The invitations to individual athletes will be based on the following order:
a. Five invitations will be issued to Irish athletes by Horse Sport Ireland’s High-Performance Jumping Director on, or before, the 21st of July 2024. These invitations will be issued based on the following criteria;
i. Athlete and horse combinations must achieve a score of not more than eight penalties over both rounds of a CSIO3* (or higher) Nations’ Cup competition in the current year.
ii. Athletes will be invited to compete with three horses in the CSIO5* competitions, with the approval of Horse Sport Ireland’s High-Performance Jumping Director, and they may bring an additional horse to compete in the Puissance only. (For all matters relating to these invitations please refer to Horse Sport Ireland’s High-Performance Jumping Director).
iii. If these, or any of these invitations, have not been allocated on or before the 21st of July they will be automatically allocated to Irish athletes based on the Longines Jumping Rankings as per point ‘e’ below.
b. Two invitations will be issued to Irish-based athletes who have competed outside of Ireland in 2* Grand Prix or ranking classes at 3* shows or above between the 1st of February and the 31st of May 2024, and meet the extended criteria as per point’s i., ii. and iii. below.
i. The two athletes invited to compete as Individual athletes in the CSIO will be determined based on Longines Jumping Ranking Points earned. Their top eight results (i.e. highest number of points earned) in 2* Grand Prix or ranking classes at 3* shows or above for the period 1st of February to the 31st of May 2024 will determine the invitations.
In the event of an equality of points, the athlete that earned the most ranking points, at the highest level of competition, in the period 1st of February to the 31st of May 2024 will receive the invitation. (The height of the competition and the star rating of the Show will be factors considered when determining the athlete who receives the invitation).
ii. To be eligible for an invitation under point ‘b’ athletes must have been placed in the top ten in a minimum of one Plusvital Premier Grand Prix Series show in the current year.
iii. Athletes must be resident, and have an operational base, on the island of Ireland. Both athlete and horse(s) must be registered with Show Jumping Ireland for the current year, and only athletes registered with the FEI as Irish athletes will be eligible for an invitation.
iv. Athletes may compete with a maximum of two horses in the CSIO5* competitions. Athletes may bring an additional horse to compete in the Puissance only.
v. Should one, or both, of the athletes be unable to accept the invitation or be selected to compete on the Irish team, the invitation will go to the next highest ranked Irish athlete under the criteria as outlined. However, only one reserve place will be offered. In the event that there is no athlete(s) to fulfil the invitation criteria, the invitation(s) may be added to those issued as per ‘e’ below.
c. The top two athlete and horse combinations in four of the first five Plusvital Premier Grand Prix Series shows - Barnadown Showjumping, Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Cavan Equestrian Centre, Maryville Stables and National Balmoral Show will be invited by the Organising Committee to compete as Irish Individual athletes at the Dublin Horse Show.
i. Athletes may compete with two horses of their choice in the CSIO5* competitions. Athletes may bring an additional horse to compete in the Puissance only.
ii. The top two athletes (based on athlete and horse combination) will be invited to compete as individual athletes in the CSIO5* competitions. Should one, or both, of the athletes in the top two be unable to take up their place, an invitation may be extended to the third highest ranked athlete, should that athlete be unable to accept the invitation, the invitation(s) will be added to those issued as per ‘e’ below. In the event of an equality of points the athlete with the best results at the Plusvital Premier Grand Prix Show at National Balmoral Show, on the 21st of July will receive the invitation.
d. The Organising Committee may issue up to five additional ‘wild-card’ invitations to Foreign Athletes not represented by a Team, a Young Irish Athlete and an athlete from the Irish Army Equitation School.
i. Athletes must have made a written request to the Committee to be considered for an invitation.
ii. The invitation(s) will be issued to Foreign Athletes except for in the case of a Young Irish Athlete and an athlete from the Irish Army Equitation School as per points v. and vi. below.
iii. Athletes must be ranked within the top 250 of the Longines Jumping Rankings, the only exception being for athletes who have won an Olympic Medal or World Championship, the Young Irish Athletes or the athlete from the Irish Army Equitation School as per points v. and vi. below.
iv. Athletes with a horse available to compete in the Puissance will be given preference, and participation in the Puissance may be included as a condition of invitation.
v. One Young Irish Athlete who has achieved outstanding results, or has shown extraordinary talent during the year, may be given an invitation. The OC may consult with the HSI High-Performance Jumping Director in relation to the Young Irish Athlete invitation.
vi. One athlete to represent the Irish Army Equitation School will receive an invitation to the Show.
e. If there are unallocated invitations under points ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’, or ‘d’ above, they may be issued to an Irish Athlete based on the Longines Jumping Rankings published on the 31st of May 2024 (No. 281).
i. The top Irish athlete in the Longines Jumping Rankings published on 31st of May 2024 (No. 281) will be invited to compete as an individual athlete in the CSIO should an invitation become available. Should this athlete be unable to accept his / her invitation, or be selected to compete on the Irish team, or have qualified under points ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’ or ‘d’ above, that invitation will go to the next highest ranked Irish athlete and so on. (The number of invitations issued will not exceed the total number of athletes specified under points ‘a’ to ‘d’).
ii. Athletes will be invited to compete with three horses in the CSIO5* competitions. Athletes may bring an additional horse to compete in the Puissance only.
The Organising Committee reserves the right to increase or reduce the number of invitations which it issues under point ‘d’ and ‘e’ above in line with the operational requirements of the Show.
The Organising Committee reserves the right to amend or vary the selection criteria to best meet the interests of the Show.
