The FEI Tribunal has dismissed Billy Twomey’s appeal over an elimination from the CSI5* Grand Prix at the Palm Beach Masters at Deeridge Farms, earlier this year. The Irish rider had delivered the winning round worth $99,000, but was eventually eliminated with Lady Lou after blood was discovered on the mare's flank.
"Twomey competed at the CSI5* in Wellington (USA) that took place on 15 March 2020, (the “Competition”), where he and his horse LADY LOU (the “Horse”), were eliminated by the Ground Jury following the Boot and Bandage Control of the Horse. The reason given for the elimination was that there was blood on the Horse’s left flank due to the use of the spurs."
Twomey argued that the FEI erred in its submission that “the blood occurred during the competition”. The Irish rider provided a close-up of a frame of a video which showed that there was no blood on Lady Lou at the moment after the jump-off or while he remained in the ring, so there could have been no blood on the horse during the competition. Twomey assumed that the mark occurred as he left the ring through the hustle and bustle of spectators, fans and well-wishers and explained to the Tribunal that: “(...) At the entrance/exit to the arena was a large arch, that I think has the sponsor’s name on it. As I was riding out of the ring, there were a lot of people in that area all wanting to say well done and high-five me. This meant that there was less room to get through and I felt my Horse get a little unsettled by the crowd and bump the arch. (...)”.
Final decision
In its decision the Tribunal states that the boot control is a part of the competition. The Tribunal also stated that the Jumping Rules art. 241.1 clearly allows for retroactive elimination: “For the avoidance of doubt, the literal wording of the relevant provision – Article 241.1 of the JRs -, clearly allows for retroactive elimination. Such elimination is also confirmed in Annex XVI of the Stewards Manual, which clarifies that if blood on a horse’s flank is detected after the Jump-Off, the Athlete/horse combination is to be eliminated from the Jump-Off (as outlined in par. 4.18 ff.).”
