Calgary, AB – Riders from 17 nations competing at the Spruce Meadows “National” will have the added incentive, and bonus, of competing for coveted FEI ROLEX Ranking Points in a total of ten FEI jumping events. This was not a guarantee leading into the tournament after the FEI had established an exchange rate to the Swiss Franc that had a negative impact on a number of events that previously had been eligible for ROLEX Ranking Points.
“In the past any FEI Spruce Meadows events with prize money of $25,000 or more allowed riders to gain ROLEX Points for world rankings,” said Spruce Meadows president, Linda Southern-Heathcott. “The exchange rate established at the start of 2010 by the FEI effectively relegated a number of top events which we feel was punitive to the riders and the sponsors. The Spruce Meadows Organizing Committee worked with our “Friends of the Meadows” sponsors to make sure each of the effected events would continue to meet the standard in every respect so the riders could continue to gain ROLEX Points.”
Olympic Champions Eric Lamaze (2008) and Rodrigo Pessoa (2004) have been very vocal in their displeasure of the FEI’s exchange rate position and its effect on the riders and the sponsors at Spruce Meadows.
