Another nail in the coffin of the CCI. The European Championships in everything but eventing are to be held at Aachen in August. The eventing championship will be held at Blair Castle in the UK in October.
BUT, and this is the nail, Aachen will be holding its usual CICO 3* during the European Championships for everything else. So it will look to the rest of the world as the eventing championship, accepted by the FEI.
Discuss.
I am confused. It will look to the rest of the world… ? Can you elaborate, Vineyridge?
The regular Aachen CHIO (normally in July), which usually has the CICO3*, was shortened and moved to the end of May. The Aachen dressage and show jumping Classics were held then. The European Championships in August at Aachen have all of the FEI discipline Championships except for eventing. IIRC, Championships in eventing are required to be CCIs–3* for the Europeans. Rather than forcing Aachen to hold a CCI (which they were able to do for the 2006 WEGs) and having everything Championship at Aachen, the FEI gave the Eventing Championships to Blair Castle.
But what I find “the nail in the coffin” is that Aachen is allowed to hold its normal 3*CICO DURING the European Championships as if they were the Eventing Championships. IMO, Aachen should not have been allowed to hold an eventing competition at all during the Championship weeks if it was not to be the Championship. People who come to Aachen or watch Aachen that week when everything else is the European Championships will see the eventing competition and just assume that it is also Championship level and the CICO with XC last is how top level eventing is run.
The Aachen European Championships are in essence a mini-WEG, and the eventing is CICO3*.
Viney, you have a supple and subtle mind. I never, ever would have caught that. Among other reasons, I can’t get past the alphabet soup of competitions anymore!
You go!
So …
August in Aachen:
European championships in everything but eventing
Eventing CICO 3* held same place, same time, but it is not a championship
October in Blair Castle, UK:
European eventing championships CCI 3*
Problem: People incorrectly think the eventing they see in the August is the championships and conclude the CICO 3* is the way it is from now on, re the FEI.
As I understand your point, vineyridge.
Just a different presentation for those of us with more active brain cells in the left hemisphere. 
It’s actually an slow erosion of the belief that the CCI is the goal of eventing at the ULs, and that the CIC is simply preparation for the CCI and not an end in itself. The Europeans press to have the CIC an equal format all the way to the 4* level and to be the Olympic format, as witnessed by their proposals at the recent Sports Forum. I read that as meaning that the Europeans want to get rid of the CCI, since over time there can only be one Championship format.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8201216]
It’s actually an slow erosion of the belief that the CCI is the goal of eventing at the ULs, and that the CIC is simply preparation for the CCI and not an end in itself. The Europeans press to have the CIC an equal format all the way to the 4* level and to be the Olympic format, as witnessed by their proposals at the recent Sports Forum. I read that as meaning that the Europeans want to get rid of the CCI, since over time there can only be one Championship format.[/QUOTE]
What is the big press to remove the CCI? Do riders really not want to showjump tired horses THAT bad. It’s kind of pathetic really. Maybe eventing would be safer if they had to choose horses that could showjump the next day.
The CiCs have shorter but more intense XC courses run on the last day, which means that horses without classic stamina can run themselves to exhaustion and lameness without having to face the 2nd inspection. It allows that kind of horse to go home immediately and rest and heal. And, as you point out, sj is much easier on a horse that is not tired and having to change its jumping style while tired.
The Europeans would also say that having XC on the last day makes it more the center of the sport, since it alone determines the final outcome.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8201298]
The CiCs have shorter but more intense XC courses run on the last day, which means that horses without classic stamina can run themselves to exhaustion and lameness without having to face the 2nd inspection. It allows that kind of horse to go home immediately and rest and heal. And, as you point out, sj is much easier on a horse that is not tired and having to change its jumping style while tired.
The Europeans would also say that having XC on the last day makes it more the center of the sport, since it alone determines the final outcome.[/QUOTE]
If one of the benefits is getting to skip a vet check and run down your horse, perhaps we should add a vet check at the end of things somehow. So, you know, people can’t essentially abuse their horses to win.
[QUOTE=kdow;8201368]
If one of the benefits is getting to skip a vet check and run down your horse, perhaps we should add a vet check at the end of things somehow. So, you know, people can’t essentially abuse their horses to win.[/QUOTE]
There is one…but is not the same. It is done right after xc. Sometimes they just watch them jog as they are pulling up from xc. So its bad if you horse clipped itself or lost a shoe that may be fine the next day…but some of the soreness and stiffness that takes the night is not detected.
Plus I worry that xc last will put too much pressure to take risks that a rider might not take…knowing that they still have SJ to go. It may work out the other way though…if you know you are out of it already and may just run for a steady finish.
If it really happens that XC after SJ is permanent, I think I will have to exit the sport as an owner and withdraw support from the upper levels. It just wouldn’t be the same.
I also think I would stop grooming at FEI events. There is nothing like the thrill of sending your rider to the start box, running to the vet box, waiting nervously for 5-10 minutes, running to meet them at the finish, and then taking responsibility for the fire breathing dragon that just came into the box just to get that nod from the vet that you are free to leave. There is nothing more satisfiying than telling a rider that you will do everything in your power to make that horse 110% for the jog the next day, staying in the barns until 11 pm to do it and then being first in the barn at 5am to check on them and start braiding. I have lost years off my life anxiously waiting and biting my nails for the acceptance and subsequent SJ round. It is the absolute best.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8201298]
The CiCs have shorter but more intense XC courses run on the last day, which means that horses without classic stamina can run themselves to exhaustion and lameness without having to face the 2nd inspection. It allows that kind of horse to go home immediately and rest and heal. And, as you point out, sj is much easier on a horse that is not tired and having to change its jumping style while tired.
The Europeans would also say that having XC on the last day makes it more the center of the sport, since it alone determines the final outcome.[/QUOTE]
right…ugh. Because having XC last and the determining factor makes for safe riding too.
Showjumping last is so much more exciting! One rail to lose it all…I just love it. When I started eventing we always ran dressage/xc/showjumping - the shows never ran any longer and it was so much truer to the sport.
Right, Jealoushe. And then there’s the victory gallop! I really miss that when XC is last. (Still remember the first one I saw that had music playing. Neil Ayer had a puckish sense of humor which could be demonstrated in his victory gallop music selection. But it was thrilling and made me misty eyed.)
Also, given that it takes awhile to collect, post, check and finalize XC scores the results are by no means immediate, unlike SJ.
[QUOTE=frugalannie;8202234]
Right, Jealoushe. And then there’s the victory gallop! I really miss that when XC is last. (Still remember the first one I saw that had music playing. Neil Ayer had a puckish sense of humor which could be demonstrated in his victory gallop music selection. But it was thrilling and made me misty eyed.)
Also, given that it takes awhile to collect, post, check and finalize XC scores the results are by no means immediate, unlike SJ.[/QUOTE]
yes the victory gallop! When you had to be present and wear your whites to get your ribbon. Such a fun time back then…
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