British Showjumping qualifiers and points

[NinaSk]

Hi, I have looked at the BSJA website at length but still have a few questions I can't find the answers to and hope someone might be able to help.
My daughter is riding on a ticket at her first affiliated show tomorrow and if she enjoys it, we will look at joining (junior/pony).
I can see the qualifying dates for British Novice run from 1 May until end of April. I can see to qualify for the second rounds she needs to jump 4 double clears. However the second round dates for 2017 are in the spring/early summer which doesn't give her time to get to 4 qualifying competitions? Are the second round dates in may/June 2017 for the people who got double clears in the 2016-2017 competitions?
Also her pony already has 109 points from her previous owner. Mathematically I can't work out if she would still be eligible to even go to the Novice second rounds if she got her double clears and got placed??? Or are there other competitions / classes she could do at BS?
Any advice would be greatly received. Thanks!!

 

[Shay]

The first round qualifiers are 1st May 2016 to the end of April 2017. So you have 4 weeks to get the 4 double clears needed before moving through to the second round for 2017. Double clears on a ticket do not count - you have to be a full member; although presumably the pony still is so clears / placings will result in points. It isn't impossible to get the clears needed - but it is quite an ask for a new partnership. You might be better waiting for 1st May 2017 and looking for second rounds in 2018?

The BS classes and qualification structure is immensely complicated. There are a massive range of possibilities, as well as special classes for riders of a set age, ponies of a set height etc. and classes with no pre-qualification needed at the big shows. I could write you a very long essay - and probably get at least on bit wrong as my daughter has been out of juniors for over a year. Probably the easiest way to find your way through the maze is to join your local BS junior academy and speak to your coaches.

If you only have one pony it can be quite difficult and expensive to compete extensively within Juniors. If you also use that pony for pony club or NSEA keep a careful eye on what restrictions are placed on classes there to ensure you can still compete at your chosen height and with your chosen team even though you have competed BS.

 

[NinaSk]

Thank you for your help Shay. The pony's membership has expired so I don't think any points will count tomorrow. We are riding on a ticket as we are waiting for the 1st May, so you've answered my question- we have a year to qualify for the second rounds (2018) and not 4 weeks, phew! I will double check the pony club rules as she does compete in a team there too. I will also find out if there is an academy near us too (Derbyshire). Thank you again

 

[Shay]

Depending on the timescale points accrued in lapsed pony membership may well accrue when they re-join. Otherwise that would be a neat way to build experience without points!

The interaction with PC is an issue. PC want to support those with only one mount by aggressively excluding those who compete affiliated at any level. (Its not just the pony who cannot have competed but the rider too..) On one hand I completely understand that. A kid with one good pony cannot achieve the breadth of riding experience that someone with a string of 5 or 8 can. On the other I do worry that PC sets itself up in competition with those who want to compete affiliated - even if they won't get anywhere. That might be more of an issue for us because of where we are based. But we loose PC riders who could have made it to national competition just because of the apparent lure of "I compete affiliated..."