NSEA Eventers Challenge Rules for Scoring 2023-2024
The intention of these rules is to reward riders who have a clear round and to penalise riders who have jumping penalties or who are significantly faster than the Optimum Time. Where there are several competitors with a clear round, then the nearest to the Optimum Time will win, rewarding an appropriate judgement of pace around the course.
EC1) Open to Teams and Individuals
· Riders will jump a course of 5-8 show jumps and then proceed immediately into the XC phase of 8-15 Arena XC fences, depending on the size of the arena
· The speed for the XC phase will be between 320m/m to 375m/m depending on the size of the arena – smaller arena = tighter turns which slow you down. A larger arena with flowing lines will ride on a quicker time. The speed for each class will be given in the schedule or on the noticeboard at the event. Times will be recorded to one-hundredth of a second if the timing equipment allows.
· NSEA/BE Eventing Rules for tack and rider equipment for XC.
· There will be no style mark. No age restriction on the mini (70/75) class.
EC2) Dress: XC colours, body protectors are compulsory. Hair must be above collar length, long hair to be kept in place in a hair net. Rider must wear BE approved skull caps, no fixed peak SJ hats.
EC3) The competitor with the fewest penalties wins. In the event of a tie, the competitor closest to the optimum time will be the winner. In the team competition, the total of the best three scores is used to place the team. The combined difference from the Optimum Time of the 3 best scores is used to break any ties.
EC4) The top 2 teams and 4 Individuals at each height will qualify for the NSEA Eventers Challenge Championship to be held at Hickstead in May 2024.
EC5) Organisers are asked to ensure that the XC phase includes elements that give a choice about the track and therefore the time taken. Organisers are asked not to display a clock showing the time taken visible to the rider to as the aim is to educate riders to ride by feel.
Penalties are awarded as follows
Knockdown (to include SJ and knockable xc fences) | 4 penalties |
1st Refusal | 4 penalties |
2nd Refusal | 8 penalties |
3rd Refusal | Elimination |
Rider Fall | Elimination |
Horse Fall | Elimination |
Starting before the bell, retaking an obstacle already jumped, error of course or outside assistance | Elimination |
Where the Optimum Time is 120 seconds or less, for every commenced second in excess of 10 seconds under the optimum time | 1 penalty |
Where the Optimum Time more than 120 seconds, for every commenced second in excess of 15 seconds under the optimum time | 1 penalty |
Exceeding time limit (2 times the Optimum Time) | Elimination |
Body protectors are compulsory. Hair must be above collar length, long hair to be kept in place in a hair net.
Crash hats, no fixed peak SJ hats. In the event of a tie, the competitor closest to the optimum time will be the winner. If teams are tied, the times of the 3 best scores closest to the optimum time will win.