Stopwatches allowed in lower level eventing

Stopwatches are to be allowed in all British Eventing competitions for a trial period next year.

The right pace

From the first event in March 2016 until the end of June, riders will be able to wear stopwatches on the cross-country phase at BE80, BE90 and BE100.

They were previously prohibited at BE100 level and below. However feedback from stewards and officials revealed that riders at lower levels were struggling to get the right speed over different tracks.

A growing number of coaches use stopwatches in training to teach riders how to set their pace.

Speed training

Under 18 regional coach Mark Corbett said: “It is about learning to use the stopwatches as part of your cross-country equipment and to help riders find the rhythm and speed that they use in training to then use in competition.

“Speed Training courses from BE will be coming out around the country at all ages and levels to understand how to use their watches effectively and put it in to practice using marked distances.”

Full details on stopwatches will be published in the 2016 British Eventing Rule book.