Series Rules 2020

Overview of the Series

In 2020, the Event Rider Masters links 4 (CCI 4* - S) competitions in Belgium, France & Great Britain 

  • Leg 1- Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials (GBR) 10th - 11th April 2020
  • Leg 2– Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials (GBR), 16th – 17th May 2020
  • Leg 3- Arville International Horse Trials (BEL), 27th -28th June 2020
  • Series Finale– Jardy International Horse Trials (FRA), 11th – 12th July 2020

Competition Format
The competition format is in accordance with the FEI Eventing Rules and will run at CCI 4*-S

The competition will take place over 2 days and normally run as follows:

  • - 1st day: Dressage
  • - 2nd day: Show Jumping followed by the Cross-Country phase.

Show Jumping may take place on Day 1 if the time table warrants this.

Selection of participants & Entry Process

  • 1 horse per athlete
  • 30 entries in total to be accepted per competition
  • Athletes to be selected by FEI Ranking points *(at ERM section selection date). The highest FEI ranked rider will wear back number 1. Four places (wildcards), in order of priority, will be available from the following options:

    Up to 2 places (wildcards) reserved for any Eventing Olympic Gold medal winner at any time or ‘Classics winner’ in the last 10 years. If these wildcards are not used, then developing nation riders, in order of FEI ranking may be selected.

    Up to 2 places (wildcards) at the discretion of the Orgainsing Committee & ERM. This is to support and build TV distribution in emerging markets and to support the commercial development of the series.

    These wildcard places (maximum of 4) may also be selected by FEI Ranking points finalised at ERM section selection date if the above criteria are not applied. For full details of the wildcard process please see Competitor information section

  • An additional MER (Minimum Eligible Requirement) will apply to CAT B, C, D and uncategorised riders who must have achieved an MER at current CCI 4* - S to be eligible for the ERM section.

    CAT A riders will be exempt from this additional MER but must meet all other FEI requirement to compete at CCI 4* - S level.

  • Within 2 or 3 days of ERM selection date, the ERM section will be published on both the Event and ERM websites. All entries not accepted into ERM section will be placed into the other CCI 4* - S section (should there be one at the event) and a waitlist will be held in FEI ranking order.

  • In the event of a ballot – there will be no permitted substitutions of horses who are not qualified for ERM at ERM qualified at ERM selection date as per normal. If no ballot takes place horses qualified as per FEI rules may be considered for selection.

    *ERM section selection date refers to either the Ballot Date or Entry closing date depending on each of the events FEI schedule wording.

Competition Phases

  • Dressage Order - Times will be published in line with each Event’s published timetable. The Dressage Order will be formed of three groups based upon the average of up to 5 of the horse’s latest dressage results at 4* level competitions with the best averages being in group A. Within each group a draw will then take place to determine the running order. On completion of the draw no substitution of horses or waitlist entries will be accepted.

  • On completion of Dressage – Show Jumping will run in reverse order.

  • On completion of Show Jumping – Cross Country will run with the top 20 in reverse order. The rest of the section will run in numerical order meaning a higher ranked rider is more likely to go out on cross country first.

  • By entering the competition, the rider accepts the conditions of entry (Appendix B).

Point system /results
The goal is to provide an ever-changing leader board to drive continued interest.

  • In order to gain any ERM points, the rider must meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirement (dressage no more than 45 penalty points, showjumping no more than 16 faults at obstacles, and cross country no more than 15 jumping penalties and no more than 75 seconds over the optimum time).
  • For the purposes of the individual leg results, prize money will be paid to 10th place regardless of MER. A further 2 points will be allocated to any competitor placed below 15th completing with an MER.
  • If at any point the an ERM leg is cancelled, then no points will be awarded. If a competitor is Withdrawn, Retired or Eliminated, at any stage of the ERM Leg, then no points will be awarded.

The final placings of Athletes in the Series will be made by accumulation of the points according to the points scale below

2020 ERM Series Points Table
Leg          Series
Place        Points
  1st      -     30
  2nd     -     28
  3rd      -     26
  4th      -     24
  5th      -     22
  6th      -     21
  7th      -     20
  8th      -     19
  9th      -     18
  10th    -     17
  11th    -     16
  12th    -     15
  13th    -     14
  14th    -     13
  15th    -     12
  16th    -       2
  17th    -       2
  18th    -       2
  19th    -       2
  20th    -       2
  21st    -       2
  22nd   -       2
  23rd    -       2
  24th    -       2
  25th    -       2
  26th    -       2
  27th    -       2
  28th    -       2
  29th    -       2
  30th    -       2
 

The results of all four competitions of the series will count.
For series points and in the case of event abandonment we will follow use the table below to for counting legs:

2020 ERM Series Points Number of Counting Legs

Number of ERM Legs conducted in full in 2020*  |   Number of ERM legs.     | % of Total legs


                 

                            4                                                           4                             100%

                            3                                                           3                             100%

                            2                                                           1                             100%

                            1                                                            1                            100%

*In the case of full or part abandonment of 1 or more leg, for any reason and at any stage of the ERM Leg.

Tie Breaks
For purposes of addressing any ties in winners or places in the final series rankings, the fundamental elements of the FEI Nation’s Cup rules will be applied, EXCEPT for the requirement that a tie be decided on the basis of participation in the greatest number of events, and instead using the concept that each rider should have 4 scores to count. Therefore, the tie-break rules will be:

In case of a tie for the series or a place in the series, each rider's placings in all his/her ERM legs (up to 4, and if more than 4, the best 4) will be added together. The tie will be decided in favour of the rider with the lower of such totals. This means, for example, that a rider who has placed 1st in 4 events will have a score of 4, whereas a rider who has placed 2nd in 4 events will have a score of 8, and the tie will be decided in favour of the rider with the score of 4. The concept is that each rider should have 4 scores to count, so in the event that they have only completed 3 legs they will receive points equivalent to a 30th place for the 4th effort.

As an example: If Rider x had competed in and won 3 legs they would have 90 ERM points. Rider y could have also 90 points from 3 x 3rd places plus a 15th place. Under the tie break rules Rider x would have 33 points (3 x 1 = 3 + 30 for the assumed 30th place), whereas Rider y would have 24 points (3 x 3 = 9 + 15) and therefore wins

In the event that there is still a tie, the standard FEI rules will apply, as set forth in its Eventing Rules, Chapter 7, Art 528.1.6 (see below). These rules will be applied by adding together all the scores from all the rider’s legs (up to four, as above) before the comparisons are made.

                                                                                             528.1.6 Final Classification Tie (Individual)

In the Event of equality between two or more Athletes, the classification is decided by
(a) The best cross-country score including penalties for faults at obstacles, time penalties
and any other penalty that the athlete may have incurred on the Cross Country Test.
(b) If there is still equality, the classification is decided in favour of the Athlete whose
cross-country time was closest to the optimum time.
(c) If there is still equality, the Athlete with the best Jumping score including penalties at
obstacles and time penalties.
(d) If there is still equality, the Athlete with the fastest time in the Jumping Test.
(e) If there is still equality, the classification will be decided in favour of the Athlete with
the best total of collective marks in the Dressage Test.
(f) If there is still equality the tie will remain in the final classification and any prize money
will be divided equally.

Prize money
Provide a prize money fund of 50,000 GBP (57,000 EUR) at each of the four events in 2020. 

1st - 16,000 GBP / 18,000 EUR
2nd - 12,000 GBP /13,500 EUR
3rd - 8,000 GBP / 9,500 EUR
4th - 6,000 GBP / 6,500 EUR
5th - 3,000 GBP / 3,500 EUR
6th - 2,000 GBP / 2,300 EUR
7th - 1,000 GBP / 1,450 EUR
8th - 900 GBP / 1000 EUR
9th - 600 GBP / 700 EUR
10th - 500 GBP / 550 EUR

A prize to the overall winner of the series will awarded at the 2020 Jardy Finale. The aim is a 30,000 GBP first prize, a 15,000 GBP second prize and 5,000 GBP for third.

The ambition of the Series

The series is to be packaged specifically for television, with sophisticated commentary, innovative camera techniques and informed by statistical analysis of the kind used by other televised sports—intended to welcome and entertain new audiences as well as those already engaged with the sport.