Date: May 14th 2017
Running order of Divisions: CIC 2star, CIC 3star, CCI2star, CCI 3star
Arena: 380ft x 190ft All weather
Starters/Clear Rounds:
CIC 2 Star – 21/12 plus 1 with time faults (62%)
CIC 3 Star – 21/8 plus 1 with time faults (43%)
CCI 2 Star – 11/7 (77%)
CCI 3 Star– 8/4 plus 2 with time faults (75%)
I understand that the building day for this Event did not have the most ideal conditions with rain and also discovering, that once on site, the Members Tent placed in the corner of the ring, was positioned not quite as expected and therefore some ‘tweaking’ of the courses had to take place. I am sure this is something we Course Designers have all experienced, if not you will! However, it shows that as a Course Designer you have always to be ready for the unexpected and react accordingly. At times you have to start all over again rather than trying to make your course fit just for the sake of it.
There were three different tracks used throughout the day, but none of the jumps were moved. With all the courses posted in advance, competitors were able to walk their respective Divisions, even if it meant taking photos on their phones and following their tracks in that way, to remember them.
While each Division jumped the triple combination away from the in-gate, it was the last fence in each course so that should have made it a little easier. For Two and Three Star Divisions, although challenging, this should not be a big problem but for lower Divisions this is not ideal. Jumping triple combinations is normally one of the most difficult parts of the course and some horses do have problems passing the in-gate. While this is not the Course Designers problem, once novice horses have trouble jumping combinations it is difficult to re-train them and one of the duties of the Course Designer, is not only to get a result, but to encourage good jumping and the education of the horse and rider.
In changing the track for the CIC Three Star and CCI Two Star Divisions the course ended up a little right handed with both combinations jumped off the same lead and with verticals at both ‘A’s, therefore asking the same question.
The track for the CCI Three Star was more twisting then the others and had a very interesting approach to each combination. Both required a ‘roll back’ to the fence before the combination, one to a vertical and the other to a triple bar, but off different leads. It would have been interesting to have watched how different each line rode.
Richard Jeffery
USEF Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor