BSJA Bliss!

[tigers_eye]

Just picture it... a midday start, BN course just ready to walk as you roll up, being told you don't need to pay the first aid charge, polite, friendly, helpful people, an uncrowded warm-up (4 horses was the most I saw in it), a lovely jumping ring, and less than 20 in the 2 classes you want to jump in.....

Am I dreaming? No, the above was in fact the case at Manor Farm today. It may have been 70 miles away for me but I'll definately be going back. The contrast to the survival-of-the-fittest endurance challenge that is Patchetts and Addington couldn't be more obvious!

I took Betsy for her first look at something more serious than a raised trotting pole (that was at Patchetts last weekend), she had one down in the BN, and one down in the jump off of the 1m Am 1st round. Both times it was a double, I think she just needs more experience as she's so busy wondering how she's going to jump a 2nd fence so quickly she forgets about the first and ends up in a bit of a mess! But she's a lot closer to being decent than I thought she was - fair enough she doesn't give them feet, and she doesn't really bascule, but she's very rideable and willing, and not at all looky, so I'm very pleased!

 

[Sarah_Jane]

Sounds a pretty good start. Certainly sounds like a venue worth going back to - was it a decent size school?

 

[tigers_eye]

70m x 30m, with a brilliant surface... would happily take the big boys there to jump....

 

[siennamum]

It makes you lean towards the dark side when you have days like that - and they're cheap, and you may win some money..

Bet you are pleased with her, she sounds like my sort of horse...

 

[dieseldog]

It sounds fab, especially the bit about Betsy, but less than 20 in a class means only 3 money prizes if you are lucky

 

[Ferdinase514]

Told you it was nice

 

[tigers_eye]

They gave 4 in the first class and 3 in the second one. And nice rosettes!

 

[NewHeights_SJ]

Well done! Sounds like a good day all round.

Where is Manor Farm??

 

[tigers_eye]

Huntingdon, Cambs - was most strange, used to live just round there up until the age of about 7, I kept seeing names of places, and water towers, that I was sure I recognised!

FMC - you were quite right

, guess it is further for you now you are in Oxfordshire...

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
It sounds fab, especially the bit about Betsy, but less than 20 in a class means only 3 money prizes if you are lucky

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought they'd changed that rule this year and that it was now 1 prize for every 5 starters or part thereof....so 16 to 20 starters pays 4 prizes

My entry fees are certainly higher this year so i'm assuming that's what it's going towards

 

[BBs]

Gosh sounds perfect.
Shame its a million miles for me

Well done Betsy

 

[flower]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It sounds fab, especially the bit about Betsy, but less than 20 in a class means only 3 money prizes if you are lucky

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought they'd changed that rule this year and that it was now 1 prize for every 5 starters or part thereof....so 16 to 20 starters pays 4 prizes

My entry fees are certainly higher this year so i'm assuming that's what it's going towards

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought they'd always used the one prize for every 5 starters rule?

 

[Jo C]

It is lovely there isn't it?! Its a bit of a drive for me too but I will most definitely be going back.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Winning money isn't always the aim thought is it. It's nice to go & try & get your double clears in without having to hang around all day.....a placing is a bonus.

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It sounds fab, especially the bit about Betsy, but less than 20 in a class means only 3 money prizes if you are lucky

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought they'd changed that rule this year and that it was now 1 prize for every 5 starters or part thereof....so 16 to 20 starters pays 4 prizes

My entry fees are certainly higher this year so i'm assuming that's what it's going towards

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought they'd always used the one prize for every 5 starters rule?

[/ QUOTE ]

Just checked the rule book and I was right. They've subtely reworded it so now it states :-

Up to 5 starters = 1 prize
Up to 10 starters = 2 prizes
Up to 15 starters = 3 prizes etc...

That means if 6 start they pay 1st and 2nd prizes now whereas before they would only have paid 1st

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]
Winning money isn't always the aim thought is it. It's nice to go & try & get your double clears in without having to hang around all day.....a placing is a bonus.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have a horse that is eligible for DCs, when you have an open horse like me it's pretty pointless jumping a DC as you have nothing to qualify for. You also have to beat all the ex Grade A's which usually take the top 3 places, so if they pay down to 6th it is nice to get your entry fee back.

 

[sfward]

Was it just quiet because it's a Friday? Or do you normally jump mid-week?

 

[tigers_eye]

Well it was Thursday when I jumped there! I don't know if they do weekend BSJA, but the owner said the busiest they'd ever been was 30 in a class. And yes, I normally jump midweek, even then it's not unheard of to have over 100 in the lower classes at Addington and (less often) Patchetts.

Jo_C - don't know if you know, theyre going to be replacing the outdoor with a much bigger one with the outdoor version of the indoor surface, hope to be done by April.

 

[Jo C]

No I didn't know that - that makes it even better!

 

[Ferdinase514]

[ QUOTE ]


FMC - you were quite right

, guess it is further for you now you are in Oxfordshire...

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, not too bad. Go that way for work quite a lot. Is prob and hour and a half.

 

[igglepiggle]

I'm convinced and will now be going to give it a shot. Wouldn't have thought of going there before, so thanks for the recommendation. In return, I can highly recommend Hoplands although 2hrs from me and they have BSJA starting in the Spring!