FEI Tie-Breaking Rule Questioned in TerraNova CDI3* Results
8 months ago StraightArrow Comments Off on FEI Tie-Breaking Rule Questioned in TerraNova CDI3* Results
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
MYAKKA CITY, Florida, April 5, 2024–A rule imposed by the FEI–International Equestrian Federation–created an outcome at the TerraNova CDI3* Grand Prix despite years of warnings of the possibility of unfairness that have been ignored by the governing body of the sport.
The issue involved scores of Jennifer Williams of Roy, Washington on Joppe K and Marcus Orlob of Loxahatchee, Florida on Jane.
Both combinations finished on the same score of 1,611 points that put them in a tie for first place.
Under a FEI rule, the scores of the individual judges are rounded up or down even though not awarded in that fashion. In this case, the judges on the panel of five were from Poland, Colombia, Germany, USA and Luxembourg.
By rounding out the scores Jennifer and Joppe K were declared the winning combination on a score of 70.044%.
Marcus and Jane placed second on 70.043%.
Ties for equal first places have typically been decided by the median score.
The scores from all five judges for Jennifer and Joppe were 69.348% (E), 69.783% (H), 70.543% (C), 68.370% (M) and 72.174% (B).
For Marcus and Jane the scores were 70.761% (E), 68.261% (H), 68.913% (C), 70.217 (M), and 72.065% (B).
If the median score had been applied, Marcus on Jane would have been declared the winner with a median score of 70.217% with Jennifer and Joppe placed second with a median score of 69.783%.
Neither of the American riders commented on the result, and both accepted the placings as declared.
However, as one judge commented: “The decisions of the judges don’t mean anything if the scores are changed in a way not intended by us.”
Another official remarked, “What if this occurred at the Olympics or a championship? Who would accept it!”
