Using A Stopwatch

With watches now permitted in all affiliated eventing classes, you may want to know if you should wear one — and how to use it. Gemma Redrup explains.

- Gemma Redrup

THE use of a stopwatch is now permitted at all levels of British Eventing (BE) competition while riding cross-country.

Before the 2016 season, stopwatches were not permitted in any classes below novice. This change now means that BE80(T), BE90, BE100, BE105 and BE100plus competitors may all wear stopwatches. This decision comes off the back of the stopwatch trial BE ran in 2016, allowing all competitors to wear one across country.

“You wouldn’t drive a car without a speedometer, so why now, when all riders have the opportunity to wear a watch, would they decide not to?” asks Australian event rider and Badminton winner Paul Tapner.

But British eventing team stalwart Nicola Wilson says that wearing a stopwatch should be a “personal decision”.

“It is a good way to learn how to judge pace, but it is more important to ride according to how your horse feels underneath you than just riding by the clock.”

BE master coach Caroline Moore says: “A rider’s top priority needs to be achieving good balance, rhythm and obedience from their horse through the various ‘gears’ needed to tackle different elements on a cross-country course. The terrain, topography, layout of the track and ground conditions will also have a huge impact on the speed that they ride and should come first and foremost over trying to get round inside the optimum time.”

“Feel” is a word used frequently in conjunction with riding at the correct pace on a cross-country course. The optimum time is determined by the specified speed each level of eventing class requires. The speed is calculated in metres per minute (mpm). BE80(T) requires combinations to travel at a speed of 435mpm, whereas advanced competitors need to gallop at 570mpm.