British Eventing - Too Strict?

[Mithras]

I noticed Matthew Wright had been banned for a period for running an unregistered horse. Fair enough, he did wrong, but banning someone seems very harsh. Do British Eventing really work and for their members or against them?

My one experience of British Eventing was an Intro ODE. Coming from a BSJA background, I thought you could just enter on a ticket. I didnt know about the registration etc. Hence I got disaqualified after going double clear and appeared HC on the results. Fair enough, but then some weeks later I was asontished to get a letter from British Eventing saying I was being fined £80 for running unregistered, by a body I wasnt even a member of.

Since I had found the whole experience a bit snooty, unhelpful and not particularly welcoming to newcomers, I wrote back pointing out they had no jurisdiction to fine me as, not being a member, I hadn't agreed to their rules of membership and pointing out that I had not deliberately broken the rules, I had just been unaware of them as a newcomer to the sport. They wrote back in quite rude terms saying that it was my responsibility to read the rule book (which I found unwieldy and excessively long) and the fine stayed. I wrote back again inviting me to sue me for it, since they had no way of legally enforcing it and that I would never do BE again as they were so unwelcoming to newcomers.

And that was how it ended. Totally put off by my first experience of BE, I have never done one again. I doubt there are many sports so un-encouraging of newcomers to it.

 

[ihatework]

Sorry but PMSL at that (not at you directly)

Firstly I would expect anyone who wanted to compete affiliated to expect to be a member or buy a ticket!!

But the main question would be how on earth did you manage to have an entry accepted?! Surely the event organisers would have asked for either your ticket or your membership number!

 

[Mithras]

I entered on a ticket but didnt realise you had to send the ticket off to BE, I thought it was just like BSJA and you could submit the ticket with your details on the day. When I entered, no-one picked up on it. I had no idea, it was an innocent mistake. I just found the whole experience and the way it was handled totally discouraging.

 

[Bossanova]

There are a detailed set of rules and LOADS of info on the BE website.
God knows why the entries ecretary accepted you without day ticket numbers, that
should never happen.

Tbh, I think Matt Wright's punishment is fair and it wasnt just one single offence. Rules are rules.

 

[JessPickle]

Rules are rules like some people think getting a speeding fine for being 5mph over the limit is wrong but there has to be a limit somewhere!

As for the other why did they accept your entry!

 

[kerilli]

OP, the entries secretary should have picked up on the discrepancy, i can understand you being very put out, to put it mildly.
i have found BE to be pretty intransigent. after many years of eventing at all levels, and never once breaking any rules, i was erroneously given 20 penalties xc for doing a long route. (having gone clear, had gone home because results were taking hours and i knew we wouldn't be placed anyway.) my boyfriend had videod the fence in question and i sent the vid off with an explanatory letter, and the Area BigWig agreed that it proved that i hadn't had a run out or a stop, and that i had deliberately gone the long route, so it was the Fence Judge's error, but refused to amend the results online. it would have made no difference (still unplaced) but this mare had a totally clean xc record at Int for 2 years, and i was gutted that it was blemished through no fault of hers, and that BE wouldn't change it. to add insult to injury, they asked for a copy of the vid to use in Fence Judge Training. Gggggrrrrr. this was years ago and it still annoys me!

 

[MagicMelon]

TBH I think it is always up to the competitor to find out exactly whats needed to enter an event. Most of us did BE on a ticket at first and never had any problems finding out how to do it... No offence intended!!

As a member of both BSJA and BE, I have certainly found the BSJA to be far more unfriendly and unhelpful. Ive had quite a bit of bother with them over numerous things (registering an imported horse (was told 3 totally different things I had to do!), them trying to fine me for doing an class I was out of winnings-wise (their error), missed winnings (which I still have not had sorted) etc.). Whereas BE are generally far more helpful and even the events are just more welcoming IMO. However, I have also had a run-in over a XC fence which was bloody badly flagged (it was a corner with more than one red flag...), one of the officials was a bit snotty with me when explaining why Id been eliminated afterwards. I think that was the only time they've peed me right off!

I think this guy (Matthew) should have been penalised, however a ban is a little harsh.

 

[siennamum]

I thinl they are all pretty much on a par. Love BE search engine & results. HATE the fact you have to register & apply for day tickets manually instead of online.
BD & BSJA should have a good results search engine also.
Find all office staff helpful & friendly tho'.

 

[Mithras]

[ QUOTE ]
TBH I think it is always up to the competitor to find out exactly whats needed to enter an event. Most of us did BE on a ticket at first and never had any problems finding out how to do it... No offence intended!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Good debate. I can only say I had no idea this was an additional rule I had to look for and I found the rules extensive and difficult to find. I didnt at the time have any friends (or relatives) who had done eventing and had to do it myself.

I can only say as a first timer, my experience was totally off-putting. The letters I got from BE were aggressive and unfriendly. I actually do two other sports to a very high level - triathlon, where I have been on the British age group team twice at the World Championships and running, where I have won district medals - so I have plenty of experience of following rules and of how other sports are run. And I just didnt feel that the set up was helpful or encouraging. Theres definately been big efforts in recent years in running and triathlon to make the sport user-friendly and to do all they can to encourage and help the athletes, rather than condemn them for accidental breaches of rules. Drugs aside obviously. I can imagine someone being disqualified for a similar infringement of the rules - but fined, especially if a newcomer - no way!

I know what the BSJA can be like, a bit disorganised. But I find the set up and the sport very friendly.

 

[Paddywhack]

No its a fair punishmentrules are rules,what probarly happened is that he entered on a horse where the Membership had not been renewed, the entry secretaries just takes down the Membership Numbers for riders and horses and when its all done they send info up to BE,some events got 1000's entries and the secretries just dont have time to check each and everyone entry !!!