The Irish Pony Club

2010 Minimus Championships

will take place on
Saturday & Sunday 12th & 13 June
at
Bramblestown, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny

More info here nearer the time ...

KIDS RULE!!

A record breaking 459 competitors, all Under 12 years old, took part in the Irish Pony Club National Minimus Championships. They were held on 13th and 14th June 2009 by kind permission of Mr. Kevin O'Donnell, Bramblestown, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny. The swimming took place at the Watershed Pool on the Ring Road in Kilkenny with running and riding at Bramblestown.

For the first time the riding was held on the first day, the Saturday, and the swimming and running were held on the second day, the Sunday.


Irish Field Report

The Minimus received great coverage in the Irish Field. Click here to read the report written by Aoife Freyne.

Full results of the Minimus 2009 can be found on the RESULTS page.

Scoring Cross Country at Minimus

Positive scoring was introduced at the Minimus 2008 in order to encourage those under 12 yrs. who may have a fall on the cross country. They will not be eliminated (i.e. they retain their score for the swimming and running phases plus they will get points for any fences they have jumped. The wording of the new rule is:

Fall of Rider:
Should a rider fall during the cross country phase they will incur 250 penalties at the fence at which they fall. In addition to this they will incur 50 penalty points for every fence they have yet to jump. Once they have fallen, the competitor must walk home. If fit, the rider may remount but must walk home on a long rein.

For example:
If a competitor jumped the first 3 fences, had a fall at fence 4, they would be scored as follows (20 fences on course):

17 fences not jumped x 50 penalties = 850 penalties, plus 250 penalties for fall = 1,100 penalties

1,400 (good points for clear round) minus 1,100 penalties = 300 points for cross country.

It is important that Minimus parents and competitors understand this new rule regarding a fall on cross country, this has been introduced to ensure that children that are concussed do not remount and encounter a more serious injury.

The Minimus Championships is one of the most popular competitions held in the Irish Pony Club, with bigger numbers taking part in it in 2008, than any other championships.

Members and parents should contact their D.C. regarding your branch doing Minimus.

Read about the Tipperary Boys win in 2008




What is Minimus?

The Minimus is a triathlon competition. It consists of swimming, running and riding. It takes place over a weekend. There are points awarded for each phase and the winner has the most points after the three phases.

What age do you have to be?

You must be Under 12 on the 1st of January of the current year to be eligible to take part.

When is it held?

It is held in June each year. The date for 2009 is Saturday and Sunday the 13th and 14th June.

Where is it held?

It is held in a different venue each year. This year it will be held in Co. Kilkenny by kind permission of Mr. Kevin O'Donnell, Bramblestown, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny. The swimming will be at the new pool on the Ring Road in Kilkenny with running and riding at Bramblestown.

Do boys and girls compete against each other?

The Minimus Championships are a team competition. It is divided into Boys Teams, Girls Teams, and Mixed Teams with 4 on a team). Clubs may only enter a mixed team if they don't have enough for a boys or girls team. For instance you cannot enter two mixed teams with two boys and two girls on each team. In this case you would have to enter a girls team and a boys team. However if your club has six boys and six girls taking part, you can enter a boys team, a girls team and a mixed team.

Is there an individual competition?

Yes, all boys and girls on a team are also placed individually. The score they get as part of a team, is also used to make an individual placing. There is an individual boys competition for ALL the boys taking part and an individual girls competition for ALL the girls taking part. There are also individual placings for the best in swimming and the best in running.

How far do you swim?

You swim for 2 minutes. You get points according to the distance you can swim in this time. You can use whatever style you wish and may change it during the swim. For instance you can start swimming with the front crawl and then change to backstroke if you wish. You swim in heats and you don't have to be able to dive, you can start in the water.

You score 8 points per metre you swim. For instance if you swim 125 metres (5 lengths of a 25m pool) in 2 minutes, you will score 1,000.

How far do you run?

Boys and girls in the Minimus triathlon run 1,000 metres. The course usually takes takes advantage of the natural country, with some ups and downs, but not steep hills. Competitors run in numerical order and are dispatched at 1 minute intervals and timed from the the moment they leave the start until they cross the finishing line. The faster you run the 1,000 metres, the more points you get. For instance if you run the distance in 4 minutes, you get 1,000 points (this would be a very fast run). If you time is 5 minutes, you would get 640 points. If you time is 7 minutes, you would get 211 points. (The organisers have a special chart to know how many points are given for each time run).

What sort of riding is it?

The riding in the Minimus Championships is cross-country riding over solid fences. There may also be ditches, banks and drops. However, it is scored very differently from other cross country riding competitions such as horse trials or hunter trials.

The course will also include a gate and a slip-rail. The rider must open the gate, go through it, and then close it, WHILST MOUNTED ON THEIR PONY. At a Slip Rail, the rider dismounts, opens the rail, goes through, closes the rail and remounts. You are given 60 seconds to negotiate each of these. If you take longer or need assistance, you will be given penalties.

How high are the fences?

The fences are
Max height:- 0.75m,
Spread only:- 1.50m,
Height and spread:- 0.60 at highest point, 0.90m at base

Important things to note are:

If you FALL off you are ELIMINATED
If you get ANY OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE you are ELIMINATED
If you leave out a fence or obstacle you are ELIMINATED
Only SIBLINGS may share a pony.

How is it scored?

If you have a clear round in the time allowed you score 1400 points. However points are deducted from this if you have problems on the course. The following is a summary of some of the penalties.

First refusal, run out or circle at obstacle - 60 penalties
Second refusal, run out or circle of horse at obstacle 60 penalties
Third refusal, run out or circle of horse at obstacle 80 penalties
Therefore, if you have 3 refusals at one fence, you get 200 penalties, but can continue on.

Horse resisting rider anywhere on the course for 60 secs. 200 penalties
Failure to negotiate a hazard in 60 secs. (see rule 25). 200 Penalties
Every completed second in excess of time allowed 2 Penalties

Gate and Slip Rail:
(i) Failure to open and pass through the gate mounted within 60 secs - 200 penalties
(ii) Failure to shut gate mounted, within the 60 secs allowed, when it is otherwise correctly negotiated. 50 penalties
(iii) Failure to dismount, take down and pass through the slip rail dismounted within 60 secs - 200 penalties
(iv) Failure to replace slip rail dismounted, when it is correctly negotiated - 50 penalties
(v) Receiving assistance to re-mount after the slip rail - 80 penalties
(vi) Jumping the gate or slip rail - 80 penalties (Rider must go back and negotiate properly or is eliminated).

Elimination:
A rider will be eliminated in the following circumstances:
(1) Omission of obstacle or flag (If this is rectified before the next fence is jumped there is no elimination).
(2) Jumping an obstacle in wrong order or backwards
(3) Re-taking an obstacle already jumped (except part of a combination)
(4) Going around an obstacle without attempting to jump it three times
(5) Failure to attempt to complete negotiation of gate or slip rail ( including shutting /replacing ) for
60 secs..
(6) Continuing the course without a hat
3 refusals at 4 fences or at 3 fences plus failure at gate or slip rail
(7) Failure to cross start line within 60 secs.
(8) Failure to attempt to pass through a hazard for 60 secs
(9) For misbehaviour
(10) Receiving outside assistance
(11) For going wrong side of flag (if this is corrected before the next fence is jumped there is no elimination)
(12) Inspecting course before it is officially opened and or tampering with fences or flags on the course.
(13) Riding a horse on, over or near any part of the course except when competing.
(14) Jumping a fence which is not on the course on which the flags are crossed.
(15) If a rider has one fall he is eliminated.

Note:
After three refusals, or after failure to negotiate the gate, slip rail or hazard (within 60 secs.), a competitor will be told by the fence judge to go round and pass on to the next obstacle.

At each obstacle an escape route must be provided to allow competitors to go round as
described above.

After failures at 4 obstacles, a competitor is eliminated. On being eliminated or on retiring he must leave the course at a walk, and shall take every precaution to avoid disturbing other competitors. He shall not attempt any further obstacles.

If a competitor is unable to mount after the slip rail he may receive assistance to do so but will incur 80
penalties.

The above is just a summary of some of the rules. Children taking part in the Minimus Championships are quite young and should be very well briefed and instructed about the rules of this competition by their D.C. or instructor.

The current Tetrathlon Rule Book should be read and has lots more information.

See also the Cross Country Tack Sheet 2009 and IPC Guide to Competitions 2009

Minimus 2008 Experience
by Tipperary Parent

The Tipperary Boys Team won the Minimus in 2008. The team of Ben Murray, Michael Foley, Russell Casey and Tristan Fogarty hope the Tipps can do it again in their 50th Anniversary Year.

The overall experience of winning the competition has been hugely positive. From sharing the cup in each of the boy's homes over the year and being able to show family and friends their achievment.

All the boys had been on Teams in previous years they realised how difficult it is to win the competition and the disapointment of losing is a good motivator to try harder the following year.

The Tipperary branch were delighted with their achievment and the taste of victory has stimulated even more interest in this years event from its members. We look foward to competing again in the various groupings and training is well underway. Luckily, we once again have not too far to travel this June. It would be all the sweeter to win again in the year that the Tipperary Hunt branch are celebrating their 50 year anniversary.

The parents and members extend many thanks to Anna Freyne, Chairman of Tetrathlon, and all concerned in the organisation of the minimus look foward to seeing you in Kilkenny in June.

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