13 minute read
International
Endurance GB’s International Committee has announced the appointment of former international rider Fiona Bloom as Chef d’Equipe to the senior international team. Fiona (33) succeeds longstanding manager Liz Finney who has retired 25 years after first stepping into the role.
New senior team
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Chef d'Equipe
Liz Finney has been involved in international endurance from the early 1980's and was a member of the British team at the first European championships at Florac, France, then in Germany, where she and Show Girl II won the individual silver medal, and finally at the first World Equestrian Games at Stockholm in 1990 where the British team of Liz, Judith Heeley, Joy Loyla and Lilla Wall were Gold medallists. Liz was Chef d'Equipe on 14 occasions starting at the European championships at Morlaix in 1995 where the team of Pat Fowler, Jo Trego, Sally Hall and Jill Thomas won gold. She was Chef d’Equipe two years later at the European Championships at Pratoni Del Vivaro in Italy and took on the challenging task of leading the squad at the inaugural desert World Championships in the UAE in 1998 where the team scored four completions, Jo Trego, Jane James, Graham Hartley, Anne Newton landing a credible seventh place out of 16 nations.
As an FEI judge, Liz has officiated in Europe, the USA and Dubai and was President of the Ground Jury at the World Championships at Euston Park in 2012. Liz was also Chairman of British Endurance Riding Association and was heavily involved in the formation of Endurance GB following BERA’s merger with the Endurance Horse and Pony Society (EHPS). She founded the Cheshire endurance group in 1991 and has been their Chairman for a number of years. Her swansong as International Chef d’Equipe was at the 2019 FEI European Championships at Euston Park where the team came fifth.
Rosemary Attfield, Chair of International said: “Liz Finney has given a huge amount of commitment to the international side of the sport over a number of years and provided strength and continuity by taking on the role of Chef d’Equipe at so many major championships. We all join in thanking her for all that.”
Fiona Bloom (nee Hamilton) has been competing in endurance since the age of eight, firstly with Rosemary Attfield’s 13hh Welsh Section C, Burfield Queen Bee, with whom she completed the Wicklow Ride as well as winning Gold on Exmoor in 2000 at the age of 13 becoming one of the youngest competitors ever to take part in the 100 mile event. Fiona has ridden internationally at FEI level 25 times and represented Team GB on teams at every level. With her grey mare Sharifah, she twice represented the Senior International Team at European Championships both at Assisi in 2009 and at Barroca D’Alva in Portugal in 2007 at the age of 20, where she and Sharifa finished in 19th place and the team finished sixth. That same year she won the 160km CEI3* at Ermelo in Holland and followed up with a win in the CEI3* 160km at Euston Park in 2007.
Professionally Fiona is a chartered human Physio and ACPAT & RAMP registered veterinary physio. She is also a FEI permitted Equine Therapist. She owns her own practice working with horses and riders across the equine disciplines. Her MSc thesis was entitled “Performance Differences within the Elite Endurance Horse” and she is currently studying for her PHD which is focused on lameness in Endurance horses.
Rosemary Attfield said: “It will be a very busy year in 2021 with the World Championships at Pisa in Italy (May 21-22) with all those taking part having completed their two three star competitions between 23rd August 2018 and 9th April 2021 and the Europeans in Ermelo in Holland (September 6-11) with qualifying dates for this competition from 5 December 2018 to 5 July 2021.
“Fiona will bring to the role of Chef her huge enthusiasm, youth, and a recent knowledge of competing both in the team and individually at international level from riding a 13.1hh pony to competing on a large, strong Arab. .
“Her strengths include a desire to lead from the front with a competitive and successful team, to bring the squad together, so that irrespective of whether they make it into the team of five, they all feel they are part of the team and their success. Fiona’s knowledge, having always being an excellent team member herself, will also make her very inclusive with the rest of the management team.
“The other team management for the Worlds and Europeans will be Georgina Vaughan as vet, Nigel Brown as farrier and Robyn Dunn as physio. I along with my committee wish Fiona all the best with her team in 2021 and on.”
Reflecting on her championship career, Liz Finney said: “Looking back there were many highs and lows but the greatest team achievement in my time was at Morlaix winning the gold medal in France and having Rod Fisher as team vet helped enormously. Kentucky World Equestrian Games was special too, one of the few WEG's where endurance was based at the same venue as the other disciplines and the team finished 6th. I am also very proud of the team effort last year at Euston Park, when the team members really worked well together and the crews, many of whom had international experience themselves, were amazing.
“Although the organisation at Tryon in 2018 was a disaster, the management team of Hannah Kelly (vet) Kelvin Lymer (farrier) and Sam Daplyn
(equine physio) were great to work with and we had plenty of lighter moments amongst the chaos! We had the same team leading up to the Europeans at Euston, though Georgina Vaughan took over from Hannah at the competition due to Hannah being eight months pregnant! Kelvin has been a constant over many years as team farrier and his experience of all number of scenarios in the team championships was invaluable.
“Fiona comes in as Chef with a lot of experience of international competition, so is well able to deal with the challenges ahead. Next year’s championships will be very different to previous years as the new FEI qualifications come into effect, making qualifying more difficult and there are both World and European competitions taking place. We do have a core of experienced horses and riders and also some very promising combinations who will be hoping to qualify as soon as possible.
“I wish the international committee and squad management team well in continuing the progress that has been made over the last few years in developing a large squad of international riders and helping them achieve their goals.”
Fiona Bloom said: "I hope to lead a competitive team, which every member of the squad is part of, regardless of who is on the start line. I hope to bring my competitive experience and nature to the team combined with the most up to date research into the sport for us to optimise our success. We have an excellent management team that I trust implicitly and who will assist myself and the team greatly. I am under no illusion as to the challenges that lie ahead given the lack of competition this year and two championships next year, but the GB spirit will rise to the challenge!"
Fiona Bloom and Courtside winning the Arab Horse Society Marathon
Farewell and thank you!
Ian Williams, former FEI Director for Endurance
“Liz’s most outstanding achievement was probably at Morlaix where Great Britain won the Team Gold. She was quietly assertive in pulling together and managing what was essentially a team of individuals and her planning and research paid dividends in terms of directing team tactics. In the UAE three years later the challenges were enormous, with ambient temperatures exceeding fifty degrees centigrade in the early afternoon sun. We did very well to finish a team, in no small part due to the conviction which Liz carried through that everybody should be riding and working as a team”
Rod Fisher, British Endurance Team Vet 1989-2001
“Liz was a very important part of the era and management team when British endurance was a strong force. Liz was always fair but firm and it was a privilege to be part of the Team Gold at Morlaix and the first desert championships. Thank you Liz!
Jo Trego, former British Senior Team rider
Assessment and selection pathways
Looking ahead to the 2021 season for the World Championships at Pisa in Italy on the 21st & 22nd May and the European Championships at Ermelo in Holland from 6th to 11th September, the International Committee explains the assessment and selection pathways.
1. Assessment Criteria The following criteria will be taken into account in making selection decisions having successfully completed their two three star competitions in combination within 33 months of the championship.
The results by horse and rider combination at the relevant classes in 2018 from 23rd August 2018 to 10th April 2021 for the Worlds and 6th December 2018 to 5th July 2021 for the Europeans.
1.1.
Further consideration may be given to:
Spreadsheet Results in from 2018 to final selection 2021 Availability of experienced crew Attendance as a combination at assessment sessions
1.2. All combinations will be expected [except under exceptional circumstances] to compete at a minimum speed as identified by the International Committee in the planning procedure prior to selection and to attend additional specific rides/classes at the request of the International Committee
1.3. The fitness and soundness of the horse. The advice of the Team veterinary surgeon or another veterinary surgeon may be sought. The advice of the team equine physiotherapist or another equine physiotherapist may also be sought. Riders should notify the Team Veterinarian of any change in their horse’s health status or veterinary management immediately.
1.4. The fitness of the rider. Fitness of riders to compete to their full potential will be taken into consideration.
1.5. The technical nature of the courses at which competitions will be held and results-based evidence of the combination’s competence over comparable courses.
1.6. Willingness of a combination to compete at rides/in classes identified by the International Committee in conjunction with Team Management, as important for assessing performance. Riders will be expected to give strong justification for their reasons for non-attendance.
2. Selection Process 2.1. Combinations will be notified at the earliest possible opportunity to allow for sufficient planning if they are required to participate in a head to head competition.
2.2. The assessment will be informed by the Team veterinarian and physiotherapist as to the riders’ or horses’ fitness. This information will be coordinated by the International committee and will be delivered in summary/matrix format and not include the confidential detail.
2.3. Veterinary matters – as part of the assessment process the advice of the Team veterinary surgeon will be taken into consideration. There will be an official inspection which all horses must attend. Alternatively, the official inspections may take place at riders’ yards or at a competition. Riders are expected to facilitate open communication between their own veterinary surgeon and the Team veterinary surgeon.
2.4. Farriery matters - as part of the assessment process the advice of the Team farrier will be taken into consideration. Riders are expected to facilitate open communication between their own farrier and the Team farrier.
2.5. Announcement of the chosen individuals to travel as the Endurance GB International Team to the World Endurance Championships 17th May, 2021 will be announced on or around 5th April, 2021. For the European Championship to travel around 3rd September 2021, the team will announced around 5th July 2021.
2.6. This information will remain confidential until such time as Endurance GB releases a formal announcement
3. Post Selection 3.1. Maintaining fitness – Riders should note that selection decisions are subject to the horse/rider combinations retaining fitness/ performance [see Substitution below]. Once a horse/rider combination has been selected they must maintain a suitable training or competition programme.
3.2. Substitution – the International Committee may substitute a Reserve combination for a Squad member between the announcement of the Squad and the Closing Date for entries. The reason for a substitution should only be because:
3.2.1. Either the rider is unfit to compete due to injury or illness or
3.2.2. The performance of the Squad individual has dropped off to such an extent that for the success of the Squad/Team a substitution is vital or
3.2.3. There is a strong veterinary case for substitution. This situation will almost certainly occur as a result of a veterinary problem which it may or may not be possible to define given the time/resources available at the time.
3.2.4. In the case of a horse being considered unable due to veterinary reasons to compete or unable to compete to the performance standard anticipated, this decision will be made by the Team veterinary surgeon and in consultation with the Chef D’Equipe and Chair of IC if available.
3.2.5. Breaches in compliance with the Code of Conduct detailed below and conditions laid out in the Rider Agreement including the Communications Policy.
4.
4.1.
General Discretion – in exceptional circumstances, the International Committee will be entitled within the provisions of this process to exercise their discretion to achieve the objective where it is reasonable to do so.
4.2.
Code of Conduct
4.2.1. Riders, their support teams and all Squad management personnel will be required to abide by any agreements and/or abide by codes of behaviour for the endurance team appropriate to the event.
4.2.2. Riders and their support teams are expected to behave at all times in a manner that does not bring the sport, and in particular Endurance GB/SERC/FEI, into disrepute.
4.2.3. Riders, their support teams and all Squad Management personnel will be required to sign and comply with the Confidentiality Agreement.
4.3. Clean Sport – Selection is subject to compliance with FEI Rules on doping and medication control for Human and Equine. Any rider or horse being considered may be subject to random testing in or out of competition
4.4. Cancellation/Postponement – in the event of cancellation of the Event the relevant parties will be notified straightaway. In the event of postponement, a situation might arise where a new and/or different Squad or individuals need to be selected, in which case all parties will be notified and normal procedure for selection will be followed.
4.5. Force Majeure – in the event of exceptional circumstances beyond Endurance GB's control e.g. disease outbreak in horses or humans, the Endurance GB reserves the right to make the decision, following consultation with the Chair of International Committee, Chef D’ Equipe, to change the Selection procedure, which might include withdrawing the GBR Team/s or individuals from competition.
5.
5.1
Communication Points of Contact
5.1.1. The key point of contact relating to this Selection Process is: Chair of the International Committee
5.1.2. The point of contact for riders who wish to discuss their intended competition plans will be the Chair of the International Committee or their squad Chef D’ Equipe; riders are encouraged to discuss their competition plans with their squad Chef D’ Equipe
6. Appeals Process and
Procedures 6.1. Riders have the right to appeal against a selection decision but only on the grounds of failure to comply with this Process. An appeal must be made by submitting notice in writing to both the Chair of International Committee and Chair of Endurance GB within 48 hours of the relevant rider being informed of the decision.
The Chair of International Committee shall on receipt of the notice of appeal seek to bring together all parties for a without prejudice discussion that may, if all are agreed, take the form of a facilitated mediation. For more information please contact International Director, Rosemary Attfield – rosemaryattfield@endurancegb.co.uk
