The ABCs of CBLMs

By, Paige Zimmerman

As many of you may already know, ESDCTA is hosting the Col. Bengt Ljungquist Memorial (CBLM) Championships this year. The championships are going to be held at the Horse Park of New Jersey from October 12-15.

The CBLMs are a USDF/USEF licensed championship, similar but distinct from the USDF Regional Championship Program. The CBLMs are only held in Region 1, which includes: Delaware, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Eastern West Virginia (Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties). Now, how does one qualify for the CBLM’s? What follows is a summarized guide. For the full rules, please see http://www.cblm.org/wp/.

Step 1

Prior to qualifying for the CBLM’s there are a few things you need to make sure of. As stated previously, the CBLMs are a USDF/USEF recognized show, and in order to qualify you must participate in recognized shows. Therefore, you must ensure that the rider, horse owner, and horse have all their USDF and USEF memberships up-to-date and have completed Safesport training as required to compete in USDF licensed shows. Further details about requirements to participate in USDF/USEF recognized shows can be found online on the USDF and USEF websites.

Additionally, the rider must be a member of a USDF Group Member Organization (GMO) that is a participating GMO for the CBLMs. You must be a member of the GMO before you earn your qualifying score for the CBLMs. ESDCTA is an example of a participating GMO, but there are many more, including:

● Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA)

● East Coast Regional Dressage Association (ECRDA)

● Lehigh Valley Dressage Association (LVDA)

● North Carolina Dressage & CTA (NCDCTA)

● Potomac Valley Dressage Association (PVDA)

● Virginia Dressage Association (VADA)

● Plus more (refer to the USDF website for a full list of Region 1 GMOs)

Step 2

Now it is time to compete in a qualifying class at a 2023 CBLM qualifying show.

● First and foremost, check the prizelist for the event to ensure that it is listed as a CBLM qualifying show. This designation will mostly likely be on the first page of the prizelist, and will say something along the lines of: “2023 Col. Bengt Ljunquist Memorial Championship (BLM) Qualifying Event” or “2023 CBLM Qualifier”.

● You only have to receive ONE qualifying score.

● There is NO extra fee to ride in a qualifying class.

● CBLM Age is determined by the age of the rider as of December 1, 2023: children = 12–14, junior = 18 & under, young rider = 19–21, senior = 22 and over.

● See below for the CBLM qualifying tests and qualifying scores. The same tests used to qualify will be used in the Championships. For example, if you qualify for the CBLM Championships for Third Level Senior, you will be riding 3rd level test 2 in the Championships. (Note: There is an exception to this rule for the FEI Children, Pony, Junior, and Young Rider tests, which is explained in more detail in the official rules listed on the CBLM website.)

Qualifying Tests And Scores

Fourth Level Test 2 62% (Seniors) 60% (Juniors + Young Riders)

Fei Levels

Prix St. Georges 60% (Seniors) 58% (Juniors + Young Riders)

Intermediate I 60% (Seniors) 58% (Juniors + Young Riders)

Intermediate II 60%

Grand Prix 60%

Freestyles: 63% for all divisions and levels (Training level, 1st level, 2nd level, 3rd level, 4th level, I-1, and GP).

Pas de Deux: 65%.

Step 3

After you have received your qualifying score, you must manually submit your score to be listed as qualified for the CBLMs. The rider is responsible for this, as scores are NOT automatically tracked for this event. To submit your score, go to the CBLM website at http://www.cblm.org/wp/ and fill out the online qualifying form. Or, you can download the form to fill it out by hand and email it to Bettina Longaker at entries@scriptsrides.com

Once you have submitted your qualification, check the CBLM website frequently to make sure you appear in the qualified riders list.

You will notice that on the qualifying form, it asks you to list your division as A or B. The purpose of the divisions is to keep the playing field level amongst competitors, grouping riders together by level of experience. The divisions are as follows:

● Training and First Level Finals for Senior (SR)/YR riders:

○ A = Riders who have not competed at or above Third Level at a USEF licensed show

○ B = Riders who have competed at or above Third Level at a USEF licensed show

● Second and Third Level Finals for SR riders:

○ A = Riders who have not competed at or above the FEI Prix St. Georges level or in any of the FEI Young Rider levels at a USEF licensed show

○ B = Riders who have competed at or above the FEI Prix St. Georges level or in any of the FEI Young Rider levels at a USEF licensed show.

● Fourth Level Finals for SR riders:

○ A = Riders who have not competed at or above the FEI Intermediate I at a USEF licensed show

○ B = Riders who have competed at or above the FEI Intermediate I at a USEF licensed show

● Prix St Georges Finals for SR riders:

○ A = Riders who have not competed at or above the FEI Intermediate II at a USEF licensed show

○ B = Riders who have competed at or above the FEI Intermediate II and/or B at a USEF licensed show

My best advice to anyone who is interested in the championships is to review all of the 2023 rules and ensure your understanding of how the championships are run. I am so excited that ESDCTA is hosting the CBLM’s this year and I hope to see everyone there in October!