This year's Rolex may have the honor of being a selection trial for both Toronto and Rio.
The USEF has announced the list of events that will likely be named as U.S. selection trials for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Though all eyes are currently firmly fixed on who will represent the U.S. at this year’s Pan American Games, where Team USA must win gold to even qualify for Rio, the first selection trial for the Olympics is already nearly upon us. With a historic high of 91 entries this year, Rolex will likely serve as a selection trial for both Toronto and Rio in just four weeks’ time.
This list is still subject to approval from the USEF International Discipline Council, the USEF Board of Directors and the U.S. Olympic Committee, but here’s where the list of potential Rio selection trials stands now:
2015
Rolex Kentucky (USA) CCI4*, April 22-26
Badminton (GBR) CCI4*, May 6-10
Jersey Fresh (USA) CCI3*, May 6-10
Saumur (FRA) CCI3*, May 21-24
Tattersalls (IRE) CCI3*, May 27-31
Bromont (CAN) CCI3*, June 4-7
Bramham (GBR) CCI3*, June 11 -14
Luhmühlen (GER) CCI4*, June 18-21
The Event at Rebecca Farm (USA) CCI3*, July 22-26
Burghley (GBR) CCI4*, Sept. 3-6
Blenheim (GBR) CCI3*, Sept. 17-19
Boekelo (NED) CCI3*, Oct. 8-11
Fair Hill (USA) CCI3*, Oct. 14-18
Pau (FRA) CCI4*, Oct. 21-25
Galway Downs (USA) CCI3*, Oct. 29-Nov. 1
2016
Rolex Kentucky (USA) CCI4*, April 28-May 1
Badminton (GBR) CCI4*, May 4-8
Jersey Fresh (USA) CCI3*, May 11-15
Saumur (FRA) CCI3*, May 19-22
Tattersalls (IRE) CCI3*, May 26-29
Bromont (CAN) CCI3*, June 2-5
Bramham (GBR) CCI3*, June 9-12
Luhmühlen (GER) CCI4*, June 16-19
If this current list is approved, Rolex and Jersey Fresh will hold the honors of being selection trials for both the 2015 Pan American Games team and the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. No pressure, right? No American riders are entered at Badminton this year, so the 2015 event will not play into the Rio selection picture.
The final list of selection trials will be published along with the Eventing Selection Procedure for the 2016 Olympic Games, which we will link to once it’s available to the public. Additional selection events may be added to this list. The selection process will be consistent with the procedure for 2015 Pan American Games.
[USEF Memo on Selection Trials for the 2016 Olympic Games]
Update: Luhmühlen’s 2016 horse trials will not be an official U.S. Olympic selection trials. All other events listed in this post are official selection trials.
