WORLD VOLUNTARY CAVALRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

S

Stan Watts

Member
Joined
15 May 2011
Messages
15
Visit site
THE WORLD VOLUNTARY CAVALRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

Over many years, there has been a move from the Voluntary Cavalry, to have an international venue where they can pit those hard won skills against each other in a world arena. With this in mind, the International Light Cavalry Association has been wandering the globe to find such a place where the first World Volunteer Cavalry Championships could be held. We have found such a place with the home of the 15th Pulk Ulana in the fair city of Poznan, Poland. Not only have they embraced the project with gusto but have recruited the Polish Government and the Polish Armed Forces to also take this event to their heart.

Poznan is a beautiful city that is in the centre of Europe. Not only has it great road and rail links, it has an international airport that gives it superb links to the rest of the world. We are lucky in that Poznan is one of the cities hosting the European Football Championships later in 2012. Therefore, the City of Poznan’s Council is more than willing to extend those logistics over the World Voluntary Cavalry Championships to assist us in making the event a success.

Worldwide, most Voluntary Cavalry hold their own National Cavalry Competitions. The International Light Cavalry Association has done its best to try to accommodate elements from all of these competitions in the disciplines to be expected at The World Voluntary Cavalry Championships. This should produce a multiple disciplined event to test the skills of the cavalryman. Some of these will be familiar others will be familiar to others. Nonetheless, the field will be even for all.

Whilst the ILCA cannot support competitors in their transport costs it is expected to be able to supply free accommodation at an army base in Poznan during the event to ease the pain of attending.

As far as mounts are concerned, we expect a lot of the European teams to bring their own to the C Championship. Nonetheless, this wouldn’t be an option for those coming more than 1,000 Km let alone all the way from Australia. With this in mind, we have located horse yards across Poland that can supply good quality cavalry type mounts. This will give competitors the opportunity to work their chosen horse the week before the competition at the horse yard and travel to Poznan with them. This will not only give them a better chance to make a good go of it, but also a chance to take some time to holiday in one of the most beautiful countries of Europe. For those who cannot afford the time, there will be a LIMITED supply of mounts at the event which will be drawn from a hat. I will say that these mounts will be very fit for purpose and will not let down a good rider.

I really commend all Cavalry to attend The World Voluntary Cavalry Championships 2012. If you cannot compete then assist someone who can. If you can’t find anyone, then come along and support your Country.

Stanley J Watts
President
International Light Cavalry Association
 
I had never heard of this organisation. What sort of competition? Are there any photos or you-tube links from previous events?

My grandfather was a Riding Instructor and Champion Tent Pegger with British Army in India.

I breed CB's and also Shagya Arabs, which were originally bred to be cavalry horses. The Imperial Guard of the Hapsburg's always rode Shagya Arabs.
 
Rollin,

The ILCA is a loose association of national cavalry associations from around the World. Each Association has an annual cavalry. competition. With this in mind, I have included a link to the Polish 'Dni Ulana', which took place last month:

http://www.lepszypoznan.pl/2011/04/16/dni-ulana-2011-–-konkurs-wladania-lanca.html

As far as tentpegging is concerned, we will be including this as an element in the mounted skill at arms discipline in the competition next year. Most of the old Empire voluntary cavalry include this element in their competitions. With this in mind, please find below the disciplines that will be the trials at the Championship:

Spirit of Cavalry Award,

Before I get to the main parts of the competition, I would like to talk about a 'prize' for the Unit that best displays the spirit of Cavalry. This is a total test, not only of the trooper but also the Unit and Country he represents. As such, this will be a running competition. This will be carried out over the whole length of the competion with marks added or subtracted over the weekend and will be based on the comportment, sportsmanship, behaviour, altruism and general bearing of the 'group' based on what should be expected of a cavalry unit and its members. This will be voted on by a secret international team who will hand in their scores just before the announcements on the Saturday night. Whilst not a purely mounted award, in my mind, this is probably the most important award any group can win.

Trails:

1, Turnout and Authenticity,

Before all competitors take part in the rest of the trials, they will be expected to take part in the Turnout and Authenticity trial. This will be based on authenticity of the tack related to the period and nations cavalry being represented by the trooper and also the standard of turnout and cleanliness of the tack and horse. It must be noted that this is the only one of the trials where a clear TOTAL elimination from the overal competition can take place. Every trooper will, on his application form, include the date and nation of his cavalry impression. This will allow the judging team the opportunity to do the best by the trooper and make sure there is an 'expert' present to advise on the authenticity or the impression. Marks will also be awarded for turnout and cleanliness of both the trooper and his tack. Whilst the trooper cannot be eliminated for being not being perfectly authentic as no one can be perfectly authentic (althoug only cavalry tack will be allowed in any trial), he can be totally eliminated from the competition at this stage, if it is felt by the Judges, that the trooper is not showing them, the rest of the competitors or the spirit of cavalry enough respect to look to himself, horse, and tack and present in a clean and and tidy manner.

2, Dressage,

Will be to FEI and the 'test' to be used, will be announced in a timely manner to all competitors so that they can practice.

3, Showjumping,


Will be to FEI, the height being set so that all competitors will not be put off in taking part.

4, Crosscountry (Military),


Will be to FEI, with a course of a level to accomodate all competitors within the spirit of cavalry.

5, Live Rifle firing,

Will take place at a Range, with the scores going forward.

6, Mounted Skill at Arms,


This trial will take place over a course with jumps and will include the competitor using sabre(sword), lance and pistol (airsoft) against targets Elements of all nations present mounted skill at arms competitions will be included. This will allow all to have known comfortable elements but also ALL to have elements that will not be so comfortable. This will mean that all will be able to learn new cavalry skills and not to give an advantage to any nations system of operation.

7, Team Scout test (seperate to the overal mark for the Championship)


This will be over a set course of not less than 15 KM where the team will be tested for map reading, intelligence collecting, covert movement and battlefield reading along with route awareness. It will be acceptable for teams to be made up from elements at the Championships, thus giving individual competitors the oportunity to take part.
 
Stan,

Thank you for the link - some lovely photos.

Also thank you for the information on competition. Map reading..modern day Le Trec?

Dressage would not exist without the old cavalry schools.

My father (2nd Gurkha Rifles) was an expert on military history he always claimed the Apache Indians had the best light cavalry in the world!!
 
Rollin,

Yep, the Polish are a great bunch and skilled with it (don't tell them I said that).

Modern day La Trec?? Don't you mean the ancestor of La Trec:p

Oh to find some old Apache to become members of the ILCA. Without a doubt, masters of the use of weaponary from horseback and keeping a horse to the field when others would have lost their mounts :)
 
Keep this thread going and send more photos when you can it will generate a lot of interest I am sure.
 
Rollin,

It maybe of interest, that whilst regular Units 'do' mounted skill at arms and cavalry trials etc. A lot of the groups are civilian, hence the term 'Voluntary'.
 
Try another post in both New Lounge and Competition - ask if there are any jousting enthusiasts out there? Might be the sort of riders who would love to take part.
 
STEENIE_0


Here is a photograph of Piotr Walter, who won the Polish Cavalry Competition in Poznan this year. Here he is doing a display of the lance.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top