BE Rule Change - Black Flag Alternatives

zacinto

zacinto

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Just wondered if anyone could please explain the rule change regarding black flag alternatives. This was mentioned several times on the commentary at Isleham at the weekend (I think in relation to the Intermediate log on the bank, steps and skinny) but I have to confess I was only half listening as I had finished and was busy packing up.

BE posted the following 'important rider information' regarding rule amendments on 1st March 2013:- "Rule 6.3.9.7.2 At an obstacle composed of several elements (A, B, C, etc., whether or not black flagged) a Horse will be penalised if it passes around any element or circles between elements at any time having jumped or negotiated the first element and before finally completing the last element".

Does this mean that riders were penalised for 'passing round' (i.e. they had not presented / glanced off) the direct route skinny to get to the black flag alternative skinny? Or was it the direction they turned in and possible circling / crossing of tracks that accrued 20 penalties. Sorry, just trying to get my head around how the rule differs to before.

Thank you very much,

Confused of Newmarket
 
I rang BE today to ask for clarification of this rule...as I believe that the wording & diagrams used in the 2013 rulebook are ambiguous & open to different interpretations...they have promised to get back to me.

What they are trying to do is prevent riders looping round to get to an alternatative, but in the process,they will make some alternatives that I know of unuseable unless one has had a refusal first....some rebuilding will be required.
 
*giggle*

We were trying to get the Controller to explain the rule over the tannoy. He declined:D

It caught an awful lot of people out though.


Here's the link to a pdf of the relevant information: clicky clicky
 
quizzie said:
I rang BE today to ask for clarification of this rule...as I believe that the wording & diagrams used in the 2013 rulebook are ambiguous & open to different interpretations...they have promised to get back to me.

What they are trying to do is prevent riders looping round to get to an alternatative, but in the process,they will make some alternatives that I know of unuseable unless one has had a refusal first....some rebuilding will be required.
Click to expand...

The TA and steward should have been round the course to check that all alternatives are legally jumpable. The course designers/builders will indeed have had to do some work to incorporate the rule.
 
Thank you Thistle - (cheeky Cougar!).

Glad it's not just me who is a little confused quizzie!

jemima*askin - thank you for the link to the pdf, image 16 makes sense with the note that 'you may not pass behind an obstacle before you jump it'. I don't blame your poor Controller, much easier to explain with diagrams!
 
the fact that it looks like you can go parallel to a fence is going to be interesting. I am sure there will be some heated disputes as to whether the rider presented or not in the season..
 
As far as I'm aware, the only thing that has changed relates to the ability to circle behind the final element of a combination. I always thought this was really weird when the rule was introduced as, to my simple mind, it meant you were circling before completing all elements. This has been changed so now you cannot circle around any element without incurring 20 penalties.

The issue of whether the horse was presented or not has always been there and can be very subjective! :eek:
 
Some very "interesting" routes shown on the BE document.

Not sure why you would jump A and then the AB option!!! Some of the others are not the most logical to me,

Would be interesting to know how the fence that caught them out at Isleham was laid out - does anyone know?
 
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