TREC
BHS TREC is a unique equestrian sport based on the French discipline "Le Trec". It was introduced to Britain by the British Horse Society in 1998.
Techniques de Randonee Equestre de Competition has a range of activities designed to test a horse and rider as a combination through a whole range of skills rather than focusing on one particular discipline. ‘Le Trec’ has been popular in France for over 30 years and it was started originally to test the expertise of equestrian tourism guides, but quickly appealed to the tourists themselves and soon turned into a good fun competition.
There are three phases: the POR - Parcours de Orientation et Regularite - Orienteering phase, P.T.V - Parcours en Terrain Varie - the Riding Skills/Cross Country Obstacle Course and the CoP/C.G. - Matrisse des Allures - Control of Paces/Gaits
FORTHCOMING TREC EVENTS
See TREC SOUTHWEST for TREC events in the South West. www.trecsouthwest.com
TREC RULES
The current edition is the fourth edition published in March 2009. For a rule book on TREC (£5.95) contact the Competitions Office, The British Horse Society, Stoneleigh Deer Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2XZ or telephone the Competitions Office on 0844 848 1666.
The International Federation of Equestrian Tourism (FITE) is the international governing body for TREC and the British Horse Society is the official member for the United Kingdom.
TREC UPDATES
Report from the Competitions Advisory Committee meeting September 30th 2008 held at the BHS, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. This update is from Sue Underhill who is the representative on the CAC. If you have any questions please contact Sue - underhillsue@yahoo.com
• There is a proposal for the appointment of new Chefs D’Equipe for the Junior and Senior
GB TREC teams. Applications must be in by 15th November 2008. Info to be posted on the
BHS website. Sue Underhill has a copy and can email it to any interested persons.
• The BHS are planning a TREC slot at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2009. This will
take the form of TREC riders competing in COP/PTV against top riders from all the main
disciplines.
• Championships 2009: From 2009 there will be only one championship run by the BHS; the
GB championship. It will take place in Scotland in 2009 and thereafter move to Wales and England in turn. Qualification will be required for the GB championship. The proposed date for the championship is August 21-23rd, 2009.
• Regional Qualifying competitions will be held where competitors will need to place 1st
through 10th at their chosen level in order to compete at the championship. Additionally, they may have completed all phases at a championship within the last two years at their chosen level in order to enter.
• Qualifying competitions for the championships must be run according to the BHS TREC
rulebook and include at least two levels, one of which MUST be a Level Three or Four.
??Organisers will be encouraged to run Level Three events that will encourage competitors to move up from Level Two; these should have specific information provided about the route length in particular to encourage riders.
• There will be league results published for the 2008 TREC League. Awards will be given at a
dinner to be held in the middle of the country; provisional date, Saturday 31st January
2009.There will be no cost for the League this year or in the future.
• On the same day as the awards dinner there will be a TREC forum held at which there will be various workshops, to include an organisers workshop. Riding clubs, pony clubs and any equestrian centres or other interested parties will be invited to attend.
• Specific rules for the league in the future are being considered urgently by the
Competitions Advisory Group and are likely to include rules to place a handicap on those riders who consistently win at one level. Competitors may be asked to carry a
qualification/record card that is signed at events attended as in other disciplines. An
authenticated distance award for personal achievement is being considered.
• The new 2009 Rule Book with proposed changes and additions was discussed; queries and suggestions from comments submitted by Jane Chivers’ group were discussed and will be detailed in a separate report.
• The issue of vetting and competitors’ behaviour at championships was discussed. There
will in future be guidelines on competitors’ behaviour and consequences of abusive
behaviour at events included in the TREC Rulebook and schedules.
The BHS is to investigate allowing riders to compete unassisted at TREC at a younger age.
In France Young Riders can compete in TREC at 14. Endurance GB is now aligned with the Pony Club as a recognised sport, and the same must happen with TREC. In the EGB
rulebook it states that riders under 13 shall be supervised. This is encouraging, but the
final outcome rests upon the insurance cover and advice re child safety issues. |
