United States Eventing Association

The FEI Bureau has approved a revised points system for the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 series.

The new system, which takes on board recommendations from event organizers involved in the series, has now been brought in line with other rankings and standings in Eventing.

2011 FEI Classics Standing and Point System

Points will be awarded to the top 25% of starters at each event (as per prize-money principles and regular Eventing ranking rules) as follows:

1st: 15 points
2nd: 12 points
3rd: 10 points
4th: 8 points
5th: 6 points
6th: 5 points
7th: 4 points
8th: 3 points
9th: 2 points
10th: 1 point

1. Riders will earn points with their best single performance at each event (rider must have achieved a Minimum Eligibility Result at the event)

2.. In case of equality of points, points accumulated over fewer events will determine a better placing than points gained over more events.

3. If there is still equality of placing from points awarded at a single event, the best placed rider is the competitor whose placing is achieved in the event with the most starters.

4. If there is still equality of placing in the case of riders awarded points in several events, the rider whose points have been accumulated from the events with the highest collective number of starters will be the best placed rider.

* If there is still a tie, the best placed rider is the competitor with the lowest total of penalty points at the specific event (=differentiating score; if a rider is awarded points in several events, the best score will count as differential.

HSBC has supported the HSBC FEI Classics™ series since 2008 and will be contributing US$ 1 million in prize money over the next three years, which represents the biggest pot on offer in Eventing on an annual basis.

The HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 series, which offers a prize of US$150,000 to the series champion, once again takes in the five four-star events – the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER), The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) and Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA).

At the end of the season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected among the HSBC FEI Classics™ events will be awarded prize money as follows:

1st - US$ 150,000 (Series Champion)
2nd - US$ 75,000
3rd - US$ 50,000
4th - US$ 33,000
5th - US$ 25,000

HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 Calendar:

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 22-25 April
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) - 28 April-1 May
Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER) - 16-19 June
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 1-4 September
Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 12-16 October