BE balloting - is anyone addressing it ?

Keysoe makes an excellent point about class distribution, and there may well be a solution to some problems in there.

As for the idea that "balloting IS entirely random... literally names out of a hat" - All I can say is literally LAMO!!

I know that pros give back to the sport. It just seems that the huge increase in intro and pn entries HAS to be generating equally huge increases in revenue. And I fear that rather than the money funding more events or more classes, it will disappear in other areas - which will leave those lower level riders short changed in terms of how many runs they can get and prize funds available to those lower classes. Yes, pros generate sponsorship and lottery funding - however the regular services of Yogi B and Tracey R don't come cheap, and their 'livielihoods' benefits greatly from those sessions! We all give and we all get - but the balance is not equal at the moment.

And I do get sick of being told that I should volunteer and sponsor classes in order to beat the ballot. I do volunteer, but I do it because I want to help - I feel it should be my annual memberships and entry fees that get me my runs - as it is with the pros!

"Its worth remembering that professionals have to make a living out of the sport. Is it fair for them to travel to an event with just one horse? Eventually riders wouldn't bother going because it becomes financially unviable for them to leave the rest of their horses at home, often unworked, or having to employ extra staff."

- And like wise, if I'm to be balloted from my local event, then have to miss another near vicinity one because the calendar is such a farce, it will soon get to the point where my and my horses annual membership is not financially viable either. Then who will volunteer to stand in the cold for 5 hours stewarding the sj gate? Not Zara, because she will be in Borroca!
So YES, something must be done! And I think the annual salaries over at Stoneleigh Park are sufficient enough that they come up with one pretty soon.
 
It is a very difficult situation that I can see from both sides. As a single horse rider balloted from Burnham and not got into Weston because its full thats really messed up my plans aiming at CCI* and really pi**ed me off so yes i'd rather a multi horse rider got balloted not me!!!

However on the other side of the coin, friend who is a professional rider and who has managed to run 4 horses at Oasby, 3 at Lincoln both of which balloted. Had 2 balloted from Lincoln and 4 balloted from Burnham meaning those horses won't run until Hambleden. Now she's furious and asking - "how can I run my business" People are paying her to ride their horses, school them and compete them. As seh says, why should they pay when they cna't see their horses compete?? The otherside of her business it buying producing and selling. How can she increase their value through comeptition results if the horses dont' run?

Its a complete nightmare and the answer is they need to run more days. They need extra days for PN/Intro classes at this time of year and BE are being a bit short sighted not to provide these.
 
We need more events that are prepared to put on extra days and shuffle classes like the Buntines did last week at Oasby.

Imagine how many would have been ballotted from Oasby if the extra Thursday hadn't run?
 
I realise mid week competitions are not popular with working riders, but I was surprised to see so few are held midweek - would that not help with numbers, with professionals perhaps preferring to ride mid week at events that chose to run then, leaving more space for others at weekend events? Or are there other problems with week day events which is why there aren't many...

I was keen to volunteer at a few BE events but am busy at weekends so was looking for some mid week ones, and couldn't find many in my area...
 
Now GW is likely cancelled, and have just been balloted from Eland. The BSJA is looking sooooooooooooo tempting right now
mad.gif
 
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