horse Season Ticket for them. This means we can do the necessary passport checks and have the horse details set up and ready for when you do want to get going. Not only does this mean the process will be quicker for you, but it also enables the BE team to handle the registrations more efficiently behind the scenes and not create the backlog which occurs if everyone leaves it until the last minute. Badminton and Olympic preparation Whilst the timescales and roadmap for coming out of lockdown are not yet known, with Badminton due to take place in early May, we are exploring all opportunities to ensure that elite combinations are fit and ready to run. We are working with Performance Manager and our Organisers to identify and provide the right training and competition opportunities needed as the pathway to Badminton, ensuring that we are safe and compliant within all government requirements. British Eventing are forming an independent Abandonment Insurance Review Panel to review the current provision and make recommendation to the Board regarding the cover required for the 2022 season onwards.
ERA has been invited to supply 2 riders - an amateur member and a professional rider, to form part of the panel. Scope Specifically, the Panel will consider:
Frequency of Meetings At the discretion of the Chair, but in any event not less than monthly. Reporting Minutes in the form of summary action notes will be prepared for every meeting and sent promptly to all members of the Committee and provided to the Board. The Panel will report to the Board following conclusion of their review with their recommendations, and in the interim as the Chair of the Panel feels necessary. A final report will be published to the membership Remuneration The Panel serves as a volunteer body. Those members who are existing BE employees or Board members are expected to fulfil their roles on the Committee within the terms of their existing contracts. Principles The following principles will be applied by the Panel in carrying out its work:
Applicant Requirements: Applicant riders must have the following experience and attributes:
Applications need to be made by 31st January 2021 to office@equiconsulting.co.uk British Eventing, the National Governing Body of the sport of eventing in Great Britain, is currently inviting applications for the role of Chair of the Sport Committee.
The ideal candidate will be one with a deep understanding of the sport together with experience of chairing committees, be an excellent communicator and diplomat. The Role Description can be found here. Applications (to include a letter of motivation and CV) should be made by email to the Chief Executive, Jude Matthews: jude.matthews@britisheventing.com The closing date for applications is 5pm 29th January 2021. If you have any questions about the role please contact Jude Matthews on the email address above. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the eventing sporting calendar into 2021.
Following the Government's announcement of a 3rd National lockdown, stretching into February 2021, it was announced that no eventing sport would take place before 26th March 2021. The restart will be dependant upon the easing of Government restrictions and British Eventing will work closely with the BEF, Organisers, Owners and Riders on an effective sport resumption plan. Jude Matthews, BE CEO, commented, “We understand that our members cannot wait to get out eventing, and we are confident that with our protocols in place we will be able to resume sport quickly once government guidance allows us to. When sport resumed in July 2020, we demonstrated that with the support of our hard-working organisers and our army of able volunteers, high-quality events could be prepared quickly. We were able to shorten the timescale for taking entries for events and react to demand by adding extra days of competition where required. Work will continue to ensure we offer members the full calendar of competition they require as we restart, and throughout the season. “We are in continual conversation with those early season event Organisers and are discussing potential alternative formats such as Training Competitions to ease members’ transition into the full season, subject to the restrictions in place at that time. In addition, we are reviewing the qualification criteria and timescales for our Championships to help ensure that members are able to gain their qualifications.” Rachael Faulkner, Chair of the BEOA, added; “We fully support the decision not to start the season until the latter part of March. With current restrictions in place and deadlines to book contractors, pay deposits and secure volunteers fast approaching, we agree that pushing back the start of the season is a sensible choice. We all look forward to welcoming the eventing community to our events as soon as possible.” The BE board announces that Jude Matthews has resigned from her position as CEO.
Chairman Fiona O’Hara said "we are very grateful to Jude for her service and commitment to BE. In particular her leadership in overseeing the resumption of sport last summer was a huge achievement. We wish Jude every success in the future". Jude will remain in post while she serves her notice period. The British Eventing AGM will be held on Tuesday 24 November at 5pm (via Zoom). All members have been provided with detailed information about the AGM and with statements from the candidates standing for election to the vacant seat on the BE Board, together with instructions on how to participate, ask questions and vote. It is encouraging that so many candidates have put their names forward and we are indebted to all of them for their willingness to commit their time and expertise to support our sport. In addition to the candidates' statements, the BEOA, ERA and EHOA have jointly asked the candidates to provide further information about their expertise and Board objectives. Our questions covered how the candidates' skills would complement those of the current Board, where they believe the organisation's efforts should be focused to ensure a secure future and asked for suggestions as to how members' enjoyment of the sport could be enhanced and new members encouraged to participate. The responses to these questions are available to download, below, on behalf of: Kim Morris-Baumber, William Buck, Wendy Coney and Helen West. For British Eventing to move forward during this challenging period we believe it is essential that all of the stakeholders in the sport are represented on the Board, and that individual member's opinions and concerns are taken into account. We hope that knowing more about the Board candidates and their motivation for joining the Board will encourage you to use your vote. If you have questions for the BE Board, or for any or all of the election candidates, or questions to be raised at the AGM, they may be addressed to: company.secretary@britisheventing.com The ERA team are also happy to direct any questions or queries to the relevant channels. 
BE80(T) 2021 Championship update
Following the statement from Burghley Horse Trials today (22 October 2020) announcing that they will return to running the event over four days from 2021, British Eventing can confirm that it will no longer be possible to host the BE80(T) Championship at Burghley. Jude Matthews, BE CEO, said; “In 2019 British Eventing were thrilled to announce that the BE80(T) Championship would be moving to Burghley Horse Trials from 2020 for three years, following its successful launch at Kelsall Hill in 2018. “Sadly, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and cancellation of Burghley 2020, the BE80(T) Championship could not take place at Burghley this year and BE were very grateful to Norton Disney for stepping in to host both the 2020 and rescheduled 2019 Championships. “In what has been a very challenging time, we are very understanding of Burghley’s decision to retain their current schedule of four days of competition for 2021. We’d like to thank Elizabeth Inman and the team at the event for their efforts and work on the BE80(T) Championship up to now and for their continued support of the 5* competition. We all look forward to a great 60th anniversary event next year. “BE will now be exploring options for the 2021 BE80(T) Championship”.  Entries for the Childeric Saddles Little Downham International Horse Trials opened today as the event prepares for its inaugural CCI4*-S fixture this October.
The fixture offers competition for all levels of the sport with a full range of classes from BE80(T) to CCI4*-S, showing just how inclusive both the sport and the event are. The timetable of classes has been worked to allow competitors the best level of access to classes, not only at Little Downham but taking other events running at the same time into consideration. Those looking to compete in the Intermediate, Advanced and CCI4*-S on Tuesday and concerned with a potential overlap with Thoresby trot up and dressage can be assured that the sectioning, timetabling and times will allow riders to compete at both events, without compromise. The venue’s July and August fixtures received much praise in regard to the slick and safe running of the events, management of the warmup areas and the going. Volunteers and officials also praised the event for being among the leaders in the technical revolution of the sport, embracing their own judging app development to minimise contact points and further the sustainability for the future of the sport. “Little Downham is always part of our eventing plan, it’s one of those events where you’re guaranteed good going and good courses all year round. With so many changes of plans this year and so many cancellations I’m looking forward to taking Ivar Gooden to tackle their new 4* track. I just feel that supporting our UK based events this season is incredibly important for our sport and reducing our international travel is a safer option for our team” commented 5* rider Imogen Murray. Little Downham benefits from exceptional ground conditions, all year round, with their grade 1 peat soil. All cross-country courses will be different to those used in the July and August fixtures, with the CCI4*-S being subtly different to the Advanced track to provide the correct level of difficulty. All tracks are up to height and substantial but with lots of alternatives at the more challenging fences. The event aims to provide educational and inviting courses at all levels. Riders are encouraged to enter as early as possible to enable the event to plan effectively. Ballot date is set for the 15thSeptember at 12 noon, with all entries taken via www.britisheventing.com  Riders from 19 different nations will compete at the inaugural Cornbury House Horse Trials next weekend (11-13 September) for the best prize-money on offer in the sport this year.
Set in the stunning surroundings of Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire with the ancient Wychwood Forest as a backdrop, this new horse trials has received a particularly large number of very high quality entries. British stars such as Zara Tindall, William Fox-Pitt and Laura Collett will face competition from the likes of Australian Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hoy, Chinese Olympian Alex Hua Tian and the brilliant New Zealand husband-and-wife team Tim and Jonelle Price - and riders from countries such as Sweden, South Africa, the USA and Hong Kong. In a year when Covid-19 has seriously affected prize-money levels in all sports, the riders will be keen to take home the generous cheques put up by Cornbury House - £2,500 for the winner of the feature CCI3*-S class and £1,250 for the winner of the CCI2*-S class. Event President David Howden said: “Launching a brand-new horse trials in 2020 has been an extraordinary and complicated process, but we have always been utterly determined that we should not compromise our vision of a truly top-class event. We have invested considerably in producing the very best conditions for horses, riders and owners, and believe that they should be properly rewarded for winning what are going to be extremely competitive classes.” In accordance with government regulations, Cornbury House Horse Trials is not open to spectators in 2020, but the showjumping and cross-country phases of all classes will be live-streamed for free on the event website (www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk) and on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cornburyhouseht, alongside interviews with riders and other key figures, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.  THIS year’s Osberton International Horse Trials may be taking place at Thoresby Park this year but it’s all systems go for a packed timetable of top class competition.
Run by the team at BEDE Events, Osberton International Horse Trials – October 8 to 11 - is highly regarded in the calendar and is home to the British Eventing Young Horse Championships. This year’s autumn three-day event will see three championship sections for five-year-old horses competing at national level, and six and seven-year-old horses taking on the international stage in order to be crowned the National Champions. Qualifying and competing at the British Eventing Young Horse Championships is the ultimate accolade for many young event horse owners, breeders and riders. Past stars include famous names NZB Land Vision, World Equestrian Games silver medallist Cool Mountain, Redesigned and Billy Landretti to name a few. BEDE’s Stuart Buntine said: “The Young Horse Championships have grown significantly over the years, with Olympic horses and riders coming through the ranks at Osberton.” The timetable for the five, six and seven-year-old championships will see dressage on the Friday, showjumping on the Saturday and cross-country on the Sunday. Running alongside the championships will be prestigious CCI2* long format and CCI3* long format sections. Dressage for both the 2 and 3* classes will run on the Thursday and Friday with cross-country on the Saturday and showjumping on the Sunday. Added Stuart: “The team at BEDE is working hard to put on a fantastic event for competitors and their supporters and to make this year’s ‘new look’ Osberton a fitting way to end the season on a high. “We have a number of sponsorship opportunities available and would welcome support at various levels to make this October finale and party a real celebration of the sport.” For further information please visit www.bede-events.co.uk |
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