Olympic dressage maddness: Inessa 6%

03.03.2016 16:24

Mister X ridden by Inessa Merkulova galloped into dressage received 80% in Grand Prix during International dressage competition CDI 3* held in Moscow's Maxima Stables 26-28 February.

International equestrian community was surprised by the result and had a hot discussion. International Federation of equestrian sports FEI admitted that they had received a number of letters from national federations on that matter. However FEI concluded that there was"no breach of any rule at the CDI3* in Moscow".

Earlier dressage-news.com reported that one of the judges Ghislain Fouarge in October 2015 was noticed at "New Century" (Новый Век) - the club owned by Inessa Merkulova and her husband Anatoly, who currently holds the position of Secretary-General of Federation of equestrian sports of Russia. It was reported that Ghislain Fouarge held a clinic for 18 riders, including Inessa Merkulova and her sister Marina Aframeeva.

Later to German magazine St.Georg Fouarge told that his result was the average and he was not the only who evaluated performance so high. The Grand Prix was judged by Irina Maknami, Olga Soboleva (Russia), Natalia Rubashko (Belarus), Peter Engel (Germany), Ghislain Fouarge (the Netherlands). However among the judges only Gislain Fouarge had FEI 5* category. German Peter Engel, with FEI 4*, gave Mr. X – Merkulova only 78.5%.

After Moscow maddness FEI met in Jerez de La Frontera and assumed that the results were fair. However, this was not enough for the community.

dressage-news.com reviewed other dressage elite riders results including Carl Hester and Utopia, Edward Gal and Totilas and FEI#1 dressage Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and Desperados. None of them did so much a significant breakthrough in the results as did Mr. X. Merkulova-Mister X showed 5,78% jump through one competition. This is the difference between current results in Moscow (82,240% Grand Prix) and Belarus World Cup (76,460%). This achievement is much more sugnificant than made by Carl Hester and Utopia - 5,553% in 2012. Laura Tomlinson made a one-time jump in 4,469% in 2010. Totilas ridden by Edward Gal got 4,34%. Parzifal and Cornelissen – 4,085%. Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and Desperados (#1 in the ranking of the FEI) have a record jump of 2.74%, and personal GP record - 81.160%, which is more than 1% less than Merkulova's result.

A lot of readers note that the Russian riders got scores at domestic competitions. International representation here was provided by 1-2 rider from Belarus, and in fact this competition is not objectively show the true results. This is another reason for FEI to decide how qualify tournaments for major competitions.

Horsetimes asked FEI to evaluate the level of Moscow's CDI. FEI representative told there was "no breach of any rule at the CDI3* in Moscow".

Moscow maddness showed how important for FEI to keep balance in making decisions.

Author: Edition