Fight continues to avoid the drop from elite

GREAT BRITAIN'S relegation from the top tier of show-jumping's Nations Cup competition is to remain in place, despite an appeal against the decision by the British Equestrian Federation.

In the summer, Great Britain's team and Belgium tied in eighth place in the 2009 competition.

The bottom team should be relegated to the promotional league and the FEI had to decide which of the two teams it should be.

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They first decided that both teams should stay up but only a few weeks later changed their minds and ruled that both teams should be demoted.

The British Equestrian Federation and British Show Jumping felt that the rules were ambiguous and appealed against the decision.

The case was heard by an FEI tribunal in Geneva last month. They have now been informed that the appeal has been turned down. Belgium did not oppose the decision.

"We are very disappointed by this and need to consider the decision of the FEI tribunal in detail before deciding our next move," said a spokesman for the British Equestrian Federation this week.

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The BEF has 30 days in which to confirm whether they will carry on with the appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

IF you think you have the talent and the ambition to ride at Olympic or Paralympic level, now is the time to do something about it.

If you are aged between 14 and 30 and are eligible to ride for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the organisers of the Equestrian World Class Development Programme would like to hear from you.

Applications for the programme for 2011/2012 can be made from this weekend.

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The programme is funded by UK Sport and is designed to select and support talented riders and their horses with the ability to be medal winners in the future.

If successful, they can eventually move on to the World Class Development Programme which supports our top riders at senior international level.

The programme includes the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing and show-jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage. Formal selection takes place every two years.

Anybody who wants to apply must complete the first phase of the process before March 16. More details about selection will be available at www.bef.co.uk.

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IRON HORSE Equestrian Supplies in Moss, Doncaster has reached the national finals of the 2010 British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Business Awards.

The shop will be in the running for the BETA/SEIB Retailer of the Year Award at BETA's gala dinner in Birmingham on Sunday, February 21.

The shop, opened in 2004, is run by Vanessa Townsend and her mother, Jean Waterworth and has been nominated for the award by customers.

BOOK early if you want to be sure of the best tickets – the Horse of the Year Show box office is now open for this year's event from October 6-10 at the NEC in Birmingham. Book on 0844 581282 or at www.hoys.co.uk.

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