Dilemma

Jo C

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Ok so I have a dilemma:
Do I go to the Area Festivals at Patchetts and do Novice Open AF, Novice Music and Elem AF (means staying the night) and spend around £100 or do I go to a clinic which I would love to go to costing around £32? Both are on the same weekend. Thoughts please. Just to add I have done one AF (fairly disastrous it was too) already this year but have the sheets to do another one. Really don't know what to do.
 
I think you have to ask yourself how valuable the clinic would be to you both and what are your expectations of the AFs.

You have already qualified for the Novice Music semis. Do you want to try and qualify for the AF finals or is that an unreasonable goal? Do you want to take part and try to get placed? Or is it just the taking part that is enjoyable?

Is there a chance of the clinic being repeated or is it a one off?
 
I think the clinic would be invaluable to us both it is however being repeated in Jan. To try and qualify for the AF finals would be a dream but realistically it is unlikely. I'd love to try and get placed however I also feel that that is propbably also unrealistic. I do love taking part but taking into consideration all the above it would just be like a normal competition to me therefore does that justify spending the time and money on it? I would like to ride the music a few more times as I have only ridden it in competition twice so this would be my main draw to go, as Patchetts would also have a lot more going on than other venues I have ridden at recently.
 
I'd go to the competitions, long ago I went through a phase of missing them because there were other things to do 10+ years on and I've never managed to get back to that level again and I wish I'd taken the chance when I had it.

But thats a purley personal opinion.
 
I agree that having qualified it does seem a shame not to go but I'm having confidence issues and feel the clinic may help.
 
I guess I am really worried that my confidence is going to get knocked further if we have another disastrous AF but I do hear what you are all saying and am very undecided.
crazy.gif
 
Now that was my other option however my instructor thinks that as I have qualified for the Elem I should do it just for experience and milage. I just keep going round and round in circles
crazy.gif
I think I really need someone to say 'Jo, just do xyz' and make the decision for me
grin.gif
 
I know EXACTLY how you feel as I lack confidence too and I am also doing the elem AF and feeling really out of my depth however I am really just going to get her out, if I had also qualified for novice then I'd probably just do that. I can see what your instructor is saying but feeling totally overwhelmed isn't a nice feeling and sometimes its nice just to take the pressure off a bit and you feel more confident for it. That is what I would do anyway, I am sure you are quite capable of doing the elemen but it all sounds like quite a lot to do in one weekend if you are feeling unsure.
 
Do the AF - they only come round once a year and if you don't go you may always be wondering what-if! I nearly didn't go to mine as I was so busy with work and was sure I didn't stand a chance anyway but after a shove from my mum I did go and I got through!
 
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