Blaze Academy

MistletoeMegan

MistletoeMegan

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Apologies if this has been posted before, but I noticed on the Blaze Clothing website that they are running their Academy again this year.

I guess the format will be the same as last year, but the final selection is at Richmond EC - closing date is 31st October.

I can think of a fair few HHOers who should go apply for this - anyone going to give it a go?
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I would love to, but im not sure im up to the standard they'd look for!! My friend is in lasts years one she qualified and won a place with her dressage horse.

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Give it a go! You have nothing to lose but the cost of a stamp
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And what about those who don't live in Scotland, should they have to travel up to Scotland?

They can't be expected to have regional finals, they wouldn't be able to compare riders and the costs would be prohibitive.

I suppose it depends how much the rider wants the help - some people would happily hack to Richmond if it meant a training bursary and sponsorship
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They've upped the age! I am sure last year I was too old, now it is 18-30 year olds according to the application form. If I was actually any good I'd have a go!
 
To be fair, it is quite a restrictive competition if you live no where close enough to warrant the flippin cost to get to Yorkshire, but thats if you get that far, maybe they will only choose people close enough to go to the final selection...........what if you entered and were well worth the bursary etc but lived in dorset, can they expect you to travel to Yorkshire? It seems a bit crazy
 
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To be fair, it is quite a restrictive competition if you live no where close enough to warrant the flippin cost to get to Yorkshire, but thats if you get that far, maybe they will only choose people close enough to go to the final selection...........what if you entered and were well worth the bursary etc but lived in dorset, can they expect you to travel to Yorkshire? It seems a bit crazy

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Seriously?! I am in the southwest and would walk on my hands to Yorkshire if it meant I had the chance of a years sponsorship and training bursary. It's not restrictive - if you compete, you have transport, if you have transport then if you want it enough, you'll go....
 
The problem with it being a national final, as with any national event, is that they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

They held it at Patchetts last year and got whinged out for making it too far away for most people, so they've moved it north and are getting whinged at again; wherever they choose will be a long way for some people, and I can't imagine that they just disregarded more central locations.
 
SpottedCat- my point was not that I wouldn't travel that far, but that it would cost alot, especially with rising fuel costs etc. And as you say, its only a chace to get the sponsorship, you still have to compete to win it once you are there, so really, im just weighing up the pro's and con's, of course, it would be amazing to win it in which case yes, the cost of getting there etc would be worth it.
 
But basically what you are saying is that if, out of everyone in the country who enters, you are one of the chosen 4 finalists for your discipline (giving you a 50:50 chance of getting sponsorship as they picked 2 from each discipline last year), it's only worth going if it's down the road? 50:50 is good enough odds for me to spend the money....
 
Not necessarily, because I am sure it is worth going with those odds, but sometimes, with a distance that far you have to fully quantify the costs of things, but im sure, that if with much luck I was ever in the position to be a finalist im pretty sure I'd go.
 
I thought the Blaze Academy was for young people who's parents hadn't bought them everything and they'd worked themselves to the bone, ON THEIR OWN to get them where they are. But having seen the results of last year, it seems that's exactly what they got - a bunch of kids who's parents had quite clearly bought them everything??????
 
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Not necessarily, because I am sure it is worth going with those odds, but sometimes, with a distance that far you have to fully quantify the costs of things, but im sure, that if with much luck I was ever in the position to be a finalist im pretty sure I'd go.

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I'm not saying you wouldn't work out the cost....
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Just that where are they meant to hold it? Richmond is miles up north for me, but then again even the Midlands is miles from Scotland, so how can they make it fair? The more they spend on regional heats etc, the less they have to spend on sponsorship.
 
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I thought the Blaze Academy was for young people who's parents hadn't bought them everything and they'd worked themselves to the bone, ON THEIR OWN to get them where they are. But having seen the results of last year, it seems that's exactly what they got - a bunch of kids who's parents had quite clearly bought them everything??????

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Do you know all of the finalists personally? Do you know their financial positions?

I can't quite believe that everyone whinges about young riders not being given any opportunities and they don't get the help they need, and then a company tried to do something about it (whilst getting something back in return, quite rightly) and they get whinged at for being too far away/too elitist/too this/too that
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If riders weren't so damn pessimistic and indignant all the time, maybe more would make it? If riders aren't going to bother to enter something like this, which doesn't take any real effort at all, because they don't think they'll win, why are they in a competitive sport?
 
It's less that I wouldn't enter, more that having seen the achievements of people shortlisted last time, I am realistic about my chances of being called up and told I am invited to Richmond
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It's less that I wouldn't enter, more that having seen the achievements of people shortlisted last time, I am realistic about my chances of being called up and told I am invited to Richmond
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Ack woman, what harm can it do to enter? You're clearly not a pile of poo if your yard sponsor you
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It's less that I wouldn't enter, more that having seen the achievements of people shortlisted last time, I am realistic about my chances of being called up and told I am invited to Richmond
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Ack woman, what harm can it do to enter? You're clearly not a pile of poo if your yard sponsor you
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No, it won't do any harm to enter, and I will probably have a go now they have decided I am not too decrepit and past it to be worth bothering about
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. However, as closing isn't till the end of October, I will wait and see if we manage to actually get some points and rosettes first, as that would make the entry look a bit better.....
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I can't quite believe that everyone whinges about young riders not being given any opportunities and they don't get the help they need, and then a company tried to do something about it (whilst getting something back in return, quite rightly) and they get whinged at for being too far away/too elitist/too this/too that
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If riders weren't so damn pessimistic and indignant all the time, maybe more would make it? If riders aren't going to bother to enter something like this, which doesn't take any real effort at all, because they don't think they'll win, why are they in a competitive sport?

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Well I'm going to enter anyway just for the chance of being picked, but like SpottedCat im going to wait until nearer the end of the season to see how we progress then I will have more info for the form!
 
Regional winners could be a good thing for the company. Seeing as I have not seen anyone with Blaze clothes when I have been out and about.
 
Depends how much you want it- I was down in Bath last weekend for a show and I live in North east Scottie land - kelso in 2 weeks time, birminghamd few weeks ago and I find the money to do this because I want to and I take it seriously enough to find the money to fund 1200 hundred miles in two days!
 
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Depends how much you want it- I was down in Bath last weekend for a show and I live in North east Scottie land - kelso in 2 weeks time, birminghamd few weeks ago and I find the money to do this because I want to and I take it seriously enough to find the money to fund 1200 hundred miles in two days!

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What show did you go to in Bath?
 
Yes I do agree you have to want it enough and it is very hard work, I do everything on my own, I have no arena, or facilities, not much turn out either, im still at college 5 days a week so I have to work hard to keep my horse competition fit, especially in winter, on top of that I have no trainer or lessons because I can't afford that, entires cost enough. Don't go crazy at me, I am in no way trying to take anything away from you others who all ride and run yards with several horses and also work long hours.
All im saying is we have to think about the cost to drive there, of course, if we get that far!
 
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All im saying is we have to think about the cost to drive there

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Esp. when you consider that the sponsorship for a years training is £500.. if you were traveling up from say Cornwall/Devon/Dorset etc. and you did win.. that £500 would probably only just cover your travel cost to get up there. and therefore none of the training.
Unless of course they have upped the prize fund this year.
 
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