Equestrian Funding v Modern Pentathlon

TableDancer

TableDancer

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Just looking at the article in today's H&H... Noticed that modern pent will receive nearly half as much as all the other equestrian disciplines put together (including para). Seems a bit out of kilter to me - for a start, how many mp athletes can we send to 2012? I dunno but is it say 3 men and 3 women? Set against 5 sj, 5 eventers, 5 (or is it 4) dressage and 5 or 6 paras - sorry to be so vague, eventing is the only one I know anything about... Anyway, a total of over 20 athletes. Seems to me modern pentathlon are onto a pretty good deal funding-wise - they'd better bring back plenty of medals that's all I can say! Or am I missing something?
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oh and i still think the organisers may well know something we dont about olympic equestrian hence the funding structure.....
 
Think we got a silver or bronze in the womens'. I know the women have done pretty well in the past but, quite frankly, what have the men ever done for us?!
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Oh, maybe Alex Fox's hubby sometime just after the Ice Age when you and I were growing up...
 
and when was the last time we won a dressage or showjump medal AT ALL and despite large amounts of lottery funding the eventers actually did worse (AS A TEAM before anyone starts, everyone knows how much i love Miners Frolic) than we did in athens despite have four years to practise two rounds of showjumping and short format so i think we should all think ourself lucky regula rhorse sports got money at all. personally only the para's seem to be justifying their funding pity they didnt get more really.
 
Hmmmm, impressive statistic but would like to see a breakdown womens v mens and over the last say 5 or 6 Games as I can't help suspecting that figure is heavily skewed by a) better performances from the women and b) deteriorating records in recent times (again, specifically the men. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a witch-hunt and I don't feel particularly strongly about it either way but it just strikes me as a good chunk of funding in realtive terms. TBH I am pretty ignorant: what numbers of people participate in modern pentathlon at "grass roots" level as compared to other equestrian disciplines?

And BTW, Lucretia, I actually agree with your point that the equestrian side were fortunate to increase their funding given the HK performance - I think I made that point in a previous thread on it
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The Pony Club must do a good job in supplying pentathlon competitiors. What do they do about shooting now. I remember my children taking part, and the boys liked the shooting and running bits best.
 
oh i see, thanks thistle, i was curious after someone mentioned it cos another friend of mine (grown up) was bitching about driving to somewhere or the other to practise but she uses a higher calibre pistol so that would be why.
 
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No, we just practice the shooting at home or in indoor schools/old barns etc.

[/ QUOTE ]Ditto!

As regards the question about the number of competitors in grass roots pentathlon competitions, Pony Club tetrathlon is generally regarded as the junior training ground for modern pentathletes. In our PC area at least, it is very popular, with many competitions being held throughout the year and with in excess of 30 entries in the 10-12 girls class alone in the average event.
 
Thank you TGM, that makes sense - so I hope the modern pentathlon powers-that-be are passing some funding down to PC tet as the starting grounds for their future medal-winners?
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What a great idea - why didn't I think of that? The Pony Club definitely need to lobby for some of these funds! I will have a word in a few ears I think.
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A friend has 3 children who are all very talanted PC Tetrathletes (all regularly qualify for Nationals and do well)

The eldest turns 21 this year and will then be too old to do PC comps.

The kids have all been having fencing lessons to prepare for pentathloh.

They receive no funding and there doesn't appear to be any 'pathway' as such for enhanced training.

The eldest has received a sports scholarship from her uni to enable her to continue he training whilst there., but nothing through official pentathlon or PC channels.

If they were straight runners/swimmers/shots/riders at an equiv level of competatance they would receive some funding but because they do 5 sports (plus manage to ride at PC Area level too) they receive nothing.
 
thats really bad, how can that happen? i would write to the sports minister if i were your friend as this is a good time to point out this sort of discrepancy witha london olympics looming at which they are wanting us to do wellx
 
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