BD update: local lockdowns

Throughout this week, a number of additional local restrictions have been introduced by governments in England, Scotland and Wales. Currently, organised sport is able to continue within existing parameters, providing risk assessments are undertaken and mitigations put in place to ensure that all activity is run in a COVID-secure environment.

For British Dressage, members, organisers and officials can still operate under our COVID protocols, by continuing to follow our guidelines on social distancing, public health and hygiene. This includes areas that are subject to local restrictions, but extra care and attention is required from all who reside in these locations where there is a higher risk of transmission.

What happens if I live, work, compete or train in a restricted area?

In the event of any lockdown restrictions being imposed by your government (whether at national or local level), our advice is as follows:

Members, organisers and officials who live in any of the areas with local restrictions should strictly adhere to all government restrictions that are put in place.
Where BD organised competition and training activity is permitted to continue, all COVID guidance and protocols must be implemented fully and followed correctly.
Venues are required to conduct thorough risk assessments to mitigate risks and take all necessary precautions to ensure that activity is run in a COVID secure environment.
Any venue that falls within an area with travel restrictions will not be permitted to accept entries or bookings from members outside of that area until the lockdown is lifted.
Organisers should not accept bookings for training or competition entries from members who live within areas that have travel restrictions for the duration of any local lockdown.
Members residing within any restricted area should adhere to government advice on non-essential travel, which includes not participating in BD activity until restrictions are lifted.
Judges, stewards or officials who reside within any local lockdown area are advised not to travel to venues while restrictions remain in place, other than for work purposes.
Where activity takes place within an area under local lockdown restrictions, coaches and judges should only conduct training or test riding for members who reside within that area.
Members should not travel into or out of any area with local restrictions to take part in organised competition, training or test riding activity for the duration of the lockdown period.
Staff, contractors and suppliers should only travel to / from venues within restricted areas if deemed essential for work purposes and they are unable to work from home.

Where are local restrictions in place?

As of 4.00pm on Friday 18 September, the full list of restricted areas is as follows:

England (listed from north to south), follow GOV.UK for up to date information

Northumberland
Newcastle
North and South Tyneside
Gateshead
Sunderland
County Durham
Pendle
Bradford
West Yorkshire
Calderdale
Kirklees
Lancaster
Wyre
East Lancashire
Fylde
Preston
South Ribble
Ribble Valley
Blackburn with Darwen
Hyndburn
Burnley
Rossendale
West Lancashire
Chorley
Bolton
Bury
Rochdale
Oldham
Greater Manchester
Tameside
Sefton
Liverpool
Merseyside
Knowsley
St Helens
Wirral
Warrington
Halton
Leicester
Oadby & Wigston
Wolverhampton
Sandwell
Birmingham
Solihull

Scotland – follow GOV.SCOT for up to date information

East Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire
Glasgow
Renfrewshire
North Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire

Wales – follow GOV.WALES for up to date information

Rhondda Cynon Taf
Caerphilly

Please note that both of these locations in Wales have travel restrictions in place, which will impact on BD competition and activity for those who reside within these two areas.

What can I do?

We’ve updated the table on restrictions below, which will help you understand what is currently permitted in each nation, but you’re advised to check the relevant government pages to see how the local lockdown restrictions are being applied in your area.

GOV.UK

GOV.SCOT

GOV.WALES

	England	Scotland	Wales
How many can meet? These numbers are as of 14 September but public are encouraged to follow immediately.	No more than six people from different households.	Two households can meet outdoors or indoors, up to six people in total, but social distancing must be maintained at all times. Children under 12 do not count towards the total.	Outdoors: gatherings of up to 30 people are permitted from different households. Indoors: up to six from an extended household. Children under 11 do not count towards the total.
Social distancing	2m or 1m plus mitigations	2m	2m
Wearing of face coverings	Compulsory in a number of indoor settings - not required when exercising	Compulsory in a number of indoor settings - not required when exercising	Compulsory in a number of indoor settings - not required when exercising
Riders	Groups of up to six people from separate households can ride together, or five plus a coach.	Two households can ride together at a time, up to a maximum of six people.	Riders can participate in gatherings of up to 30 people, where activity is organised and supervised.
Coaches	Can teach groups of up to six people from separate households in a session, with no limit on the number of sessions per day. Organised training activity can include groups of up to 30 people, subject to conducting risk assessments.	Organised group coaching can take place outdoors for a maximum of 30 people at any one time, with multiple sessions per day as long as the groups do not mix. Indoor facilities can be used if COVID protocols and procedures are fully implemented.	May instruct individuals or groups of up to 30 people, with no limit on the number of sessions per day.
Venues	Groups of up to 30 people are permitted at any one time, in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Maximum occupancy of each indoor facility should be limited by providing a minimum of 100sqft per person.	Up to 30 people can take part in any one outdoor training or competition session in an organised setting. Multiple sessions can take place at any one time throughout the day, as long as the groups do not mix. Indoor facilities can be used if COVID protocols and procedures are fully implemented.	Organised training and competition activity is permitted for groups of up to 30 people at a time.
BD Competitions with approved COVID protocols in place	Groups of up to 30 people are permitted at any one time.	Groups of up to 30 people within a defined bubble can compete, with a requirement that multiple groups should not mix.	Groups of up to 30 people are permitted to at any one time.
Competition helpers	Rider + one per horse (para or U18 riders are permitted one additional helper).	Rider + one per horse (para or U18 riders are permitted one additional helper).	Rider + one per horse (para or U18 riders are permitted one additional helper).
Covered (indoor) arenas permitted	✓	✓	✓
Affiliated competition	✓	✓	✓
Camps (with COVID measures in place to meet social distancing requirements for social activity)	✓	✓	✓

BD Chief Executive Jason Brautigam commented; “We initially produced some guidance around local lockdowns back in July when the first restrictions came into force in Leicester. We’ve now updated our advice in light of the recent government announcements, which will affect over 12 million people across the country and therefore have an impact on our members, venues and officials.

“While most of these lockdowns do not prevent travel, the ability to work or participate in organised sport, we all have a responsibility to adhere to any restrictions in place. This includes taking extra precautions if you reside in these areas and following the BD protocols during any competition or training activity. These local areas have been deemed as high risk for transmission, so if you live in a restricted zone, please be extra vigilant and do what you can to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

“We have all worked hard to get dressage back on track, so we need to continue these efforts and ensure that we do not put this progress in jeopardy. Thank you once again to all of you for your ongoing support, by helping us operate safely for the benefit of everyone involved in our sport.”

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BD update: local lockdowns