Championship Proliferation

[LEC]

The feedback I see on EVERY discipline seems to be that there isn’t a championship specifically for a woman aged 35-45 who works full time, with a grey mare that’s 17.2hh and slightly neurotic.

Though I joke, there is a literal expectation that there is a championship for everyone. I am old but came from a background where I literally never expected to go to a championship. PC eventing had one at 3’6 and we never qualified as not good enough. Affiliated eventing had 3 at Gatcombe. Showjumping had mainly HOYS from 1.10+ and dressage was beyond me.

Everything has to have a championship now - and still we moan. Should we keep pandering to this incessant whinging about there not being a championship for XYZ or should riders just suck up that they need to get better and we have enough?

 

[ihatework]

LEC is winding down from work for the weekend ????

I’m with you btw …

 

[milliepops]

Light the blue touchpaper....

I wonder if it's happened in parallel with the proliferation of "xyz eventing" etc social media pages. If you have such a page and want followers then it helps if you win a big rosette or a nice sash, doesn't it?!

I think every generation moans about the next one coming up. In Ye Olden Days there was only one class for affiliated dressage.
When Open/Restricted came in it was said to be pandering to numpties.
then (correctly IMO, but then i stood to benefit ) that was decided to be unfair on someone with a modest amount of success (as you'd be in with the top pros with your next rubbish horse) and Bronze/Silver/Gold came in. I feel this is a decent compromise and signposts the champ routes well.
And now that's not fair either because silver is a broad church.

Perhaps there is something in this dressage circle thing after all - everyone who thinks B/S/G is stopping them from winning can do and do that and see how the handicap system works.

Personally i like a bit of competition but having had super limited horsepower I do also like having a niche to go against my peers - tbh i think BD have got it sussed pretty well, even with my horses i have had the choice of Regionals, AFs, various associated champs, music, teams etc etc etc.
there already is a championship for everyone. So i'm surprised at the amount of moaning still. it's not like the standards needed for most of those are particularly high - regionals you could miss out on i guess, and teams depends on who else applies but the rest have pretty low thresholds.

 

[MuddyMonster]

If having a championship gives someone at a lower level something to aim for and a fun day out, then I don't see the harm.

If people consider certain levels or types of championships not right for them (not prestigious enough for one), then not entering solves that problem?

Personally, I'd enjoy having the possibility of qualifying for something for a fun day out. I'm under no illusion this will turn me into a rider of elite status because I qualified for a championship

 

[LEC]

LEC is winding down from work for the weekend ????

I’m with you btw …

dont get me wrong I would love a sash and haven’t quite got to the stage of entering best tail for it, but it needs to be meaningful as well.

 

[milliepops]

I won a load of little trophies at my first ever showing show with my oldie. (foray into veteran showing). they make nice book ends but it did feel a bit daft.

 

[LEC]

Light the blue touchpaper....

I wonder if it's happened in parallel with the proliferation of "xyz eventing" etc social media pages. If you have such a page and want followers then it helps if you win a big rosette or a nice sash, doesn't it?!

I think every generation moans about the next one coming up. In Ye Olden Days there was only one class for affiliated dressage.
When Open/Restricted came in it was said to be pandering to numpties.
then (correctly IMO, but then i stood to benefit ) that was decided to be unfair on someone with a modest amount of success (as you'd be in with the top pros with your next rubbish horse) and Bronze/Silver/Gold came in. I feel this is a decent compromise and signposts the champ routes well.
And now that's not fair either because silver is a broad church.

Perhaps there is something in this dressage circle thing after all - everyone who thinks B/S/G is stopping them from winning can do and do that and see how the handicap system works.

Personally i like a bit of competition but having had super limited horsepower I do also like having a niche to go against my peers - tbh i think BD have got it sussed pretty well, even with my horses i have had the choice of Regionals, AFs, various associated champs, music, teams etc etc etc.
there already is a championship for everyone. So i'm surprised at the amount of moaning still. it's not like the standards needed for most of those are particularly high - regionals you could miss out on i guess, and teams depends on who else applies but the rest have pretty low thresholds.

i blame social media. Writing to H&h editor which was the only public moaning you could do, didn’t really have the same impact as 400 other whinging petals piling in on social media. Btw I do think things have improved tremendously but when is enough, enough? Maybe it’s when I get that sash I really want….

 

[milliepops]

i recommend hitting the top levels at associated champs if it's a sash you want! not too many other competitors going for them

 

[LEC]

I won a load of little trophies at my first ever showing show with my oldie. (foray into veteran showing). they make nice book ends but it did feel a bit daft.

Trophies, loads of em. That was the gift of the 80s/90s. Got some cute medals from local shows as well. Best ever was winning £10 in 1985. Polos were 10p in those days.

 

[Roxylola]

I think it's harmless, they don't attract me I'm more interested in moving up levels in dressage. With eventing maybe as we will be limited by our scope and nerve so we may try and get to some champs

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

A slight tangent but where I am, there is an online dressage company that has sub categories for almost anything you can think of. I accept that it’s a nice way to get people involved but surely it gives a false idea of what the big bad world is really like?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I’m not bothered by making competition structures a bit more interesting and having things to aim for at every level. I like having goals I can realistically target. Doesn’t mean I’m not serious about improving and don’t train hard.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As someone who did compete modestly in affiliated dressage in Ye Olden Days, when all classes from Elementary upwards were open to all - I loved it.

Warming up next to Stephen Clarke, and then coming a close second to him on my diminutive HW cob's first test at elementary, was a highlight.

Getting buttons and sashes for nob all has little appeal to me. I prefer my buttons and sashes to be truly earned on merit .

 

[LEC]

I’m not bothered by making competition structures a bit more interesting and having things to aim for at every level. I like having goals I can realistically target. Doesn’t mean I’m not serious about improving and don’t train hard.

I am the same. I like to get better but a championship doesn’t tell me if my riding has improved or the horse is going better. I also expect to work for stuff.

 

[MuddyMonster]

A slight tangent but where I am, there is an online dressage company that has sub categories for almost anything you can think of. I accept that it’s a nice way to get people involved but surely it gives a false idea of what the big bad world is really like?

I don't think it necessarily does.

I've not found competing at venues world's away from the online feedback or scores (at my low level at least). I certainly don't think I will become Carl Hester's next prodigy* because I scored 68% in a Prelim test anymore than I think completing a 20km pleasure ride makes me a Team GB endurance rider.

But I geniunely don't see what harm someone winning a rosette online or going to a lower key championship with a fancy frilly does? Or why someone with different (arguably greater) goals would care about it.

But I'm a fully paid up member of the numpty club that 'proper' riders probably despair at ?

*Although, just this week my instructor commended our walk and our turns in the same lesson. Ready whenever you are Carl

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I like having something to aim for, and it’s nice to have it at all levels. but I do think that qualifying for championships should be a challenge.

For example, I’ve always wanted to compete at BE grassroots champs. Bit of a far off dream but it’s something to strive for. That’s how I think it should be.

I like what I’ve seen of the BD structure but haven’t competed within it so don’t know enough to comment properly.

I do think riding club league type things offer a nice option for the lower levels, with more chance of “winning” something if that’s what you’re into, but honestly doesn’t really appeal to me.

 

[smiggy]

Personally I like them as I like the progression and see a point in it. I’m not talking high level, and I know winning a riding club summer series does not make me Charlotte but it gives me something to aim for, rather than just doing random stuff.
currently doing a riding club prelim winter series, hoping for most improved as couldn’t even canter in first one ?
and doing team quest and my quest novice with my other pony.
it’s not even the winning, it’s the aiming to win, make any sense ?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

But I'm a fully paid up member of the numpty club that 'proper' riders probably despair at ?

Oh me too! I’ve never really understood why proper riders care what us numpties are up too though. No one is going to confuse a random sash from a local league with a sash from HOYS. Just gives everyone the chance to choose a realistic but challenging target (for them) and something to aim for.

 

[RachelFerd]

But what about the nicest tail championship of GB??? I've been preparing for this for years!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

These conversations always remind me of the year I did an Ironman and joined a forum for training tips. Apparently ‘real’ Ironman athletes do it in less than 12 hours and ‘cut off chasers’ should train harder and do it properly or just not bother.

But I have been utterly mediocre all my life, despite best efforts, but still love and am inspired by challenges and goals.

 

[Bernster]

Does it bother people though (those who these aren’t aimed at)? I don’t get why it would be an issue.

 

[milliepops]

Personally I'm not bothered by the existence of various options, only the moaning that a national governing body doesn't offer more (because I think they already offer a *ton* without too much sacrifice in terms of performance levels)

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

I don't think it necessarily does.

I've not found competing at venues world's away from the online feedback or scores (at my low level at least). I certainly don't think I will become Carl Hester's next prodigy* because I scored 68% in a Prelim test anymore than I think completing a 20km pleasure ride makes me a Team GB endurance rider.

But I geniunely don't see what harm someone winning a rosette online or going to a lower key championship with a fancy frilly does? Or why someone with different (arguably greater) goals would care about it.

But I'm a fully paid up member of the numpty club that 'proper' riders probably despair at ?

*Although, just this week my instructor commended our walk and our turns in the same lesson. Ready whenever you are Carl

Oh I am def in the numpty club too and happy to stay there! It’s safe down here ?

I was thinking more about the intense sub-division of classes that the OP jokingly mentioned but agree what happens at lower levels shouldn’t really trouble those at the top. For the most part, the judging is def good quality and consistent.

Id like some compliments on our walk please, or any gait really. During a canter transition on Wednesday night my instructor’s reaction was NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOO ?

 

[shortstuff99]

I think the increase in championships and making it easier to qualify is an effort to get more competitors.

Take trailblazers champs for example. Back when I first did it you had to jump a double clear or score over 58% to qualify for second rounds. Then in the second round you had to place top 4 (3 rounds of SJ too), and the classes would be huge!

Now showjumping is direct qualifier for champs (just place top 6, possibly 10 can't quite remember in a first round). Dressage still has a second round but top 6 qualify and the classes are so small you pretty much 100% qualify.

The championship entries are still lower than they used to be.

 

[rara007]

Don’t forget that these ‘lower’ championships make $$$$ for someone.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I love a numpty championship and a sash it’s all I’m realistically capable of ?.

 

[catkin]

But what about the nicest tail championship of GB??? I've been preparing for this for years!

Surely you mean championships plural ?
Native tail of the year, grey tail of the year, plaited tail of the year.........?

PS We'll give you some stiff competition if you're in the native champs?

 

[Bernster]

I had an amazing time at sunshine tour champs a few years back. Got to experience a big atmosphere at a big venue- hickstead. Really enjoyed it. No sash but 2 nice frillies.

 

[SEL]

Is there one for muddiest horse? I need something realistic to aim for.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I had an amazing time at sunshine tour champs a few years back. Got to experience a big atmosphere at a big venue- hickstead. Really enjoyed it. No sash but 2 nice frillies.

That’s where I’ve won my sashes ?.Weren’t you in the same in-hand turn out class for numpties as me a few years ago?