If you’re a British rider competing at CCI3*-S and would like to try your hand at representing your country in a European Championship, the European Cup — formerly known as the Rural Riders European Championship — could be the perfect opportunity for you. Ordinarily held every two years, it was last run in 2019 as this year’s planned edition, set to run in Lausanne, Switzerland, was postponed. Now, the Cup will run in 2022 and 2023 before returning to a two-year cycle and running again in 2025.
The unique competition allows up to eight combinations to compete per country, with six team places and two individual places available. In a unique twist, all the team riders must perform a test together in a long arena, emphasising the need for some seriously good team bonding beforehand. Though the competition is held at CCI3*-S, cross-country is held prior to showjumping, giving competitors valuable experience of the championship format.
So who’s it for, anyway?
“There are generally two types of rider who can enjoy the journey through career progression when representing Great Britain in the CCI3*-S European Championships,” reads British Eventing’s guide to selection. Those are as follows:
- Those who are no longer eligible for BE National or International youth teams (which are for riders 12 to 21 years old).
- Riders who began eventing at a later age or those who, during their young rider years lacked the necessary horse power or opportunity to compete at CCI3*-S level.
The eligibility requirements are as follows, per BE:
- Riders and Horses either separately or together must not have completed a CCI4*L or CCIO4*S in the last 2 years prior to the next European Cup unless this was as a Junior or Young Rider.
- Riders and Horses either separately or together must not have completed a CCI5*L, European or World Championships or Olympic Games at any time.
- Combinations should be able to ride as part of the Team dressage squad (6 x combinations in a 20×60 arena at the same time) as well as the usual individual/Team CCI3*S format.
- As a guide for competitors, they as a combination should aspire to achieve an average dressage score of 30 or below, an average show jumping score of 4 penalties or better and an average cross-country score of no more than 10 penalties slower than the fastest time in the class.
- Athletes/combinations who wish to be considered for selection should be aiming at least one result at 2* or above of 28 or better dressage, maximum of 4 penalties in show Jumping and clear xc within 3-time penalties of the fastest horse in xc.
- Riders must be a British passport holder.
Applications have now opened if you’d like to be considered for the 2022 competition, which will be held in Lausanne from September 1-4. Applicants will need to commit to training and selection days, and will be observed by selectors at national and international competitions throughout the selection period next season. To brush up on the full selection guidelines, click here — or, to go ahead and get your name on the list, fill out the form here. Applications will close on December 20.
