Blenheim Horse Trials

[splashgirl45]

i watched on h & c as well but thought the coverage was ok but not as good as some i have seen....i enjoyed it though..i only caught the last bit of WFP so didnt see the first part of the coverage maybe the bit i saw was filmed once they had got the hang of it

 

[lar]

Looks like they’ve utterly ballsed up the traffic management today.

The Jockey Club can organise big events, so why the oversight re numbers on the Saturday? First big event in 18 months, free for under 16s, good weather…

It was horrendous. Admittedly we were later leaving the hotel than ideal but still didn't expect it to take 3 HOURS to do a 15 minute journey. Stationary traffic too most of the time. I just couldn't work out what they were DOING on the gate for us to have such long periods of not moving at all. Thank goodness we had forward parking otherwise I think we'd have given up. I can't believe the Jockey Club of all people didn't plan it better. It's not like they haven't got experience of running big events.

 

[Lexi_]

The arena eventing classes kept the "old" Blenheim financially afloat. They also brought in huge numbers of supporters ie friends and family who spent a lot of money in the trade stands / food outlets. A fair few competitors who had travelled hundreds of miles booked stabling locally and made a long weekend of the trip.

Do you have any idea if it’s a permanent decision not to have them, or whether it’s due to lack of qualifiers this year?

 

[Lexi_]

We chatted to quite a few spectators this year who were saying they’d had 2-3 hours of queueing to get in ?

Plenty of people must have managed it though as it was absolutely bouncing today. I’ve never seen that many spectators there!

 

[teapot]

We chatted to quite a few spectators this year who were saying they’d had 2-3 hours of queueing to get in ?

Plenty of people must have managed it though as it was absolutely bouncing today. I’ve never seen that many spectators there!

There are comments on fb from people who were still queuing/arriving at 1pm. As for crowd numbers as I've said: first big 'known' event in 18 months (bar Blair), good weather, free under 16s, what were they expecting?

Glad friends and I decided against.

 

[EllenJay]

Well, I went today. Had a lovely time, no traffic problems either way, but we took into account that it's the first big event, and arrived by 9:30

 

[MuddyMonster]

We were there today too - I must admit, I was impressed.

Super friendly volunteers, more shopping than I had expected (a nice mix of stands too), a big course & saw some great sport.

I can't say I experienced any traffic issues either but I was coming from the South (which might have made a difference?) & did get there fairly early.

Looking forward to next year's event

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

I went today. It was awful, and really disappointing. Over three hours to do the last 3 miles on the A44. The roping of the course made it impossible to walk the course properly. The course was boring. Like a BE100 but higher fences: very little to challenge a horse and rider. At 4* that seems inappropriate. Rammed with people, so obviously the Jockey Club are more interested in entry fees than spectator experience.

I've been going to Blenheim for 25 years or so. This was the absolute worst experience I have had. Never, ever again.

 

[Velcrobum]

Do you have any idea if it’s a permanent decision not to have them, or whether it’s due to lack of qualifiers this year?

For RC and PC arena eventing there were no qualifiers just Teams of 4 at 90cm and 100cm. It was very very popular with wait lists to get a team in and teams came from all over the country. For the BE arena challenge entries just had to get MER's to enter if I remember correctly. With regards to traffic issues the AA road signage was utterly appalling if they had labelled the various entrances as A,B,C,D etc just as they do at race meetings and put on the tickets "use entrance ?" just as they do at race meetings it might have worked better. The Jockey Club is only interested in making a profit it would seem.

The volunteers hand book was interesting it among other do's and don'ts stated volunteers must not use mobile phones while on site. XC crossing stewards only have their mobiles to communicate with their HOD as an example. Volunteers were also banned from drinking any alcohol on site and if found doing so would be escorted off site!! No after work beer or glass of wine allowed!!!

 

[Lexi_]

Yeah I don’t think the wording was great there. I assumed they meant no drinking while on duty, which is fair enough!

 

[Velcrobum]

I went today. It was awful, and really disappointing. Over three hours to do the last 3 miles on the A44. The roping of the course made it impossible to walk the course properly. The course was boring. Like a BE100 but higher fences: very little to challenge a horse and rider. At 4* that seems inappropriate. Rammed with people, so obviously the Jockey Club are more interested in entry fees than spectator experience.

I've been going to Blenheim for 25 years or so. This was the absolute worst experience I have had. Never, ever again.

Cornbury 3* asked more questions than this 4*!! The riders who were guest commentating on H&C all said that dumbing down fence 5 the flyer (by adding a brush ground line) was a very bad idea as a fence like that is vital to educate horses moving up to 5* as did Lucinda Green. The fact that so many horses were making the time on a course that is usually difficult to make the time on is very telling as to the questions asked. I agree like a BE 100 but higher and wider, Again the guest rider commentators on H&C all said the Trakhener was very soft at this level despite the course builder describing it as impressive in the programme. They all thought the first water was soft with no jump landing in the water especially as the Dew pond which was always a good question after the flyer was not used.

 

[Velcrobum]

This is copy and pasted from a local community information site!!

Those poor drivers and passengers stuck in the massive catastrophic traffic jams on the A44.
The traffic on the A44 duel carriageway is horrendous, why ? Because the Blenheim International Horse trials is being held there and the mismanagement of entering the site. Anyone who has visited the park in their car will know how long it takes to get though the pay booths. The fact that there are thousands of cars trying to gain entrance has cause a major backlog on ALL the roads in the area. People are getting out of their cars, leaving just the driver and walking to the venue from Yarnton and Begbroke. A minimum 2hr delay and this started at around 8.30am this morning, the time now is 1pm and the traffic on the A44 is just as bad. The ambulance HQ is located in Langford Lane and they are struggling on blues and twos to get to the Woodstock roundabout. It’s a hot day and the stress LEVELS for those sitting in a hot vehicle are visibly rising as will those passengers sat on the buses. Will Blenheim ever learn fro their past mistakes regarding the traffic problems large events cause. BBC Countryfile did a great job on traffic management after their first year at Blenheim, so it can be done.

 

[Velcrobum]

A few stats

2021 XC
18 inside the time
5 3 seconds over
4 retirements
4 eliminations

2019 XC
8 inside the time
2 3 seconds over
7 retirements
9 eliminations

Not sure David Evans got it right this year...........

 

[Bernster]

Jus watching today’s xc on hc tv now. Camera work and audio are a bit shonky! Commentary good though.

 

[COldNag]

I am sure that in previous years there was better traffic management - and as above, even for the massive Countryfile events the traffic hasn't been as bad as yesterday.
I was lucky, I cane cross country so avoided the bigger jam but still had way more wait than previous years.
I am sure it used to be that there was more than one entrance and we didn't go in the main gate - though my memory might be iffy.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Admittedly we got there a little late, about 12, but we waited in about 10 mins of traffic and went straight in! Although we did both comment on the lack of signs until you were essentially there. And the signage for our car park (bladon gate) was virtually non existent.

 

[humblepie]

Hopefully the Jockey Club can continue to run it and will improve as sounds like it was chaos yesterday. I must admit I would have struggled to find the horse box entrance for day horse boxes as you had to follow the contractors signs. Fortunately my friend who was with me had been there before and knew that the little road you turned into did go into the park. The jumps looked huge to me but then all jumps look huge to me.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The volunteers hand book was interesting it among other do's and don'ts stated volunteers must not use mobile phones while on site.

Well, in that case they could stuff their volunteering. A day's FJ is a long day out even if close to home. Banning FJs from being in contact with those keeping an eye on their home, dependents and animals is draconian, ill thought out and stupid.

They are treating their volunteers like naughty children, not a highly valued resource .

 

[Lexi_]

I mean they’re really not. The wording in the handbook says don’t use your mobile phone while on duty, which seems sensible enough wording in order to stop people scrolling or chatting all day while they should be paying attention to their role. There wasn’t anyone policing your every second or making you lock your phone away ??‍ It’s FEI level, there’s loads of times between horses so if you needed a quick peek at your phone or to take an urgent call, there’s tons of time to do it in. If you don’t like that specific wording they used, send some constructive feedback in about it.

Also shock horror I was using my phone to video our fence as we had a tricky corner. The sector steward etc were all fine with it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

'Don't use your phone when on duty' = Don't use your phone all day while fence judging ?‍. Otherwise why put it as a rule?

Cba with constructive feedback, simply wouldn't bother to volunteer. Sure that eventing turns away loads of volunteers all the time.

Stroppy? Yes, sure thing, but I have volunteered many times previously at various events.

 

[TGM]

'Don't use your phone when on duty' = Don't use your phone all day while fence judging ?‍. Otherwise why put it as a rule?

I think the organisers need to 'tick that box' for health and safety. Can you imagine if an accident occurred because a FJ had been scrolling on their phone and missed something hazardous occurring (human or dog getting onto the course, damage to the obstacle from previous horse etc.). If all FJs have been officially told not to use their mobiles then no-one can say "oh but I didn't know".

 

[Spotherisk]

Had anyone managed to get the scores to load yet? The website just is t playing ball…

 

[Velcrobum]

I think the organisers need to 'tick that box' for health and safety. Can you imagine if an accident occurred because a FJ had been scrolling on their phone and missed something hazardous occurring (human or dog getting onto the course, damage to the obstacle from previous horse etc.). If all FJs have been officially told not to use their mobiles then no-one can say "oh but I didn't know".

It was a blanket statement in the handbook. Do not know if HOD's then briefed otherwise. Where I was volunteering we had a very very rude competitor, it was not appropriate to radio details so I used my mobile to contact HOD we basically ignored the handbook so our bit of the competition could be provided efficiently both to the competitors and the event.

I really really pleased for Yaz she is a very talented young rider who works very hard.

 

[Velcrobum]

Had anyone managed to get the scores to load yet? The website just is t playing ball…

http://blenheimresults.co.uk.s3.eu-...ads/events/1144/Results for section B (1).pdf

 

[Spotherisk]

http://blenheimresults.co.uk.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/events/1144/Results for section B (1).pdf

Thank you, I was looking for the Long ?

 

[Velcrobum]

Thank you, I was looking for the Long ?

Here you are

http://blenheimresults.co.uk.s3.eu-...ads/events/1144/Results for section A (1).pdf

 

[Goldenstar]

I watched the XC with Nic’s parents in law if was great fun she’s in form great atm .
My first trip out since my operation it was lovely .