I guess I thought that Grand Prixs were limited to 1.60m heights. Was there a rule that changed about international competition heights? It’s also possible that I just didn’t know there was a different limit or “no” limit??
The FEI rule book states that no jump may exceed 1.70m (unless in a six bar or Puissance competition) and if I remember correctly the largest fence in the first round of the class was around 1.68m. I think they needed to up the ante a little bit since the class is now worth $3 million and 9 of the 10 top ranked riders in the world were competing.
My friend who volunteers at Spruce got the lowdown 
Because it’s a $3M dollar class, Spruce petitioned to get it recognized as a 1.70m so they could go over the old 1.60 specs. FEI approved this and allowed them to set ONE vertical on course as a full 1.70 (we figure it was the British flag one), the rest were all 1.60 to about 1.68!!!
i believe ,Olympic specs also can go to 1.70!
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I thought the bicycle was 1.7 m in the 2nd round.
They kept calling the yellow oxer “the 1.70m oxer” in the first round. Wonder if it was set at 1.68 and they just rounded up? And the announcer repeatedly called the skinny the “tallest, narrowest” fence (but maybe just because it was only the tallest for how narrow it was) and also repeatedly called the last fence the tallest and most difficult (assuming that was the 1.70m).
Also, specs for 1.60m classes have always said that they can be set to 1.70m. Here’s the class description from the 2016 class (before they announced that it was a $3M class): Jumps: 1.30m to 1.70m (4’3" to 5’6"). Spreads to 2.20m (7’) not exceeding 2.0m (6’6") for oxers and 2.20m (7’) for triple bars. • Speed: 400 meters per minute.
I agree that it was interesting that they called it “a 1.70m class.” I figured it just meant that they could set more of the fences at/closer to 1.70m than prior, or that they could set fences in the last round up to 1.80m (since they have a range they are allowed to exceed).
Is there a website I can view the replay?
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I think McLain mentioned at the clinic he did in Canada that Aachen also had a 1.68m vertical. I’m guessing they petitioned like Spruce, less so maybe for the money than the prestige factor of Aachen. Damnit if I don’t get to watch it one of these years!!!
They don’t have to petition to have a larger fence. FEI specs state that fences can go to 1.70m. I’m guessing Spruce had to petition to have a larger portion of the fences bigger…not for a one-off.
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Ah I see. I guess I’m just used to hearing the commentator Steve Hadley always calling them maximum height verticals at 1m60 and saying that they should allow 1m70 verticals to help with the too many clear rounds some shows are getting. Then again, maybe doing away with the back boots solves that problem anyway.
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All I know is that’s what the competition manager said (and they could have 1 vertical set as 1.70) … previously the specs for this class, were I believe, 1.60
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