Swiss on a Roll to Host Eventing Europeans After FEI Change of Heart

Avenches in Switzerland has emerged as the front-runner to host the 2021 European Eventing Championships following pleas to reinstate the prestigious event from major names like Michael Jung and Ingrid Klimke.

The Swiss submitted a bid to the FEI last week in time for the December 15 FEI board meeting. The FEI told HorseSport.com that Avenches was not, in the end, considered at Tuesday’s meeting, because the FEI instead decided to re-open bidding to all. A final decision will be made in March.

At this late stage it seems unlikely many other contenders will come forward. Haras du Pin in France, the cancelled host, and Millstreet in Ireland, unsuccessful contenders for the 2022 world championship, were involved in behind-the-scenes talks this fall but dropped out for undisclosed reasons.

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Tokyo was postponed to 2021 because of the pandemic, and in early May the FEI cancelled the 2021 European Championships in jumping, dressage, eventing and para because of date clashes and to keep the focus on the Olympic Games. However, many thought the decision was premature. Significant pushback led by the European Equestrian Federation led to a u-turn in jumping and dressage, but not eventing.

The on-off status of the senior championships has been a hot topic in Europe. Many active European equestrian nations cannot, under the Olympic quota system, send teams to Tokyo 2021. Some also believe the postponed Olympics could yet be cancelled, leaving it too late to organise a continental championship nearer the time.

Jung said, “There is a motivated and experienced team at Avenches which has shown it has what is needed: very good facilities, experience, financial strength and more essential key criteria you need to host an event like this.

“I don’t understand why we should not take this amazing chance and to have equal rights in our discipline like the other disciplines.

“It is so necessary that eventing has an event like the Europeans, especially due to only three riders representing each nation at the Olympic Games. After having talked to friends like Joseph Murphy (Ireland) or Maxime Livio (France) I realized that no-one knows that there actually is an organizer who is highly motivated to give us the European Championships.”

If Avenches is confirmed, it will take place from September 23-26. Ludger Beerbaum is staging the jumping equivalent at his own venue, Riesenbeck in Germany, from August 30- September 4, and the dressage is at Hagen, also in Germany, from September 7-12.

Even in “normal” years it has become difficult to secure hosts for the senior eventing championships. The costs on top of a normal 4* CCI, partly attributable to FEI championship hosting fees and broadcasting requirements, are a burden to eventing organisers whose costs are already higher, pro rata, than arena-based disciplines. Luhmuhlen in Germany was the only viable bidder for the eventing Europeans in 2019. Haras du Pin is the only contender for 2023, with bidding closed.

The FEI responded: “We work closely with all bidders throughout the process, showing flexibility on requirements where possible. The FEI believes that division of the costs involved in putting on a Championships of the stature of the FEI Eventing European Championships between the FEI and the Organising Committee is fair and reasonable. Of course the FEI is always open to suggestions on how to make the FEI Eventing European Championships an appealing prospect for bidders.

“Whilst it is true that there are typically fewer bidders for senior Eventing European Championships than for other Olympic disciplines, it is also the case that the pool of venues/organising committees that can host a senior Eventing Europeans is smaller than the pool in jumping and dressage, and this might be a factor.”