Good question. I think there's a balance to be had between testing jumping ability (as well as speed) and making a course offputtingly and dangerously difficult. Was it after the Rio Olympic cross country that someone on here said something about none of the horses would be feeling that they enjoyed their job? Which is my incoherent way of saying that although the course should be testing it should be fair.
There's been 2 stops, a broken frangible pin and a rider fall since we started this discussion. Forum curse??
But if that relates to preparing a championship course,she does have a point. It was a late decision to run these championships and in usual times a venue has a couple of years to plan the course. I think this one might have been done in six months or less.
Bicton had a tremendous advantage though with Helen West at the helm for the first event snd her husband Andrew Fell at the second , with all their years of event management, including Andrew’s family experience at Ballindenisk!
Come to think of it, perhaps Bicton could hold a European championships!
