British Open :- Idiots

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Toby_Zaphod

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Was at The British Open today, Marcus Fuchs was in the top 4 & was jumping. He camearound a corner to tghree pole fence...180cm spread & an idiot course designer & another bloke were standing behind the fence chatting totally oblivious to Marcus. He had to shout & wave at them to get out the way...ythey eventually moved buty he's lost the stride & had it down....The idiots cost him several thousand pounds. He comoplainent to ther judges but nothing happened.

I sincerely hope that the idiots get officially reprimanded.
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were the guys the TA army guy and the judgey looking people?

Did you enjoy British open? I went on Friday got to bed at 25 to 1 am. hehe. I thoroughly enjoyed. Personally the vaulting i didn't find very good. But i enjoyed the barrel racing, polo, musical dressage, pignon guy and the how the west was won by the young riders.

Kat xx
 
That is outrageous! We were there on Friday and were really surprised at how there was no stopping of people walking around and using flash photography during the rounds. They were much stricter at Olympia.
 
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That is outrageous! We were there on Friday and were really surprised at how there was no stopping of people walking around and using flash photography during the rounds. They were much stricter at Olympia.

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they were really tight about both these things round where I was on saturday during the day. You weren't allowed to come up stairs and go to seats if a horse was jumping and one steward kept warning various people about using their flashes.

who ever was standing behind the fence should get a talking to as it is vital they are aware at all times where the current horse is. BUT not sure what the judges could really do, they can't take away the 4 penalties as how do you prove it was them standing there, yes almost certainly was but you can't prove and only other option is to allow him to jump the whole course again?

In the same situation if it was me would depend when I spotted them in way and I would very possibly have pulled up until they cleared the course. I have done this before when a jump number had been incorrectly put infront of a fence and even though only 30cm high and the fence 1m20 I wasn't happy jumping it as it was. I stopped pointed to the fence, course builder changed it and restarted from the point I pulled up and wasn't penalised. Not quite the same as here people were involved but tis a thought
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When the time came for the prize giving.....the roar & applaud that Marcus Fuchs received form the crowd was much bigger than Jessica Keurton who actually won it.
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things were much the same on Thurday even on the indoor xc there were flashes going off and people moving around, the nearly got in the way a couple of times
 
Wow, I bet he had a few choice words to say. That sounds so unprofessional, not to mention they could have been run over!
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Yes - I saw that - it was outrageous - and it wasn't the first time people had been asked to move. They really were in the way. He should have ridden on to them!! If he hadn't had that fence down he would have won.
 
I know I was there too - and thought it was really unfair. But the thing me and my OH were discussing afterwards was what could they have done in repsonse to his complaint?
Obviously not having the stupid jump judges there in the first place, but once it had happened. Cos no-one could say for sure if he would have had it down or not without that happening, they couldn't let him jump again as that would be completely unfair etc.

Just interested in thoughts...
 
Well, it's very unfortunate and in this instance probably cost a few grand in prize money....it isn't the first time i've seen it though, and i doubt it will be the last
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At Norton Heath last year the photographer was standing right behind the first fence....oblivious to the girl approaching it
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She had a refusal as a direct result
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I think the only course of action open to a rider in that instance is to pull up and request the course be cleared....as would be the case if a fence blew down in front of you. You *should* then be allowed to continue un-penalised
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Marcus lost about £16k because of the incident as it looked like he was going to jump clear and on the other results he would have won it, although Jessica had the last fence down and she may not have done as she knew by this time she had a fence in hand.

The fence in question was a big triple bar coming off the corner so he wouldn't have seen them until the last moment (expecting them to move quicker as well I think), so he was half committed to go. He was unlucky and it was right in front of where they were filming so he can watch it a number of times!! He was very professional about it and didn't make a big fuss in the ring to delay the other riders coming in after him, like many other sports people would have done (Tennis, football etc).
 
accidents happen and i think he saw it this way to its a bummer but them so are alot of things in life!
i would have prob screamed and shouted welldone for keeping ur kewl very professional x
 
Hands up those who have NEVER made a mistake in their job!
Whilst I agree that it was a very unfortunate incident I feel it is unfair to label the areana people as Idiots.
Having spent 2 days recently working in the areana at a BSJA show I can tell you it is extremely tiring, particularly if there isn't a non used fence in the areana to stand around. Having to be constantly aware of where the horse is and is going to be for anything up to 10 hours or more a day (often without a break) is mentally draining. Sometimes a slip of concentration happens, it's human nature.
If anyone doubts what I'm saying then I suggest you offer your services at a BSJA show as I did. You might view the incident a little differently.
As I said, very unfortunate but we are all human and therefore fallable. A little consideration for the people that make our competing possible wouldn't go amiss.
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