Swedish Judges Svalling and Jena Retire in 2020

Dressage

Sweden

Two of Sweden's long-time international dressage judges, Gustaf Svalling and Bo Jena, will retire from their judging duty on 1 January 2020.

Sweden will still have left two 5* judges (Annette Fransen-Iacobaeus and Magnus Ringmark), alongside Lars Andersson (4*), Mats Eriksson (3*), and Pia Fälth (3*).

Svalling and Jena Retire

The 71-year old Svalling has been a 5-star dressage judge since 2011.

He officiated across the globe with highlight events such as the 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016 World Cup Finals, the 2009, 2010, and 2012 European Junior and Young Riders Championships, and 2013 European Dressage Championships.

Jena has been a 4-star dressage judge since 2009.

The 64-year old Bo has decided to no longer judge and focus on his role as Swedish Grand Prix team captain, a job he took up in 2008. This has also prevented him from judging major international Grand Prix Championships as it would lead to a conflict of interest. He was member of the ground jury at the 2013 North American Junior and Young Riders Championships in the USA and the 2015 and 2016 European Pony Championships.

Both will continue judging at national level in Sweden.

"I have a lot to do as Chef d Equipe and would like to spend more time with my grandchildren, coaching and training is more fun for me nowadays," Bo told Eurodressage.

New Age Limit Rule in Place, Is It Being Used?

In 2019 the FEI implemented a competency-based evaluation system, replacing the age limit which was set at 70 years old (with a possible 2 year extension). The age limit rule was replaced at the explicit request of the judges themselves, who were in an uproar about being discarded by the FEI although still competent at the of 70.

Therefore, it is more than striking that this year three high-star judges have decided not to take advantage of the new evaluation system to judge longer. German 5* judge Dieter Plewa, and now Svalling and Jena have kindly thanked for the extension.

Eurodressage asked Hans-Christian Matthiesen, chair of the International Dressage Officials Club, whether "older" judges are actually using the option of the new competency-based evaluation system, as three renowned judges have now called it quits. He replied that to his knowledge around 10 have requested the extension so far.