Combined Driving - Scoring

Scoring

Being a 3-phase competition, the scores from all phases are combined to give a final result. In all three phases, scores and times are converted into "penalty points", which are then added together. This means that the competitor with the lowest penalty score is the winner.

In the dressage phase, each movement is marked by the judges from 0 to 10 marks. There may be 25 movements in the test. The marks are all added together and, if there is more than one judge, they are divided by the number of judges to get an average. The total is then subtracted from the maximum possible mark to give a penalty score for the dressage. For example, if there are 16 movements, the total marks will be subtracted from 160 to get a penalty score.

In the marathon, time penalties will be awarded at the end of each section for the amount of time a competitor finishes either under or over the permitted times for that section. If he finishes within the allowed time "window" he will not receive any penalties. In addition, in each obstacle, penalties are awarded for the length of time the driver spends negotiating the obstacle (the time from crossing the start line to crossing the finish line). These penalties are added to any section time penalties. Further penalties may be given for infringements such as dislodging a part of the obstacle (a knock down), the groom dismounting the carriage or even for the carriage overturning.

In the obstacle cone driving, time penalties are awarded for exceeding the time allowed to complete the cones course, which is calculated by taking the measured distance of the course and dividing it by the speed allowed. Penalties are also awarded for knocking down a ball from any of the cones on the course.

In all phases of the competition, a number of other infringements may also incur penalties, for example the driver or groom dismounting the vehicle, breaking of pace where a certain pace is prescribed, not carrying a whip in the dressage or cones, errors of course in the dressage, marathon obstacles or cones. Some infringements, such as an uncorrected error of course will incur elimination.

All the possible penalties are described in the rule books, published by the FEI and National Federations. Calculation of results is complex. There are software programs available to record the data and output results.