teapot
Well-Known Member
Cardiff's easy to get to, esp the stadium but NOT on a sunday!
Express Eventing - Make your own mind up.
- Thread starter dieseldog
- Start date
Aliwalig
Well-Known Member
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As far as your last sentence to Aliwag is concerned - I think perhaps you might think again on that one - even if you disagree it's a valid point of view
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I think I was more open to the idea I may be totally wrong and that the market they were going for was principally horsey who people who tend (I realise its a tend don't all shout at once) to own cars. If that was the case then holding it in the middle of a city centre 4 weeks before Christmas was probably not the smartest move in the book...
As far as your last sentence to Aliwag is concerned - I think perhaps you might think again on that one - even if you disagree it's a valid point of view
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I think I was more open to the idea I may be totally wrong and that the market they were going for was principally horsey who people who tend (I realise its a tend don't all shout at once) to own cars. If that was the case then holding it in the middle of a city centre 4 weeks before Christmas was probably not the smartest move in the book...
TableDancer
Well-Known Member
Fence after bank removed between the two after Gandalf banked it, it collapsed and left a dirty great (ie 4 ft wide) hole in it
Santa_Claus
Well-Known Member
OT didn't jump efnce after second bank because that is the fence Mark todd broke so it was taken out. The subsequent riders were told I believe to ride to the right (if they went left they would have saved a lot of time!) and 2 secs were taken off the time of those who had completed.
I said that Mary king rode for the long one through the corners rather than holding for an extra stride if thats your comment, not that she did 1 stride not 2! Well I think thats what i wrote can't remember now what I wrote last night and not going to go back through them as home time
I said that Mary king rode for the long one through the corners rather than holding for an extra stride if thats your comment, not that she did 1 stride not 2! Well I think thats what i wrote can't remember now what I wrote last night and not going to go back through them as home time
kerilli
Well-Known Member
thanks for clearing that up, TD and SC, i thought i was going crackers!
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
QR: On reflection, I have a few things to add.
Firstly, if lots of people had pootled round slowly but clear/silly error but completed, OTs round would not have looked nearly as dramatic and terrifying. He was lucky his horse picked up for him at the cannon fence, but beyond that he rode an immaculate round and kudos to him for doing that having seen what went before.
Secondly - there were shops?! Where the heck were they?! Did not get told about them.
Thirdly, the reason the organisers thought the spectators were getting into it and enjoying it was,. IMO because of the yelling and applause which went on, due in no small part I think to the fact that everyone was just desperate to see people finish. Christ Clayton would have been eliminated at any normal event for that kind of outside assistance, and even the commentary team started saying what the next fence was as the rider jumped the one before!
Fourthly, a question I think the riders should ask themselves is would they do it for a first prize of, let's say £10K? If not, how about £50K? Neither are small sums of money, and if £50K is first prize at one of the UK 4*events (Burghley), and this was billed as 4* standard, then if they want more money to do it in the first place, is it worth risking your top horse for? I guess what I am saying is, if the prize fund wasn't so big, would you all be so keen to see it run again?
Firstly, if lots of people had pootled round slowly but clear/silly error but completed, OTs round would not have looked nearly as dramatic and terrifying. He was lucky his horse picked up for him at the cannon fence, but beyond that he rode an immaculate round and kudos to him for doing that having seen what went before.
Secondly - there were shops?! Where the heck were they?! Did not get told about them.
Thirdly, the reason the organisers thought the spectators were getting into it and enjoying it was,. IMO because of the yelling and applause which went on, due in no small part I think to the fact that everyone was just desperate to see people finish. Christ Clayton would have been eliminated at any normal event for that kind of outside assistance, and even the commentary team started saying what the next fence was as the rider jumped the one before!
Fourthly, a question I think the riders should ask themselves is would they do it for a first prize of, let's say £10K? If not, how about £50K? Neither are small sums of money, and if £50K is first prize at one of the UK 4*events (Burghley), and this was billed as 4* standard, then if they want more money to do it in the first place, is it worth risking your top horse for? I guess what I am saying is, if the prize fund wasn't so big, would you all be so keen to see it run again?
Flame_
Well-Known Member
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by the sounds of it the location wasn't the problem. I'm not pretendign its perfect, but Cardiff is a darn sight more acccesible than Badminton, Burghley and various other events.
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How many Northerners and Scots were in the crowd, then?
Making these things CENTRAL, obviously makes them the most accessible to the most people.
by the sounds of it the location wasn't the problem. I'm not pretendign its perfect, but Cardiff is a darn sight more acccesible than Badminton, Burghley and various other events.
[/ QUOTE ]
How many Northerners and Scots were in the crowd, then?
Making these things CENTRAL, obviously makes them the most accessible to the most people.
weevil
Well-Known Member
Cardiff is not a million miles away from Badminton and is a hell of a lot easier to get to using public transport. OK the trains weren't great timing-wise on Sunday but we got there in time to see the whole competition and only took us 4 hours to get home to Cambridge.
The big advantage was that the stadium had a great view from pretty much every seat - and there were no fences we couldn't see.
The big advantage was that the stadium had a great view from pretty much every seat - and there were no fences we couldn't see.
punk
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
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by the sounds of it the location wasn't the problem. I'm not pretendign its perfect, but Cardiff is a darn sight more acccesible than Badminton, Burghley and various other events.
[/ QUOTE ]
How many Northerners and Scots were in the crowd, then?
Making these things CENTRAL, obviously makes them the most accessible to the most people.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't actually know of any Northerners and Scots who were there (perhaps excluding Caroline Powell and her supporters)!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried very hard to find a way of going with my daughter without breaking the bank - just not possible!!! as it meant either flying (quickest) or train (long and expensive from Edinburgh) and then an overnight stay (none of the trains or planes would get us there on the day). Then you have got the price of a ticket.
All in all was not going to be much short of 250 pound each!!
[ QUOTE ]
by the sounds of it the location wasn't the problem. I'm not pretendign its perfect, but Cardiff is a darn sight more acccesible than Badminton, Burghley and various other events.
[/ QUOTE ]
How many Northerners and Scots were in the crowd, then?
Making these things CENTRAL, obviously makes them the most accessible to the most people.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't actually know of any Northerners and Scots who were there (perhaps excluding Caroline Powell and her supporters)!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried very hard to find a way of going with my daughter without breaking the bank - just not possible!!! as it meant either flying (quickest) or train (long and expensive from Edinburgh) and then an overnight stay (none of the trains or planes would get us there on the day). Then you have got the price of a ticket.
All in all was not going to be much short of 250 pound each!!
sunflower
Well-Known Member
But surely that's no different to going to Olympia?
Missypp
Well-Known Member
Well myself and six friends from tayside (scotland) travelled down we made a weekend of it - we booked our accommodation and flights well advanced so flights were very reasonably. I cant speak for the other girls but we enjoyed the concept of the event obviously needs tweaking i purchased the radio and felt it was useful to hear the thoughts of other on the event!
Really enjoyed cardiff, everything was so easy to organise hotel was really close to the MS.
Our thoughts are with Mary it was a terrible accident - but OT just looked like a winner from the start of his dressage test!
Really enjoyed cardiff, everything was so easy to organise hotel was really close to the MS.
Our thoughts are with Mary it was a terrible accident - but OT just looked like a winner from the start of his dressage test!
Eventerlad15
Well-Known Member
Going by what I saw on the videos: Pace was very quick, WFP for one was lucky on a spooky Ballincoola.
I did't llike that bank at al.
Also the stadium seemed half full which was not the intention.
There is a very sad video of Cavvy's round on youtube, wont post a link but it shows exactly bwhat happend and made me feel awful for him and Mary.
I did't llike that bank at al.
Also the stadium seemed half full which was not the intention.
There is a very sad video of Cavvy's round on youtube, wont post a link but it shows exactly bwhat happend and made me feel awful for him and Mary.
punk
Well-Known Member
Very True!!!!!! But the shopping is great there! And London a great place for a weekend just before Christmas!
I know I know - Cardiff is no doubt the hub of the world - but I don't know it!!
I know I know - Cardiff is no doubt the hub of the world - but I don't know it!!
punk
Well-Known Member
Well done you! I am just not organised enough/don't make decisions early enough. My own fault!
teapot
Well-Known Member
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But surely that's no different to going to Olympia?
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I wouldn't call Olympia central though. Plus it's a nightmare to get back in the evening unless you leave before it finishes. I know so many people who are not going this year because of cost of tickets and then whilst paying handsomely, having to leave early to get home.
But surely that's no different to going to Olympia?
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I wouldn't call Olympia central though. Plus it's a nightmare to get back in the evening unless you leave before it finishes. I know so many people who are not going this year because of cost of tickets and then whilst paying handsomely, having to leave early to get home.
sunflower
Well-Known Member
That was my point teapot
I don't think this was really any more expensive or difficult to get to then Olympia but I have read so many people moaning about the cost and how it's 'not central enough'. I don't remember having read similar things about Olympia in the past though
sakura
Well-Known Member
In my opinion, I think that the fast paced format of EE isn't ideal. I just think that with the pit stop idea and the evironment reflecting the riding, the horses will all have been even more excitable than usual, shown by WFP on the usually much saner Ballincoola. I mean, you take a horse, and almost all the horses I know/ride reflect this, take him out xc and he becomes excitable but manageable over the long distances between jumps. You can stretch him out here and get him back under some kinda control before the next fences. I know this is EXPRESS eventing, but still. You then expect him to calm down after competing in a smaller space than usual and prepare for show jumping.
I was a big big big fan of Cavvy and couldn't quite believe the news that he'd been pts. And yes ok it MAY have happened elsewhere, but it also may not have. Those corners were hideous, really horrible jumps. Yeah you'd probs get them elsewhere though too. The horses who I know are much more heated over the xc element than the sj and with the huge weight on time, The riders were deffo and clearly changing their riding for it and so becoming more 'creative' with striding and really givig it their all, and fair play to Oli for doing so. That however as we all know can then become dangerous however if the horse mistakes something (btw I am NOT slating Mary here, she did nothing wrong).
Ok sorry that's kinda jumbled. My point is, I think EE's idea of combining xc and sj is a bit too risky and that the jumps that an Olympic level, amazing event horse fell at COULD have been put somewhere else and yes it may well have been a freak accident.
That is just my jumbled opinion, slate it if you wish. I'm not condemming EE, I just don't really like the idea of it and never really have.
Let's just say I'm not the biggest fan of EE right now.
I was a big big big fan of Cavvy and couldn't quite believe the news that he'd been pts. And yes ok it MAY have happened elsewhere, but it also may not have. Those corners were hideous, really horrible jumps. Yeah you'd probs get them elsewhere though too. The horses who I know are much more heated over the xc element than the sj and with the huge weight on time, The riders were deffo and clearly changing their riding for it and so becoming more 'creative' with striding and really givig it their all, and fair play to Oli for doing so. That however as we all know can then become dangerous however if the horse mistakes something (btw I am NOT slating Mary here, she did nothing wrong).
Ok sorry that's kinda jumbled. My point is, I think EE's idea of combining xc and sj is a bit too risky and that the jumps that an Olympic level, amazing event horse fell at COULD have been put somewhere else and yes it may well have been a freak accident.
That is just my jumbled opinion, slate it if you wish. I'm not condemming EE, I just don't really like the idea of it and never really have.
Let's just say I'm not the biggest fan of EE right now.
teapot
Well-Known Member
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That was my point teapot
I don't think this was really any more expensive or difficult to get to then Olympia but I have read so many people moaning about the cost and how it's 'not central enough'. I don't remember having read similar things about Olympia in the past though
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I was replying to your reply to someone about coming from Scotland and flying down as Olympia's not central for anyone coming from the north of England or Scotland tbh. It's bad enough when you're in the SE, or like me at the moment, 40mins away.
That was my point teapot
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I was replying to your reply to someone about coming from Scotland and flying down as Olympia's not central for anyone coming from the north of England or Scotland tbh. It's bad enough when you're in the SE, or like me at the moment, 40mins away.
skye_and_i
Well-Known Member
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Spot on Tabledancer.
Apologies if this has been asked before, but I haven't had time to read everything - I was surprised at it being held straight on the rugby pitch although I understand that they had a match there the day before. But what about the pitch? how much turf is there actually on there because I have been to a concert at the stadium and know that it's concrete underneath.
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the pitch is just 0ver a foot off the tarmac, 2 inchs of turf, 10 inchs of topsoil!
Spot on Tabledancer.
Apologies if this has been asked before, but I haven't had time to read everything - I was surprised at it being held straight on the rugby pitch although I understand that they had a match there the day before. But what about the pitch? how much turf is there actually on there because I have been to a concert at the stadium and know that it's concrete underneath.
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the pitch is just 0ver a foot off the tarmac, 2 inchs of turf, 10 inchs of topsoil!
kayw
New User
I was there and i thought that apart from the bits that went wrong it was exccelent!
but as diesel dog says, if you weren't there maybe you would be interested in the below videos, of Caroline Powell, Mark Todd, karin Donckers and Alex Hua Tian. Not only do these videos show their rounds but also they are interveiwed as to how they felt things went, from the competitors point of view.
http://www.horsehero.com/1178/6877
but as diesel dog says, if you weren't there maybe you would be interested in the below videos, of Caroline Powell, Mark Todd, karin Donckers and Alex Hua Tian. Not only do these videos show their rounds but also they are interveiwed as to how they felt things went, from the competitors point of view.
http://www.horsehero.com/1178/6877