IHAA general & competition rules
1. Determination of nationality
2. Age categories
3. Personal equipment, attire, archery equipment & tack
4. Horses
5. Scoring
6. Targets
7. Officials
8. The track
9. Warm up runs
10. Timing (and timing failures)
11. Refusals, falls and safety exclusions
12. Equipment failure
13. Personal conduct
14. Protests
15. Appeals
16. Competitors meeting
17. Procedure within the competition
18. Running of an HBAE competition
1. Determination of nationality
1.1 The nationality of a person is automatically that of their passport.
1.2 In the case of dual nationality, the rider may choose which nation they wish to ride for (unless 1.3 applies). This decision may not be changed within 5 years.
1.3 Riders may opt to ride for their country of residence (instead of the country of their passport) when they have been permanently resident in that country for 12mths.
1.3.1 Permanent residence counts as residency within that country for at least 9mths each year.
1.4 For Northern Ireland a rider may choose whether to ride for Ireland or GB as per the rules in 1.2.
2. Age categories
2.1 Child: Up to and including 13 years old
Junior: 14 to 17 years old
Senior 18 years or older.
2.1.1 In major championships only the Junior and Senior age categories will be recognised.
2.2 For determining 2.1, a competitor’s age is the age they will turn that year.
Ie. if a competitor turns 18 on 24th Oct 2018 they will count as 18 years old for all competitions in 2018, and must ride as a senior.
2.3 A competitor may choose to move up one age category (ie. from child to junior, or junior to senior, but not from child to senior). They must advise their national governing body by email or in writing. In the event that this is an international competitor the national governing should advise the IHAA.
2.3.1 If a competitor moves up an age category they may not move back down to their original age category that year.
2.3.2 If an individual enters a competition where there is no category provided for their age group they may compete in the closest age group that they are eligible for, without being required to officially move up an age group (as in 2.3).
2.4 Competitions for children will be run without timing rules. They must maintain the pace of canter or gallop, but they will not receive any points or penalties for speed; only target points and multi-hit bonuses (where applicable) will determine their score.
3. Personal Equipment, Attire, Archery Equipment and Tack
3.1 Safety equipment
3.1.1 Riding helmets are encouraged but are not mandatory for adults.
3.1.2 Junior and Child competitors must wear a riding helmet at all times when mounted.
3.1.3 Some competitions may require helmets to be worn to fulfil their insurance requirements. If this is the case it should be stated clearly on the competition information at the time of entry applications.
3.1.4 Rigid body protectors may be worn.
3.1.5 The permission of the chief referee should be sought before wearing an inflatable air-vest
3.2 Modern or traditional costume may be worn, it is the individual’s or team’s decision.
3.2.1 If competitions have a specific dress requirement this should be clearly specified on the competition information at the time of entry applications.
3.2.2 Even if it is specified that traditional costume must be worn, organisers must allow individuals to wear riding helmets if riders wish to do so.
3.3 Bows shall be of traditional form but may be of modern construction, including the use of modern materials. No arrow shelves, rests, cut-out windows, stabilisers, weights or mechanical releases shall be permitted. Any draw weight may be used.
3.4 Arrows may be of any material, including the nocks and fletchings. Only target or field points are permitted. Broadheads or any other point that causes excessive damage to the target shall not be permitted. Where blunts are required, they must be made of rubber, wood, plastic, leather or some other soft material.
3.5 These rules on quivers apply to all events in IHAA competitions when arrows are not being held in the hand.
3.5.1 Arrows may be carried in a quiver or in a belt or sash.
3.5.2 Quivers must be attached to the rider, they may not be attached to the horse, its tack or to the bow.
3.5.3 The quiver may be attached to a person's body, belt or upper leg. It may not be attached to the arm or lower leg (ie. no straps to be secured below the knee).
3.5.4 Arrows may not be carried in the boot.
3.5.5 Quiver types where arrow points are uncovered are permitted.
3.5.6 If the chief referee has concerns that a particular quiver is dangerous or it irritating the horse (for example, by flapping) then the referee may request that a competitor adjusts or changes the quiver. If this is not done to the referee's satisfaction he may forbid the person from continuing to use that quiver.
3.6 A competitor riding their own horse may use spurs, crop or other similar equipment. Competitors riding a horse that is not their own must have the permission of the horse’s owner before using such equipment.
3.7 There are no restrictions on the type of saddle used. However a competitor may not use his own saddle on a hired horse without the permission of the owner and (where there is provision for this) the approval of a saddler.
3.8 It is permitted to ride in a bitless bridle.
3.8.1 Horses may only be ridden with a neck-strap / cordeo with the permission of the organiser. In this case the horse should still wear a halter in case the rider falls and the horse must be caught.
3.8.2 Whatever the tack used (regular bridle, bitless bridle, neck-strap) the rider must have adequate control of their horse. If this is not the case they must rectify the problem or risk elimination (as rule 4.8 and 11.6).
3.9 Horses should have a free head carriage. Any device or arrangement that pulls on a horse’s head or mouth during normal paces, when the reins have been released, (whether used with the aim of slowing the horse or not) is not allowed.
Examples include (but are not limited to) bearing, side, draw, running, balancing reins, or similar. Devices such as the Market Harborough (German martingale) or de Gogue may be not be used.
3.9.1 Reins may not be looped over the pommel so tight that they act to slow the horse.
3.9.2 The use of martingales is discouraged. In competition, permission to use a standing martingale must be obtained from the competition organiser. If the chief referee feels the the standing martingale is tight enough to be doing more than simply preventing the horse raising its head dangerously high he may ask for it to be loosened or removed (see rule 3.9). A running martingale may be used without requiring specific permission.
3.9.3 Local rules may further restrict the use of standing and/or running martingales.
3.10 Where used, there must be a gap of at least 1.5cm between the horse’s nasal plate and a noseband.
3.11 Care should be taken that, when they are dropped, the reins do not hang so low that there is a risk of the horse stepping on them, or of them catching on anything. Short reins, knotted reins or rein keeps / quick release attachments may be employed as long as they do not contravene rule 3.9.
3.11.1 Rein extenders are permitted as long as they can be safely used by the individual.
4. Horses
4.1 All horses must be adequately trained and experienced in horseback archery and must be fit enough to complete all their required runs at canter or gallop.
4.2 Competition organisers and national bodies may make such rules regarding the horse's age, vaccinations, health records, veterinary examinations and fitness as are reasonable.
4.3 Competition organisers and national bodies may make such rules regarding the inclusion of stallions as are reasonable.
4.4 Without prejudice to the above rules, horses with a known propensity to kick or bite should be required to wear red or orange ribbons in their mane and/or tail.
4.5 Those competitors who have not brought their own horse, or arranged a private hire or lending of a horse, shall be allocated a horse by the competition organiser.
4.5.1 A rider who is hiring a horse should communicate their preferred horse speed and type to the organiser when he/she is registering for the competition.
4.5.2 Competitors must be given reasonable opportunity to ride their horses before the competition, to warm up in a field/arena; to canter/gallop down the track and shoot from the potential horses. Only in exceptional circumstances, e.g. poor weather, should procedure deviate from this ideal situation. It is the organisers’ responsibility to ensure that time for this is allocated in the competition timetable and that competitors are aware of when it will occur. It is a competitor’s responsibility to arrive in time for the horse selection (unless by prior arrangement).
4.5.3 The rider who is hiring a horse may express a preference of mount following horse trials. It is then the responsibility for the organiser to allocate horses appropriate to the ability, riding style, weight and preference of the competitor. The decision of the competition organiser shall be final and shall not be appealable under rule 9.
4.5.4 The same horse should be used by a rider throughout the whole competition, unless the horse is retired from the competition due to injury or because it becomes apparent that the rider is unsafe on that horse.
4.6 It is strongly recommended, but not mandatory, that no more than 2 competitors should ride a given horse in any one competition.
4.6.1 In the event that too many competitors wish to ride a particular horse (it being a horse available for allocation by the organiser), the final say shall go to the competition organiser and this decision shall not be appealable under Rule 9.
4.7 Rules 4.5-4.6 shall all be subject to the absolute right of a horse’s owner to determine which riders, and how many riders, shall ride their horse.
4.7.1 The owner of a horse may at any time withdraw their horse from the competition for any reason.
4.8 The chief referee may, at any time and at their discretion, rule that a horse is not safe to continue, either through injury or for any other reason.
4.8.1 Should significant problems arise during the competition (particularly if horses are being shared with another rider) there should be an allowance for discussion between rider, chief referee, competition organiser & horse owner for a reschooling run or a change of horse.
4.8.2 The chief referee has the final decision regarding changing horses, subject to 4.7.1.
4.9 If a horse is withdrawn from the competition under rules 4.7.1 or 4.8 then:
4.9.1 The competition organiser shall attempt to make provision for an alternative horse;
4.9.2 If an alternative horse is being provided then the competitor shall be allowed a reasonable time to familiarise themselves with the horse and warm the horse up. The referee shall determine how long is reasonable under the circumstances.
4.9.3 Should a rider change onto a new horse (due to lameness / safety concerns with their original horse), the organiser determines when the REMAINING runs are taken. They should join the next suitable group and prior to commencing their scoring runs, should get 1 warm up canter without and 1 run with shooting. They do not get to run the whole event again; their score will be the sum of the runs before, and the runs after, the horse change.
5. Scoring
5.1 Arrows should not be touched until their score has been determined and recorded.
5.2 Arrows that bounce off the target shall score zero and do not count as “hits” for the purpose of bonus points.
5.3 Arrows that pass through the target should be awarded the score that is indicated by a new hole in the target face, or where the target judge believes the arrow to have penetrated the target. If nobody saw which scoring zone the arrow passed through, or there is disagreement, then the lowest score for that target should be awarded.
5.4 An arrow that strikes and remains embedded in another arrow shall score what the chief referee determines it most likely would have scored.
5.4.1 If the arrow is embedded in the nock-end (ie. has robin-hooded) another arrow, it should score the same points as the arrow it struck.
5.4.2 If an arrow bounces but obviously hit and damaged another arrow already in the target, causing a broken nock or similar damage that couldn't possibly been there when that arrow was shot, the chief referee may choose to award points as he deems appropriate, given the location of the damage and the angle of the shot (as 5.4).
5.5 An arrow that penetrates the paper target face but does not penetrate the boss and is left hanging from the paper face shall be scored as though it had penetrated the boss.
5.6 If the shaft of an arrow breaks two different scoring zones or touches the line between two scoring zones then the arrow shall be scored as the higher of the two scores.
5.6.1 The arrow should be scored where the arrow shaft breaks the target face. If the arrow has been shot at an angle such that the mid-shaft lies in contact with a higher scoring zone, this does not count: the location where the shaft penetrates the target face is the score that counts.
5.6.2 If a tear in the paper face caused by the arrow touches the line (or higher scoring zone), but the shaft of the arrow does not, then the lower score is recorded. The higher score is only awarded if the arrow itself touches the line or higher zone.
5.6.3 It is recommended, but not mandatory, that if an arrow is close to or just touching a line (ie. it is a close decision as to which zone to score it in), the target judge should obtain a second opinion before announcing the score. If it cannot be determined whether an arrow touches the line or not, the higher score is given.
5.7 Arrows shall be scored by target judges, who shall indicate the score to the score keeper.
5.7.1 The target judge shall not touch the arrow or the target face until the score keeper has instructed the target judge to pull the arrow.
5.7.2 Target judges should indicate the target point score for long enough that a rider’s representative based near the judges’ tent can note them and question results if necessary.
5.8 Once properly scored (in accordance with rules 5.1-5.7), arrows should be removed from the targets after each run, so each competitor has clear target faces to shoot at.
5.8.1 The arrows should not be removed until the competitors representative has been given adequate time to query the scores (see 5.7.2), though this should not be a lengthy enough delay to slow the flow of competition.
5.9 If scoring is efficient enough then preliminary results for individual competitors may be announced while the next group is warming up.
6. Targets
6.1 It is the responsibility of event organisers to keep targets in good repair so that arrows do not frequently bounce or pass through the target.
6.2 Target stands should be made of a material that will not easily damage an arrow, or cause it to bounce back or ricochet, if the arrow hits the stand. I.e. wooden stands are suitable but metal stands are not.
6.3 Target bosses should be properly secured (using straps and/or weights), so that they do not blow over in the wind or when struck by arrows.
6.4 To allow the accurate scoring of arrows that are a 1pt-miss linecutter, there must be at least 2cm of target beyond the outside scoring ring.
6.5 It is permitted to use paper faces, foam shields or painted foam targets.
6.5.1 All information about the size, shape, elevation and locations of targets is specified in the event rules, as well as how to score the the different target faces.
7. Officials
7.1 Every competition shall have the following roles assigned: competition organiser, chief referee, target judge(s), time keeper, score keeper, and starter. Somebody will be tasked to keep the safety flag.
7.2 Each role may be held by a single person or by more than one person jointly, in which case the role may be exercised jointly or separately and individually.
7.3 A single person or group of people may hold more than one role at a time.
7.4 The competition organiser shall be responsible for providing the venue. Where horses are being provided this shall also be the responsibility of the competition organiser.
7.5 The chief referee shall be responsible for ensuring that the competition runs in accordance with the rules. The chief referee shall decide all matters relating to the rules save where that responsibility is passed to an appeal panel.
7.6 The target judges shall be responsible for determining the number of points scored by arrows hitting the targets. They shall operate under the supervision of the score keeper and the chief referee. Target judges must be familiar with the provisions of Rule 5 (scoring).
7.7 The time keeper shall be responsible for ensuring that the timing equipment is operating correctly and for recording the time taken for each run.
7.8 The score keeper shall be responsible for supervising the target judges and ensuring that the scores awarded by the target judges are recorded correctly.
7.9 Before each run the chief referee is responsible for checking that the range is clear and that the timing equipment is ready. He will indicate to the starter that the next competitor is permitted to start.
7.9.1 The starter should double check that the range is clear then signal to the next competitor that he may start.
7.9.2 Where there are both right and left-handed competitors in the same group the starter should have a clear method of communicating who may start, and who may not. Any flag or signage system should take into account the potential for confusion if any competitors have red/green colour-blindness.
7.9.3 The competitor should pass through the start gate within 60s as stated in rule 11.1.
7.10 A nominated official, in the judge's tent or a referee station near to the centre of the track, should be tasked with keeping the safety flag. Competitors should know what the distinctive flag looks like and where it will be kept. If there is any reason for competition to be halted for a safety concern they alarm should be raised visually, as well as by shouting STOP.
7.11 In addition, individual events may call for further officials, including start line judge (Korean event) and judges to determine whether arrows passed within the start- and finish lines (Hungarian). These may be done by the chief referee or delegated, as the chief referee prefers.
8. The Track
8.1 Unless otherwise specified by the rules for a specific event, the track shall be 2-4m wide and the boundaries of the track shall be clearly delineated, usually by a rope barrier or raised earth.
8.2 If rope is used to mark the track then it shall be suspended in a way that does not present a hazard to horses or riders. Any posts used for this purpose must not present a significant risk of injury to a horse or rider should they fall onto them.
8.3 It is recommended, but not required, that the rope have break points to allow a horse to go through it.
8.4 There shall be adequate space after the finish line for the horse to slow and stop safely. Where specific rules exist these are included within the event rules.
8.5 Where any competitor will be shooting left-handed, the track must not disadvantage competitors of either handedness. Specifically (but not exclusively), the targets must be at the same distances along the track both ways. Rule 8.4 (safe stopping space) applies to riders going in both directions.
8.6 The track shall be inspected for hazards before each day of competition.
8.7 The team captains (or another nominated representative) and chief referee must check the track set up the day before competition and verbally acknowledge their acceptance of it. If necessary, due to extreme or changing ground conditions, this may be repeated the morning of competition.
8.7.1 This official check is the opportunity for teams to identify any problems in track set up and a tape measure and rulebook should be available.
8.7.2 Should a mistake in track set-up be missed at this stage and instead noticed during the competition the chief referee and appeals committee together will decide what course of action is best for the competitors (and horses) and for the validity of the competition, and determine how to best proceed.
8.8 Spectators must be required to maintain a safe distance from the track. This distance shall be determined by the chief referee, but a recommended minimum is 5m.
8.9 No horses other than those in the current group are allowed in the arena or in proximity to the track or within the spectator area.
9. Warm up runs
9.1 There should be provision for competitors to warm up properly, including ground archery and horse schooling/warming up (without shooting) before each event. Separate areas should be provided for this.
9.2 The number of warm up runs is specified under the Korean and Hungarian rules.
9.3 At least one of the warm-up runs should be timed and the time of the run communicated to the rider.
9.4 If there are concerns regarding either the fatigue of horses, especially in heavy going conditions, or the competition timetable, warm up runs may be decreased to a minimum of 1 canter without / with shooting, prior to starting competition runs. If any team captains have issue with the number of warm up runs offered it should be discussed between the organiser and all team captains at the earliest opportunity.
9.5 If a rider has changed horse during the event (due to lameness / safety concerns with their original horse), pursuant to 4.7.1 or 4.8, then rule 4.9.3 applies: prior to restarting their scoring runs they should get 1 warm up canter without and 1 run with shooting.
9.6 For the Polish track there should be clear information available to all competitors on:
a. When the track will be open for walking by competitors.
b. When the track will be open for familiarisation rides by horses, the number of rides allowed and speed of riding that is permissible.
c. What the warm up procedure will be on competition day, ie. what will be allowed and when this is timetabled to occur.
10. Timing (and timing failures)
10.1 It is recommended that, where possible, electronic timers should be used for measuring the time of runs in competition.
10.1.1 Times should be recorded to the nearest 0.01s (one-hundredth of a second) if using electronic timing.
10.1.2 An alternative means of measuring times should be available as backup in case of the timing system failing (eg. 10.2).
10.2 Manual timing can be executed with 2 persons indicating (eg. by dropping their raised hand) when a competitor passes through the start and finish line. A timing official (or two) will then measure the time indicated with a stopwatch. This method of timing is suitable for grading, postal matches and lower levels of competition.
10.2.1 The people indicating must be consistent so it is suggested that the same people perform this job for all riders at an event, that they drop their hand when the rider's body passes the start line, and that they are standing so that they can see the rider approaching (ie. if standing with their back to the approaching rider they may be slow to react)
10.2.2 Times should be recorded to the nearest 0.1s (one-tenth of a second) if using manual timing.
10.2.3 If 2 people are both operating stopwatches an average of their times should be used.
10.3 If a malfunction of timing equipment means that a competitor’s run is not timed then the competitor shall either be entitled to repeat the run, or the time for that run may be given as the average time of their other runs. Which of these two courses of action is to be used shall be decided by the chief referee before the competition begins and the same rule shall be applied to all competitors.
10.3.1 If the competitor has a rerun then the score on the rerun shall stand in place of any score achieved on the original run, even if the original run scored more highly.
10.4 If the run is not timed because the competitor entered the track before they received the correct starting signal then the run shall not be repeated unless the competitor shows, following a protest, that they were induced to start the run by a mistake on the part of the officials (eg. the starting judge told the competitor to go despite the official signal not having been given).
11. Refusals, Falls and Safety Exclusions
11.1 Once a competitor has been given the signal to go, they must enter the track within 60s. Failure to do so shall count as a refusal and the competitor shall not be permitted to enter the track once the 60s have elapsed. They shall score zero for that run.
11.2 If a horse leaves the track other than through the approved exit then the competitor shall score zero for that run.
11.2.1 In the Polish Track, further event specific rules apply.
11.3 If a competitor falls from their horse whilst on the track then they shall score zero for that run. If a competitor falls twice in the same event then that competitor shall be required to withdraw and shall not attempt any more runs. Any runs already completed shall count towards results and rankings. For the purpose of this rule, an “event” is a set of runs scored together, such as the Hungarian-99 event or the Korean 2-3-5 event. The competitor may compete in other events at the same competition.
11.3.1 In the Polish Track, further event specific rules apply.
11.4 The chief referee may request that a competitor is examined by a medic if they have fallen. If there are concerns regarding concussion this should be mandatory.
11.4.1 If it is determined that the competitor must withdraw on health grounds, any runs already completed shall count towards results and rankings.
11.4.2 If the injury has resolved or the competitor is passed as fit to continue by the medic they may, at the discretion of the chief referee, be permitted to attempt their remaining runs.
11.5 The chief referee may, at their discretion, allow the competitor to complete any runs that they have missed for any other reason, including injury. The chief referee shall consider the extent to which the problem was self-inflicted, but other factors such as time and any necessary rearrangement of the track or targets may also be considered.
11.6 The chief referee may, at their discretion, rule that a competitor is not safe to continue, either through injury or through lack of competence.
12. Equipment Failure
12.1 If a competitor’s equipment fails then they shall be permitted to replace it. This includes, but is not limited to, the bow coming unstrung, breaking of bows, bowstrings, other archery equipment or riding tack. In such circumstances the competitor shall be permitted a reasonable time to replace the equipment. The chief referee shall determine how long is reasonable.
12.2 A competitor’s failure to enter the track for their run shall not count as a refusal under rule 11.1 during the time allowed by the chief referee for the replacement of failed equipment under rule 12.1.
12.3 A competitor shall not be permitted a rerun solely on the grounds that their equipment failed during a run.
13. Personal Conduct
13.1 All competitors, supporting staff (including but not limited to coaches, grooms and team managers) and spectators shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike fashion. Unacceptable behaviour on the part of spectators or supporting staff may result in penalties against the competitor to whom the offenders relate.
13.2 Unnecessarily rough or cruel handling of the horses is forbidden.
13.2.1 Bleeding caused by misuse of spurs will result in immediate elimination from the whole competition.
13.3 Alcoholic drinks are prohibited in the start and finish areas, as well as in any area that is being used for shooting or riding.
13.4 No competitor shall consume any alcohol until they have concluded their riding and shooting for the day.
13.5 No competitor shall take any drug, whether prescribed or not, which may affect their ability to compete in a safe manner.
13.6 Any person acting in an unsafe or unsociable manner may be required to leave the event, at the discretion of the chief referee.
13.7 Infringement of any provision of rules 13.1-13.6 may be penalised by warning, the deduction of points or disqualification. This shall be determined by the chief referee, who shall bear in mind the seriousness of the behaviour and (where applicable) the competitor’s response to a warning. Competitors thus penalised may appeal under Rule 14.
14. Protests
14.1 A competitor may protest if they feel that their run was unfairly affected by some outside influence. Such influence may include, but is not limited to, undue distraction by spectators or others near the track.
14.2 Any protest under rule 14.1 must be lodged as soon as practicable after the run has concluded and in any event must be lodged before the competitor’s next run.
14.3 A protest under rule 14.1 may be lodged with any official, who shall communicate the protest to the chief referee as soon as possible.
14.4 If a competitor lodges a protest in good time and as a result of lodging the protest they are late for their next run then their lateness shall not count as a refusal under rule 11.1, so the competitor shall not forfeit such a run.
14.5 In the event of a protest under rule 14.1, the Chief Referee may, at his discretion, allow the competitor to attempt the run again. If this is allowed then the score on the rerun shall stand in place of any score achieved on the original run, even if the original run scored more highly.
14.6 When considering whether to allow a rerun following a protest, the referee shall consider the extent to which any outside influence was foreseeable or greater than that experienced by other competitors. In particular, if the protest stems from distraction by spectators or others near the track then the referee shall consider whether such distraction was no more than should have been expected, bearing in mind the event and the crowd conditions in general.
15. Appeals
15.1 Prior to the start of competition an Appeals Committee should be selected. It should consist of 6 people: 2 judges (chief referee and one other), 2 people nominated by the organiser, and 2 people nominated by the competitors. All should be well versed in the rules.
15.1.1 In the event of an appeal a panel of 3 persons from the appeals committee will be convened. The requirement to use 3 people from the committee means that if any of the appeals committee has a conflict of interest (they are the subject of the appeal, or the same club or national team as the complainant) they can remove themselves from potential selection for that panel.
15.2 The appeals committee will deal with any queries regarding the validity of scores, or refereeing decisions. Including, but not limited to:
a. Any ruling by the chief referee
b. Any decision as to whether a competitor drew their arrows early
c. Any score awarded by a target judge
d. The time recorded for a run
e. Any other alleged infraction of the rules, save where an appeal is expressly forbidden by the rules.
15.2.1 A competitor may appeal in relation to those matters mentioned in rule 15.2 in relation to their own run or any other competitor’s run.
15.3 Should a rider disagree with the chief referee’s decision regarding changing a lame or dangerous horse, that decision may be challenged via the appeals committee.
15.4 To lodge an appeal the concern should be announced immediately and then written down and given to the chief referee.
15.5 The competition organisers may (but need not) require a competitor to deposit a sum of money when lodging the appeal. If this is required then the sum shall be not more than E50 or the equivalent in local currency.
15.5.1 Whether a deposit is required must be clearly stated in advance in the rules for that competition and must be enforced equally among the competitors.
15.5.2 It is permissible to distinguish between senior and junior competitors for the purpose of this rule. Any such distinction must be specified in the rules in advance.
15.5.3 Where a money deposit is required under rule 15.5, the entire sum must be returned to the competitor following a successful appeal.
15.5.4 Should an appeal be unsuccessful, any money deposited under rule 15.5 shall be disposed of as specified in the rules. If the rules do not specify otherwise then the money shall go to the hosting organisation.
16. Competitors’ Meeting
16.1 There shall be a meeting for all competitors, to be held not more than 24 hours before the competition begins. At this meeting the rules and procedures for the competition shall be explained and competitors shall have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.
16.2 All competitors must attend the competitors’ meeting unless excused by the chief referee. Any competitor who, without prior permission, does not attend the meeting may, at the chief referee’s discretion, be prevented from competing in the competition.
17. Procedure within the competition
17.1 At the start of each group competitors should be introduced to spectators if time and audio equipment allow.
17.2 In the case of a tie for first place the winner is the competitor with the higher number of target points.
17.2.1 This method should be used if the tie is for an individual win of a single event or a whole HBAE competition.
17.2.2 This method should be used if the tie is for a team win of a single event or a whole HBAE competition. Where the 3 highest scores from a team of 4 have been used to calculate a team total (as 18.4), the target points for those same 3 team members should be used to decide a tie.
17.3 Results sheets must be issued to competitors before the final results of an event are announced. Competitors will have 15 minutes to appeal perceived errors.
17.4 At the end of a competition team points and placings should be provided for team captains to check before the results are formally announced.
18. Running of an HBAE competition
18.1 The HBAE discipline must comprise the 3 events: Hungarian, Korean and Polish
18.1.1 Ordinarily this will be the Hungarian-100, the Korean 2-3-5, and the Polish event
18.1.2 At major championships the standard events (18.1.1) must be run.
18.1.3 Where track length is restricted to 90m a short-course variant may be run. This is the Hungarian-90, Korean 2-3-3 and Polish event.
18.2 In each event a competitor is awarded match points determined by their score relative to the highest score in that event, at this competition.
ie. where RIDER A has the top score and we are calculating the match points for RIDER F: ( [score for RIDER F] divided by [score for RIDER A] ), multiplied by 100.
18.3 A competitor’s final score is the sum of his match points for all 3 events, so the highest possible total is 300 match points
ie. [Rider F HUNGARIAN match points] + [Rider F KOREAN match points] + [Rider F POLISH match points] = final score for Rider F
18.4 When determining a team total from a team of riders the individual final scores (from 18.3) will be added together
ie. If, for example, there is a national team of 4 attending and the top 3 scores comprise the “Team total”. This will be the sum of the top 3 "final scores" (the combination of an individual’s Hun+Kor+Pol scores) not the top 3 scores from that team for each event of Hungarian, Korean, and Polish (ie. the score in 18.2)
18.5 The championship rules will state the maximum size allowed for a team. The individuals forming this team must be stated in writing or by email, by the team manager (or team captain if there is no manager), before the championships commences. Additional riders from that country may participate in the competition, if they are offered a space, but their score may not go towards the team score.
18.5.1 If a team member is disqualified or withdraws from the competition after it starts another competitor may not be substituted. If disqualified, a competitor's scores cannot be counted, if they withdraw then all scores up to that point may be used if necessary.
18.5.2 The scores of both senior and junior competitors may be counted towards a team total. The scores are selected on merit, without concern for the age of the rider.
18.5.3 A team must be a minimum size, ie. if the top 3 scores are used for the team total a country may not enter a team with only 1 or 2 competitors. If there are only 1-2 riders from a country present, they may only be counted within the individual ranking, not team ranking.
18.5.4 In the Grand Prix series, rule 18.5.3 does not apply, due to the difficulties of attendance over the whole series. If a GP team contains fewer then 3 members at a particular stage, the scores of those riders will simply be added, there is no allowance made / average calculated.
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