Mendip Fun Team Challenge

We’ve scratched our heads and come up with a novel competition class to add to the mix on our final cross-country event for this season. The Mendip Fun Team Challenge is intended for teams of 3 or 4 riders; family groups, gangs of friends or scratch teams.

The course is designed using the most basic and natural cross-country obstacles, including our wonderful Mendip water complexes. We’ve left out all of the more technical types of eventer’s jumps. Every numbered obstacle has 4 elements, each at one of the 4 standard heights; 70, 80, 90 and 100cm. Each member of the team may jump any of the elements; it doesn’t matter which so long as everyone jumps one of the elements. Each element will be flagged and numbered in the standard colour for the height, so riders can avoid being too ambitious.

Only one team will be allowed on the course at a time. We will set a secret optimum time for the course, based on a reasonable hunting pace. The fastest team around the course will not necessarily be the winners. Teams will be timed around the course, from the nose of the first horse across the start line to the nose of the third across the finish. To qualify for the class, at least 3 of the team must cross the finish line. The class winners will be the team with the fewest penalty points and whose adjusted elapsed time is nearest to the optimum, with the time of the 4th horse being used as a tie-breaker.

The course will include a number of dressing fences. At these, team members are required to be organised enough such that each member will jump the obstacle in a synchronised manner, safely using as many elements as they wish. The first 3 horses are judged, and if the 3 horses are in the air together then there will be no penalties applied. For each horse that is not in the air with the others, a 5 point penalty will be added to the team’s overall time.

We will also have a team-chase style Pen obstacle, and this too requires the team to be organised. The pen is an enclosed area which must contain 12 horse hooves before the lead horse is allowed to jump out. If the rule is broken then a 20 point penalty will be added to the team’s score.

Other rules

Riders will be allocated bib numbers made up from a team number plus the letter A,B,C,D (eg 4A, 4B etc). They must wear the correct bib so that we know exactly which horse/rider combinations are on the course.

Normal jumping rules apply. Obstacles must be taken in correct numerical order, with the red flag to the right. Each number may only be jumped once. Errors of course must be rectified before jumping the next number obstacle. Failure to abide by these rules will cause the rider to be eliminated.

Riders can freely choose which element to jump at a numbered obstacle. If a rider has a refusal, they may re-present at the same or a different element for a maximum of 3 attempts before being eliminated. There are no penalties awarded for a refusal, but riders must maintain a mental note of their running total of refusals across all fences. An eliminated rider must immediately leave the course at the walk. It is not permitted to bypass a jump and continue around the course if they are eliminated, irrespective of whether or not a fence judge has advised them of elimination.

If a rider has 5 cumulative refusals around the course then they must retire and walk off the course of their own volition.

In the event of a horse fall or rider fall the combination is eliminated. The rider must remain dismounted and report to the paramedic team before they leave the course. The paramedics will only be physically despatched to the site of a fall if the officials on the spot request it. The remaining horses may continue running up to the time the paramedic is despatched. Cross Country Control will then stop the course at the next available jump, by means of an official waving a red flag. They will start a stopwatch to record the period for which a team is held, and this will be used to adjust their overall time.

If a loose horse continues to run with the herd or is likely to impede the course, the course will be red-flagged and a stopwatch started to record the delay period until it is captured.

Entries in advance only. You can book using our Secure Online Entry System.
No entries will be accepted on the day, If we do not have enough entries the competition will not go ahead.
Payment is secure and it goes directly to MPEC.
You will receive an email confirmation of your booking and payment.

Late entries will be accepted if we have room at a further £6.

In the event of abandonment entry fees will be returned less £10 administration fee. Withdrawals received in writing before the close of entries will entry fees returned less £6 administration fee. AFTER CLOSE OF ENTRIES, WE WILL ONLY TRANSFER IF WE CAN REPLACE THE ENTRY FROM A WAIT LIST. PLEASE EMAIL ALL WITHDRAWAL REQUESTS TO admin@mendipplainsec.co.uk Please note the £1.50 booking fee is non-refundable in all circumstances.

Strict Covid 19 Rules Apply.

Arrival & Parking
• Arrival, all entries MUST be in advance. Do not turn up on the day and expect to enter.
• No extra vehicles, spectators and extended family will be allowed on site. (One helper per one horse and rider)
• All tacking up and preparation of horses must take place within your designated parking area.

Jumping Arenas, Warm Up and Cool Down Facilities
A grass will be designated for the walk warm up and walk warm down.
• Warm up arena will be available for jumping.
Practice Arena Etiquette
• A maximum of 5 riders are allowed in the jumping warm up at one time.
• Riders should maintain a distance of five horse lengths apart from other competitors at all times.
• Anyone found to be disregarding these rules will be asked to leave.
• Only two MPEC Officials will be allowed in the arena on foot. No other persons on foot will be allowed in the arena at any time.

The Competition
• One competitor to be in the ring at any one time.
• Classes will run strictly to time allocation order.
• All competitions to be run as single phase.
• After cooling down riders must immediately return to their designated parking area to untack.
• No prize-giving will take place. Results will be read out and Results will be posted online.
• Rosettes will be left in a singular bag for collection if wanted.

Venue
• Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the venue. Please use on a regular basis.
• The cafe will be available for takeaway service.
• Toilets will have running water with soap and hand sanitiser.
• All staff, officials and volunteers will be provided with suitable barrier wear for all personnel.
• Maintain Social distancing at all times
• The office will be out of bounds to everyone.

An internal first aider will be present for the duration of the show. Correct PPE will be worm in the event of assistance being needed.
Ensure you pick up your horse poo and hay up from the car park using YOUR OWN Equipment
Bring YOUR OWN WATER for washing down and buckets.

Horse Riding is a dangerous sport and you participate at MPEC at your own risk and with out any reliance on MPEC, its owners, servants or agents for safety of yourself or your property. Due care has been taken to maintain the facilities in a safe condition, but riders must observe the following terms and conditions.

Terms and conditions for MPEC’S use of facilities and competitions:
1. The organisers reserve the right to cancel or amend and competitions or classes in any way.
2. A ‘Riding Hat’ designed to provide protection, must be worn at all times by anyone whether or not a participant or competitor, riding anywhere at the Mendip Plains EC site. Hats must reach at least one of the following standards: AII PAS 015: 1998, BS EN1384: 1997 – Provided that they are BSI Kite marked or SEI. Snell E2001 plus Snell Label with chin strap fastened as so to prevent the movement.
3. Body protectors – a British Equestrian trade association (Beta) approved and appropriately labelled Level 3 body protector, manufactured in the year 2000 or after, is mandatory for cross country and whenever else a body protector is required to be worn.
4. For all competitions, the judge’s decision is final. At all times, all competitors and other visitors to MPEC must ad hear to all instructions provided by stewards.
5. All persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
6. All rubbish must be disposed of in the bins provided. Lorries/trailers are not to be skipped out onto the car park, again please use skips and bins provided.
7. No horse/pony is to be left unattended unless secured in a lorry or trailer attached to a vehicle.
8. Dogs are welcome onsite but must be kept on a lead at all times. Waste is to be disposed of in bins provided.
9. At MPEC no smoking is permitted in any of the buildings.
10. Any facilities that are damaged must be reported to the office and paid for.
11. All accidents must be reported and an accident report completed at the MPEC office.
12. In all competitions the Judges decision shall be final.
13. There may be photography or filming going on at our competitions and it is your responsibility to let us know if you do not want to be photographed or filmed whilst at our event.

Health and Safety
MPEC has taken every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of everyone present. For these measures to be effective everyone must take reasonable precautions to avoid accidents occurring and obey the instructions of the organisers and all other officials and stewards at all times.

Limit of Legal Liability
Competitors enter and compete at their own risk and save for death or personal injury caused by the negligence of MPEC its owners, servants or agents they agree not to claim for injury, loss or damage caused to or suffered by any person, horse or pony or any other property including vehicles in connection with or arising from any activity at MPEC whether or not the said injury, loss or damage is caused by the negligence of the owners or any other person or thing on the MPEC land.

DISCLAIMER – ANY INDIVIDUAL USING THE FACILITES WITHIN THESE PREMISSES DOES SO AT THEIR OWN RISK.

We strongly advise that you take out your own personal insurance for both yourself and your horse. For full details of our Refund & Cancellation Policy for Bookings please refer to our website.