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The FEI Board, the body responsible for the general direction of the FEI and for all relevant matters not consigned to the General Assembly, held an in-person meeting at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 19-21 June.
Details of the main decisions taken at the meeting are available here.
Notes to Editors
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
A total of 10 countries have put in formal bids to host the FEI World Championships 2022, including two proposals to host the multi-discipline FEI World Equestrian Games™. Bidding countries are Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America.
More than 20 years after Rome stepped in as host city of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 1998 following Ireland’s late withdrawal, the Italians are looking to once again host the full Games. The Saudi Arabian capital city of Riyadh is also in the running having put forward an all-discipline bid for 2022.
“The number of formal bids that we’ve received for single and multi-discipline FEI World Championships and full Games is an excellent indication that the interest in the World Championships is as strong if not stronger than ever”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “We knew that some of the countries that put in expressions of interest back in February were just dipping their toes in the water, but these formal bids are a great validation of the new bidding process and show that we have a really strong product.”
The FEI initiated a bidding process for individual World Championships in all disciplines for 2022 after the FEI General Assembly in Manama (BRN) in November 2018.
The FEI Board decided that multi-discipline bids would be given preference, and that Dressage and Para Dressage should be combined. The World Championships in 2022 in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines will serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The new bid process allows for the sustainable and cost-effective use of existing equestrian sports facilities, and was put in place to provide the opportunity for the FEI to partner with National Federations that may have hesitated to put forward multi-discipline bids in the past.
In a key change to the bid procedure, the FEI hosted an interactive workshop at the end of March 2019 in Lausanne for all National Federations/Organising Committees that had submitted an expression of interest.
The workshop provided interested parties with detailed information of the structure, opportunities and minimum requirements for hosting the FEI World Championships 2022. By working more closely with the National Federations and Organising Committees from the outset, the FEI and its stakeholders can establish an achievable set of goals and work towards a unified vision for 2022.
All bids will be fully evaluated over the summer and allocation of FEI World Championships 2022 will be made at the in-person Board meeting during the FEI General Assembly in Moscow (RUS) in November this year.
All Disciplines
Multi-Discipline
Jumping
Endurance
Driving
Dressage
Para Dressage
Eventing
Reining
Vaulting
Notes to Editors
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) has today allocated host cities for 13 FEI Championships for the next two years and nine FEI Driving World Cup™ legs for the 2019/2020 season.
Budapest (HUN) will lead the way as host of the FEI Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, Driving and Vaulting European Championships in August 2021. This will be the first time that the Hungarian capital, which has a long tradition in equestrian sport, will host a multi-discipline FEI European Championships. The event will mark the 50th anniversary of the first FEI Driving European Championships, which were held at the same venue – Kincsem Park in the heart of the city - in 1971.
Two other major Championships were also allocated for 2021, with the FEI Eventing European Championships going to Haras du Pin (FRA) and the FEI Endurance European Championships to Ermelo (NED).
“The FEI European Championships are among the FEI’s most important events, attracting top class athletes and horses for over six decades”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “During the next two years equestrian fans will have the opportunity to enjoy thrilling sport in some of Europe’s biggest cities. The allocation of the FEI Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, Driving and Vaulting European Championships to Budapest will further promote horse sport in Hungary, which already has a remarkable equestrian history.”
The FEI Board also allocated nine legs of the FEI Driving World Cup™ series for the 2020-2021 season. This is the first time that the FEI has launched a bidding process for the FEI Driving World Cup™ legs, as previously only the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final was open for bids.
“This bidding process reinforces the FEI’s policy of transparency and fairness”, the FEI President commented. “It is a key step forward in harmonising the bidding for all FEI Championships, Finals and Series.”
The allocations were made by the FEI Board, the body responsible for the general direction of equestrian sport’s global governing authority, at its in-person meeting at FEI Headquarters in the Olympic Capital, Lausanne (SUI).
The FEI Driving World Cup™ Final 2021 which will take place from 4-7 February was allocated to Bordeaux (FRA) by the FEI Board in March 2019.
The FEI Board decided to re-open the bid process for a multi-year allocation for the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. Allocations will be made at the FEI Board meeting in November 2019 at the FEI General Assembly in Moscow.
Championships
The full list of Championships allocated at today’s FEI Board meeting at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) is:
2020
FEI Dressage European Championships U25 - Pilisjászfalu (HUN), July or August (dates to be confirmed)
FEI Dressage European Championships for Children - Pilisjászfalu (HUN) July or August (dates to be confirmed)
2021
FEI European Championships – Jumping, Dressage & Para Dressage, Driving, Vaulting - Budapest (HUN), 9-22 August or 16-29 August (dates to be confirmed)
FEI Jumping European Championships for Young Riders, Juniors & Children - Oliva, Valencia (ESP), 19-25 July
FEI Jumping European Championships for Veterans - Le Mans (FRA), July or August (date to be confirmed)
FEI Dressage European Championships U25 - Donaueschingen (GER), 12 - 15 August
FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders & Juniors - Segersjö (SWE), 26-29 August
FEI Eventing European Championships - Haras du Pin (FRA), 11-15 August
FEI Driving World Championships for Ponies, Four-in-Hand, Pairs, Singles - Haras du Pin (FRA), 16-19 September
FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders & Juniors - Ermelo (NED), 6-11 September
FEI Endurance European Championships - Ermelo (NED) 6-11 September
FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses - Arbore, Sardinia (ITA), 15-19 September
FEI Vaulting World Championship for Juniors - Le Mans (FRA), July - August (date to be confirmed)
FEI Driving World Cup™ series legs
The legs of the FEI Driving World Cup™ series for the 2019-2020 season were allocated as follows:
Lyon (FRA) 30 October-3 November 2019
Maastricht (NED) 8-10 November 2019
Stuttgart (GER) 13-17 November 2019
Stockholm (SWE) 28 November-1 December 2019
Budapest (HUN) 30 November-1 December 2019
Geneva (SUI) 12-15 December 2019
London (GBR) 16-22 December 2019
Mechelen (BEL) 26-30 December 2019
Leipzig (GER) 16-19 January 2020
Photo caption: The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) has today allocated host cities for 13 FEI Championships for the next two years and nine FEI Driving World Cup™ legs for the 2019/2020 season. (FEI/Richard Juillart)
Notes to Editors
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
Belgium posted a back-to-back double when coming out on top in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Poland 2019 staged at the popular seaside town of Sopot (POL) today. The team included two members of last year’s winning side, Pieter Devos (33) and Niels Bruynseels (35), who were joined by Gudrun Patteet (34) and Yves Vanderhasselt (40) to do it all over again this afternoon.
But the roller-coaster competition went right down to the wire, the result decided in a tense third-round jump-off against Ireland in which Devos’ chestnut gelding, Apart, rattled a few poles but left all the fences standing to bring it home for the 2018 series champions.
He had only just sealed the jump-off slot in round two when Belgian Chef d’Equipe, Peter Weinberg, asked Devos to take on Ireland’s Paul O’Shea in the third-round showdown.
“I said OK, I’ll do it, and normally Apart is very, very fast, but today he got a bit stressed when we had to go back into the ring almost straight away. But he always gives me everything and hey, everyone is very happy if you are last to go and you win it for your country!” Devos said.
It was a very different story at the halfway stage when the Dutch seemed to already have it in the bag after three effortless clears. Belgium, France and Ireland were all chasing with four-fault scorelines, and Team Germany were close behind with just five on the board, but the French were hampered by the withdrawal of pathfinder Simon Delestre as round two began. So despite clears from Olivier Robert (Tempo de Paban) and Roger Yves Bost (Sangria du Coty), they were obliged to add the four collected by Alexis Deroubaix and Timon d’Aure at the final Longines planks and that saw them lose their grip.
Meanwhile Dutch domination collapsed when Willem Greve (Zypria S) also hit the last, Bart Bles (Israel vd Dennehoeve) and Doron Kuipers (Charley) both faulted at the open water and Kevin Jochems (Cristello) lowered fence 10 on the course designed by Poland’s Szymon Tarant who was making his debut at 5-Star level.
In contrast the Irish stood firm with double-clears from Paul O’Shea (Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu) and Shane Sweetnam (Alejandro) backed up by a second-round clear from Peter Moloney (Chianti’s Champion), which meant that Bertram Allen (Harley vd Bisschop) didn’t need to return to the ring.
The Belgians didn’t have such an easy run of it when Vanderhasselt’s mare, Jeunesse, hit the second element of the penultimate triple combination. Bruynseels and Delux van T&L had been foot-perfect second time out and Patteet and Sea Coast Valdelamadre Clooney posted the second part of a brilliant double-clear, but if Devos couldn’t leave all the poles in place then he would be handing the top step of the podium to their Irish rivals. Typically however he didn’t flinch, and a jump-off was now on the agenda.
You could hear a pin drop as O’Shea led the way against the clock for Ireland, but his 12-year-old gelding hit the first fence before coming home to break the beam in 46.97 seconds. It seemed Devos would just walk away with it now, but the normally fully-focused Apart seemed uncharacteristically lacking in concentration and hit the top pole at the first element of the penultimate double really hard, only for it to roll back into place. They crossed the line three seconds off O’Shea’s target time, but their zero score would seal it for Belgium.
Devos was delighted with Apart’s performance. “He has done a lot of great things, and has won many 5-Star Grand Prix and World Cup classes but this is his very first Nations Cup and to go double-clear and then win it in the jump-off is very special!” said the man ranked fifth in the world.
“My wife (Caroline Poels) rode him up to 5-Star level and then I took over - he’s a fantastic horse with a great character. When he’s in the ring he gives me everything!”, Devos added.
A total of 10 countries are contesting Europe Division 1 this season, and following today’s third round of the series Belgium has moved into second place behind the leaders from France. Each country has been allocated four points-earning opportunities throughout the seven-leg league, and Sweden, the only country that has not collected points to date, will be making their seasonal debut at Geesteren (NED) next weekend where the Dutch will be hoping for better luck on home ground.
Only the top seven nations in Europe Division 1 will qualify for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2019 Final in Barcelona (ESP) in October where there will also be one last remaining Olympic qualifying spot up for grabs.
Result: 1, Belgium 4/0/0 49.87 seconds in jump-off - Delux van T&L (Niels Bruynseels) 4/0, Sea Coast Valdelamadre Clooney (Gudrun Patteet) 0/0, Jeunesse (Yves Vanderhasselt) 4/4, Apart (Pieter Devos) 0/0/0; 2, Ireland 4/0/4 46.97 in jump-off - Skara Glen’s machu Picchu (Paul O’Shea) 0/0/4, Alejandro (Shane Sweetnam) 0/0, Chianti’s Champion (Peter Moloney) 4/0, Harley vd Bisschop (Bertram Allen) 4/DNS; 3, France 8 faults - Uccello de Will (Simon Delestre) 4/DNS, Tempo de Paban (Olivier Robert) 0/0, Sangria du Coty (Roger Yves Bost) 8/0, Timon d’Aure (Alexis Deroubaix) 0/4.
Banner Caption: Pieter Devos and Apart clinched victory for Belgium today in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Poland at Sopot (POL). (FEI/Lucasz Kowalski)
Full result here
| 1. | France | 260 |
| 2. | Belgium | 190 |
| 3. | Switzerland | 180 |
| 4. | Ireland | 160 |
| 5. | Germany |
125 |
| 6. | Great Britain | 120 |
| 7. | Italy | 90 |
| 7. | Austria | 90 |
| 9. | Netherlands | 60 |
| 10. | Sweden | 0 |
Tom Ryckewaert (BEL), Event Director at the Belgian Eventing fixture at Waregem and one of the best known and respected FEI Officials in the Eventing community, has passed away at the age of 63.
A member of the FEI Eventing Committee from 2006-2009, Tom Ryckewaert was an event organiser, Technical Delegate (TD), Course Designer and Steward, acting as TD and Chief Steward at multiple FEI Championships and four Olympic Games – Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
He was due to officiate as TD at this weekend’s Longines CCI5*-L and the German National Championships in Luhmühlen (GER) and also at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at the same venue in August. He had previously worked as TD at the Europeans 2011 in Luhmühlen, the European Pony Championships 2012 in Fontainebleau (FRA) and the North American Junior Championships 2016 in Parker (USA).
A former international Eventing athlete, he had also officiated at major Eventing competitions all over the world, including the CCI-4* (now 5*) at Burghley (GBR), Lexington (USA) and Pau (FRA), and the World Young Horse Eventing Championships at Le Lion d’Angers (FRA).
Tom Ryckewaert was at the helm of the Waregem event for 40 years and, under his leadership, the venue has hosted a leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ since the series’ inception in 2012.
He was also President of the Alliance of Eventing Organisers, an affiliate of the overall umbrella organisation, the International Equestrian Organisers’ Alliance and was an FEI Level III FEI course director.
“The Eventing world has lost one of its greatest supporters with the passing of Tom Ryckewaert”, FEI Eventing & Olympic Director Catrin Norinder said. “He was a life force in our sport and contributed so much as an organiser and an official, and also as a member of the FEI Eventing Committee. We will miss him for his incredible expertise and great sense of humour.”
The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Tom Ryckewaert’s partner Florence, his four children - Thomas, Levi, Alice and Simon – his extended family and many friends in the Eventing world, the Belgian Equestrian Federation and the global equestrian community.
The Belgian Federation’s in memoriam is posted here.
Photo caption: Tom Ryckewaert (BEL), who has passed away at the age of 63.
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), world governing body of equestrian sport, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JustWorld International.
JustWorld International, formed in 2002, is a non-profit organisation aimed at uniting the global equestrian community to provide basic needs programmes to children around the world focusing on education and nutrition programmes.
Under the terms of the agreement, JustWorld International is designated an “Official Charity Partner of the FEI”. The two organisations will mutually promote their activities and work closely on development and fundraising for the JustWorld International charity programmes.
“The FEI is very happy to join forces with JustWorld International and sign this important MOU”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “Our organisations have a very strong connection, sharing the same values of promoting equestrian sport and encouraging its development among the youth. Through our Solidarity Programme ‘Sport for All’ we help children from public schools and from socially disadvantaged environments to have access to riding activities. The partnership with JustWorld International will allow us together to provide incredible benefits to disadvantaged children around the world.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the FEI and together transform the lives of children through equestrian sport”, JustWorld International Founder and President Jessica Newman said. “This has been a goal for JustWorld. We believe that working together with the FEI and having their official support will have a remarkable impact and further enhance our charity programmes.”
Notes to Editors
MOU overview
In 2012 the FEI decided to use Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to better define its relationship with the different stakeholders. The MOUs cover universal issues such as FEI recognition, FEI Rules and Regulations, horse welfare, code of ethics, commitment to democratic processes, consultation, FEI General Assembly, FEI Sports Forum and meetings, governing law, dispute resolution, communication, and implementation.
MOUs have already been signed with the equine welfare charity World Horse Welfare, riders’ clubs, organisers and officials associations. Although recognition by the FEI does not entail voting rights at the FEI General Assembly, the MOUs formalise the relationship with the FEI, giving a voice to organisations working with the FEI in the development of equestrian sport.
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
JustWorld International is a not-for-profit organisation that transforms the lives of children in impoverished communities by funding education and nutrition programmes. The charity supports more than 7,000 children by providing access to life-changing programmes.
JustWorld International works through the international equestrian community and its extensive networks to fund and sustain programmes that provide basic needs to children with little opportunity to receive support from other sources.
Their Rider Ambassadors raise awareness and funds for their programmes, helping to give children a leg up to a brighter future.
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