By Lori Stewart
A level playing field (figuratively speaking) with a fair administration of
the rules and regulations governing FEI Competitions is in my experience
(beginning in 1986) one of the most appealing attributes of an FEI World
Championship event. Everyone
regardless of their nation of origin is treated professionally and equitably.
The FEI Officials at a championship event are responsible for the equitable
administration of the FEI rules and regulations. Only after attending (at
their own expense) and passing FEI courses for the various positions is a
person certified and qualified to work an FEI Event. Even so, the vast
majority of an official's duties are performed on a voluntary basis.
THANK YOU on behalf of all international riding enthusiasts to the OFFICIALS
for the 1996 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Junction City, Kansas. Without their
commitment of time and effort, the Championships would not be possible. Who
are they and what are their duties? (Note: The following list of officials is
preliminary pending final approval by the F.E.I.)
GROUND JURY
President: Dr. Georg Riedler (Switzerland)
Members: Bo Kjellgren (Sweden)
Irene Malone (Australia)
Pietro Moneta (Italy)
Lindsay Taliaferro (USA)
Mary Tisconia (USA)
They are responsible for the technical judging of competitions and settling
all problems that may arise during their jurisdiction.
FOREIGN TECHNICAL DELEGATE: Dr. James Bryant (Canada)
He inspects the course to satisfy himself that the technical details are in
accordance with the Regulations and Rules. He must satisfy himself that the
course is fair, particularly to
foreign competitors, and that knowledge of local conditions does not give an
unfair advantage. He has authority to instruct the OC to make any necessary
alterations. He helps the Ground Jury to supervise the technical conduct of
the competition.
APPEALS COMMITTEE:
President: Sandra McCartie (Canada)
Members: Ruth Carlson (Canada)
Barbara Holmes (Canada)
Elena B. Neves (Brazil)
Stagg Newman (USA)
Louise Riedel (USA)
In general, they deal with appeals against decisions of the Ground Jury and
all cases of violations of the Statutes, Regulations and Rules which do not
come under the jurisdiction of the Ground Jury. They may impose penalties of
varying severity.
CHIEF STEWARD: Eef E.M. Schreurs (Holland)
Members: Kerry Ridgway DVM (USA)
Debbie Lyons (USA)
Maggy Price (USA)
Florian Schmidthues (Germany)
They intervene when necessary in order to prevent any contravention of the
common principles of behavior, fairness and accepted standards of
sportsmanship. They report
any irregularities immediately to the President of the Ground Jury.
FOREIGN VETERINARY DELEGATE:
Dr. Hallvard Sommerseth (Norway)
He acts in a supervisory role to ensure that the Veterinary and General
Regulations are applied equally and impartially to competitors from all
participating countries.
VETERINARY COMMISSION:
President: Dr. Earl Gaughan (USA)
Members: Dr. Cecile Clamour Carbonell (Spain)
Dr. Julia Flaminio (Brazil)
Dr. Dane Fraizer (USA)
Dr. Bonnie Moore (USA)
Dr. Tony Pavord (Great Britain)
Dr. Jodie Peterson (USA)
Dr. Russ Peterson (USA)
Dr. Ray Randall (USA)
Veterinary Commission Members (Cont.):
Dr. Jean Pierre Saudemont (France)
Dr. Pietro Ziantoni (Italy)
The veterinary commission members are directly responsible to the OC for the
health and welfare of all horses at an event. For example they decide all
matters of a purely technical veterinary nature and take all necessary
measures for the prevention and control of infectious and contagious diseases.
They make a series of inspections and examinations required by FEI rules that
were established in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of the
horse in the competition. A Veterinary Delegate at an event cannot act as an
individual competitor's private veterinarian.
Veterinary Treatment Committee:
Chair: Dr. Kathy Yvorchuck
Members: Dr Judy Cox
Dr. Nancy Loving
Should a competitor's horse require veterinary care during the event, a
member of the veterinary treatment committee will provide that service.
The aforementioned job descriptions are summaries of much more detailed
explanations outlined in the Regulations of the Federation Equestre
Internationale. Don't worry. It is good for all to have a general
understanding of an official's function but only imperative that your chef
d'equipe, his assistants, the team veterinarian and his assistants
have a detailed knowledge of every official's job. For example if you as a
crew member or a competitor witness a probable violation, you immediately
notify your team's chef
d'equipe. As a crew member or competitor you DO NOT approach an FEI official
directly with the problem. Instead your chef d'equipe or his designated
representative notifies the appropriate official and stays directly involved
in the resolution of the problem on your behalf. This system has proven to be
very fair and best of all as a competitor or crew person, you never have to
break your focus and can put all your energy towards getting the USA's horses
across the finish line as fast and safely as is humanly possible.
A World Championships is not only an opportunity for world class competition
but also for WORLD CLASS LEARNING. Look at the number of countries
represented by the officials for the event. Regardless of their title, these
people are all experienced endurance enthusiasts. The ideas and insights
shared amongst the officials at the World Championships will benefit all
aspects of our sport. Even after 20 years of endurance riding, I am amazed at
how much I learby attending a World Championship. The international
perspective on the sport is fascinating. Even if you are just getting started
in endurance riding, find some way to attend this world championship as a
crew member, road crew person, OC volunteer, or spectator. Watch, listen, and
learn! What is the most valuable tool you can add to your program to improve
your horse's performance and longevity? KNOWLEDGE.
WORLD ORGANIZING COMMITTEE UPDATE:
Before the World Championships are upon us and life becomes too fast and
furious, let's take a moment to recognize and thank the folks in Kansas who
have been in the trenches planning and working to make this the best World
Championships ever. In the interest of space only the committee chair persons
can be listed. Working with these people are a vast number of unsung heroes.
While attending the event, take every opportunity to let the volunteers know
that you appreciate their efforts.
World Championship Management Staff:
Jerry Gillespie, DVM: Administrative Coordinator and Office Administration
Oversight Committee; Fund Raising and Fiscal Management Sub-committee.
Co-Chair of General Management and Headquarters Administration Oversight
Committee.
Martha Gillespie: Ceremonies Sub-Committee and Co-Chair of General Management
and Headquarters Administration Oversight Committee.
Lin Ward: Headquarters Arrangements for People (Riders/Officials)
Sub-Committee.
Debb Schram: Dignitaries and FEI Officials Sub-Committee.
Kathy Yvorchuck: Headquarters Arrangements for Horses Sub-committee.
Julie Bohnert: Veterinary Student Coordinators Sub-committee.
Margi Burton: Volunteers Coordination Sub-committee.
Jim Ward: Merchandise Management and Sales.
Earl Gaughan: Vet Check and Trail Oversight Committee Co-Chair; Vet Check
Points Sub-committee.
Randy Raub: Vet Check and Trail Oversight Committee Co-Chair; Trail
Sub-committee.
Bonnie Moore: International Health and Transportation Sub-committee.
Norman Dillman: Communication/Data Management/Timing/Leader Boards
Sub-committee.
Debbie McCullough: Marketing and Human Services at Vet Check Points
Sub-committee.
Christy Linders and Pam Stokes, Co-Chairs: Spectator and Traffic Coordinator
Oversight Committee; Spectator Sub-committee; and Traffic/Security/Signage
Sub-committee.
Belinda Skiles: Trade Show Sub-committee.
Ginni Caldwell: Media and Education Management Sub-committee.
Carole McLaughlin: Post Championship Party Sub-committee.
Sam Crawford: American Horse Festival Sub-committee.
COMING SOON to enhance your enjoyment of the World Championships a
brochure:"HOW TO ENJOY THE 1996 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP". To receive your copy
write: World Championships, 9200 Longhorn Drive, Manhattan, KS 66503.
For the latest in World Championship Information, the WC-E Home Page address
is: HTTP://WWW.VET.KSU.EDU/FEI
OFF CONTINENT NEWS:
The world endurance communtity is supporting the 1996 World Championships.
However, importation restrictions for horses that are piro-plasmosis positive
have changed the way other countries will be participating. Leasing is the
ticket although many foreign competitors will still be competing on their own
horses. Our riders have developed friendships with foreign riders over the
past 10 years that are paying dividends this year. Foreign riders are in the
process of leasing some of our countries top notch endurance horses that for
various reasons were not nominated by their owners or did not make the Long
List. Most of the leasing arrangements are being made privately so it is
tough to get a complete list of the countries fielding teams. Here is a
sampling of countries that intend to compete: Brazil, Belgium, Ireland,
Sweden, Qatar, Italy, Australia, France, and Germany. At this time, Great
Britain cannot afford to sponsor a team even one on leased horses. The
deadline for foreign countries to give preliminary notification to the
organizing committee of their intent to participate is June 15th. In the
August issue of "AERC News", a complete listing of the countries tentatively
entered in the World Championships will be published.
SELECTION UPDATE:
Great care and thoroughness continues to be applied to the selection process
by the selector's and their representatives. Some of the selectors are taking
the initiative to travel outside their zones to observe long listed riders
they are not too familiar with. Nancy Elliot of California went to the
Biltmore 100 in North Carolina. Linda Voight of Montana traveled to the
Diablo Vista 100 in California. Louise Reidel, Doug Lietzke, Nancy Elliot and
Hal Hall plan to attend the Race of Champions in Utah to observe Long Listed
riders.
Tony Bennedetti, Selector's Chair, is very appreciative of the work of the
selectors, the ride veterinarians who have contributed their opinions and the
following people who have served as selector's representatives: Carol
Patterson, Rae Heck, Sharon Westergard, Jeanie Stewart Spears, Jackie
Bumgardner, Teddy Lancaster, Debbie LaBerge, Sharon Dumas, Dr. Beasom and Dr.
Daryl Dunn. Thank you!
REMINDER: The demonstration period ends July 22nd and the selection of the
squad will be made August 12th. The squad of 12 horse/rider teams and the 12
alternates will be published in the September "AERC News".
SUPPORT TEAM UPDATE:
USA TEAM NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS. I guess there is the impression out there
that plenty of people have volunteered and additional help is not needed. Not
so! Contact Chuck Gray to join the USA support team. We will have a camping
area for anyone who wishes to camp during the event. They must register with
Chuck Gray before September in order to have a place. If you want to keep
life easy and feel somewhat pampered during your stay in Kansas, the USA Team
has rooms blocked at the Days Inn - (913) 762-2727. At past World
Championships great team camaraderie has developed when most of the support
personnel stayed at the same hotel. COME JOIN THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT OF THE
USA'S RUN FOR THE GOLD!!
Distribution:
Miki Morrison AERCMIKI@aol.com Tony Benedetti INTERNET:TBen425@aol.com "*
Jerry Gillespie" > INTERNET:GILLESP@vet.ksu.edu Chuck Gray
INTERNET:Chuckaerci@aol.com Mike Tomlinson CMikeT@aol.com
E-mail from: R. K. and L. D. Stewart, 06-Jun-1996