Could Hawk-Eye watch
Riders are calling for better methods of judging whether a horse has cleared the tape and discussions have taken place
water jumps?
THE question of using technology to judge water jumps has been raised after high-profile controversy — and change could be on the cards.
Currently, in international competitions, the ground jury relies on two factors to decide whether a combination clears the obstacle: visual assessment and whether or not the horse marks the strip of plasticine lining the edge of the water.
At the Nations Cup final in Barcelona (28 September-1 October), Ireland contested Bertram Allen’s four faults at the water jump, arguing that Molly Malone V’s boot, rather than her foot, had caused the imprint on the strip.
The appeal was unsuccessful and as a result, Ireland missed out on qualification for the final.
The controversy follows a similarly unsuccessful British
appeal against Nick Skelton and Big Star's four faults for the same reason in the team event of the Rio Olympics.
MODERN METHODS
RIDERS are now asking whether a more objective judging technique should be used.
Bertram said he would “definitely” like to see more modern techniques, such as cameras or Hawk-Eye technology, to show clearly where the horse has landed.
Tim Stockdale was also keen for the sport to try new methods.
“I think it would be worth trying out,” he told H&H. “In cricket it’s been a revelation and it’s also backed up the umpires more often than not.”
Fellow British showjumper Emily Moffitt added it was “a bit unfair” for the water jump to be judged by the human eye.
“It should be judged by cameras or something like that,” she told H&H.
“Anything that improves the fairness of the sport has to be positive. This type of technology has been adopted across the world of sport so why not in showjumping?”
A VITAL ELEMENT
IRISH showjumper Cian O’Connor stressed that the water jump should always remain part of the sport.
“We should do everything in our power to keep it in,” he told H&H. “There was a call for it to be taken out, but that is only dumbing down the sport to suit those who can’t ride to it.
“The water tests the bravery of the horse and the accuracy of the rider, plus the control the partnership has together.”
He felt that employing cameras to judge the fence could lead to time spent replaying footage and discussing the outcome, but that it is still the right move.
“It’s too hard in a split second to say whether the tape was marked by the toe and then the boot, for example, or just the boot,” he said.
“Bringing in a camera is of course a no-brainer.”