Fed Up of lack of qualifiers etc. in Scotland

[MagicMelon]

We have LOADS of horses up here and a thriving competition scene. BUT, we seriously lack qualifiers in all disiplines. Sure, we have the odd BSJA qualifier for something but they are so far away that most people don't get a chance to do them! Even when we do qualify for something - the champs are ALWAYS in England! Not even North England but right in the middle usually which is a good 11 hour drive. It's simply not fair. If things are to be "national championships" then they should be located in the middle of the UK or at least all efforts should be taken to try.

And then we have the problem of not even doing some things - like I dont think I could do Teamchasing anywhere in Scotland. My nearest Le Trec place is about a 4 hour drive with Jump Cross being about 3 hours away - but they very rarely seem to hold events anyway. BSJA-wise, we dont have such things as Derby's.

Sorry for the strop, it just really irritates me that we have so many people who compete here with so many events, yet we are still quite limited compared to down south and I cant understand why! Rant over.

 

[moodymare1987]

Ive got any idea why dont you move

 

[Noodlejaffa]

You can still teamchase in the Borders! Our local hunt does one at Duns Castle in March (sorry, bit too late!). It's very popular and brilliant to watch. But probably a 6 hour drive for you, I'm afraid.

There are various reasons why teamchasing has faded out in Scotland but I don't know enough about it to comment in full. I know there were a couple of high profile rider deaths involving teamchasing and a lot of people who supported it pulled out as a result.

Scotland seems to be divided into very definite discipline areas - Show Jumping in the Central Belt and West, Dressage in the North/East and Eventing in the South. It's a shame we can't get a better cross section of disciplines across the country (Scotland).

 

[Nic]

Yep I sent a cheeky email back to EA when they sent me one encouraging me to take part in Grasshoppers, when there were none up here

No JAS either

 

[joy]

I sympathise, try living in West Wales, my nearest indoor BSJA is 70 miles away, dressage above medium is 100 miles away and my nearest BE is in England, however unlike competitors in Scotland who remain north of the border anyone who wants to get anywhere moves to England so even less of an incentive to put anything on in Wales.