British Dressage - wwyd?

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IdoShowing

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So I was meant to compete in the BD Veteran Championships last Friday. On the Thursday, I got a call from BD saying that because I won there last year, I was ineligible to compete at the same level again.

Now, whilst I admit that it was my responsibility to know the rules, I had had my qualification verified by BD at the beginning of August-surely my eligibility should have been checked then?

I only joined BD to do this final, I also had to join the VHS, as well as do 2 qualification rounds for 2 classes and then the entry fee on top of that. All in all it cost me around £280 only to be told the day before that I couldn't do it. They said I could go HC, but as my horse is 22, I didn't really want him to compete unnecessarily.

So basically do I have a leg to stand on by asking for my money back, or will they just say I should have read the rules??

Thanks!!
 
I think they will tell you you should have read the rules and that will be that, but they are bonkers with their insanely complex and never changing rules, so, morally, you are in the right - no one can stay on top of BD rules, not even BD themselves! The worst thing is that they could easily avoid such problems and keep their insanely complicated system by having online entries and letting the computer sort out eligibility. They do it this way in France and if you try to enter a class you are not eligible for you just can't and you get a message explaining why.
 
It does state in the rulebook that if you win one year you will not be eligible at the same level in future years, so I think you will be lucky to get a refund.

I do think the system is very complicated and you shouldn't have been able to enter though, as Booboos says.
 
You can always ask, check where the rule is stated. We have come across rules that are only clear when you read the very small print. If is not obvious at the point of entry you could try on the basis it wasn't clear.
 
It isn't unusual if you win a lower level class at national level to be prevented from entering the same combination at the same level the next year. It stops the same people winning every time and makes the playing field a bit more even. I'm more familiar with BE and BS than BD. But with BS not only can you enter a class that you are not eligible for - you can win it and then later get fined for doing it. (Not me - a friend. Although they did try to fine me once when the show center got the name wrong - long story..)

The rules are - I'm afraid - your responsibility. Even if it wasn't clear - or even if it was changed part way through the year - that is the rule now. At least you found out before you traveled and competed.
 
What a shame - I am completely with you that to contact you so near to the competition date is bonkers.

However ultimately it is your responsibility to read the rules, albeit that they are ridiculously complicated and ever changing.
 
LJR said:
What a shame - I am completely with you that to contact you so near to the competition date is bonkers.

However ultimately it is your responsibility to read the rules, albeit that they are ridiculously complicated and ever changing.
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Afraid I agree with this - ultimately it's always the rider's responsibility. Although saying that some of BD's rules are so incredibly complicated and the fact that they themselves don't understand them, is ridiculous! Given the OP did actually confirm with BD that they were eligible to take part, I do feel sorry for the OP. The whole handling of BD's new competition structure has been an absolute shambles, from the constant changes, to the incorrect 'examples' they sent everyone to try and help us understand when it turned out to be wrong. I haven't competed BD since May due to my own pregnancy and horse's injury and I'd just understood the new structure and now I see from the latest rulebook that they've changed it again :(
 
As complicated as BD rules are and for all their faults rule 81 clearly states The winning combination at each level at the final will not be eligible for the same level in future years and must compete at a higher level. So I'm not sure if you will get any kind of refund. Be thankful they picked it up before you competed and potentially have had your prize removed once already won which I've seen at regionals and pet plans. Last year I kept getting area festival qualification emails even though I did the same level at regionals, no the computer systems don't speak to each other which is so annoying but I knew I couldn't take that qualification up. Next time you query anything with BD make sure it's in writing.
 
If it were me I'd take it on the chin, they are antiquated with regards to checckng entries, but you can always email and check before shelling out - I did this before the ROR's because I didn't want to shell out for something I might not be able to do, I also checked in April rules for eligibilty before I even started aiming for it
 
Thanks for the replies guys, know it was my responsibility to know the rules, just wish they'd checked my eligibility when they verified my qualification!!

Irony is I only received my rule book yesterday!!
 
TBH your horse won't know if the comp is 'necessary' or not so I don't see the issue with doing the test HC if he was healthy/fit/whatever enough to do it with a chance of winning. And ff you'd enjoy it, well, you'd still enjoy it, no?
 
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