Just got a Christmas card from Burgie....

Gamebird

Gamebird

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...with a note enclosed saying that unless they have a good 2011 there won't be a 2012 :(.

Please consider supporting this event - it's one of the stalwarts of the 3-day calender and has all sort of other things - showing, BE, arena eventing etc. going on too. I know it's a long way but it's definitely worth it.

I won't have a horse for the 1*/2* but will see what I can do to make a trip of it for any other reason.

June 16th-19th 2011
 
As my local event which mum and I support every year through dressage writing/fence judging etc it will be a sad loss to the area and to the eventing calander. There is something for everyone unless you want BS(JA) classes and it has to be one of the friendliest events. I really hope that it can get have a fantastic 2011 so that it can continue into 2012 and onwards but sadly with it being so far north and clashing with events then the future is bleak. So if you want this event to continue please please support it, many who were there for the CIC and one day classes also participated in the Working Hunter classes and other showing classes and it didn't seem to have a negative effect on the horses.
 
Same here, it's a really poignant little note:

"Many competitors are forever telling us that Burgie is the Best - particularly from the educational point of view. They say that 'a horse that has jumped a clear round at Burgie has proved that it is a horse with a big future'.
Please, please come to Burgie in 2011.... or we might disappear."

It's such a super venue and well worth the long journey.
 
For the level I am competing at it is just too far to consider and I am Northern! I have one the same weekend which is 100 miles away and this is knocking on for 300 plus. I have two of my local events the week after and week before so chances are I will do those and nothing that weekend.
All to do with geography and fuel costs - which lets face it are not able to be ignored these days :rolleyes:
 
I also got one - only they forgot to put a stamp on mine - so it cost me to pick it up!! I thought the event was great and such a shame but I cant say Im in a hurry to make the journey up there again!! :-)
 
If the FEI made a better job of avoiding event clashes, then there wouldn't be a problem IMO.

Such a shame for Burgie - its a problem that many Irish int events have suffered from too (as also have larger travel costs for GB based riders).

Fiona
 
Would love to compete there as I am originally from just outside Inverness, but it is such a long journey to take the horse (only have trailer so not as good as a lorry). Might consider taking a tradestand there though as could visit the folks while I'm up there! It is a lovely, friendly event and they always try to do so many classes and other things like the taster event, arena event and working hunter.
 
I reckon hardly anyone entered that class this year because they changed the rules. It used to be that anyone could enter the taster, then they changed it and made it that you had to have completed a BE class (or something like that). I was disappointed as I was going to give it a go this year. Fact is that a lot of local people (myself included) although haven't done BE, have done the BE90/100 course at Burgie by doing riding club events, even the hunter pace is round much of the same course.

I have jump judged a few times there but didn't this year. The previous year we (my Mum and I who comes up to visit for it) were at a fence where we had to stop a few people and I was disgusted at some of the abuse we got from a couple of the riders. Not what you need after giving up a whole day to help out.

That said, I think it must be a good course for people to travel to. It's hilly like Blair is which gives a different challenge. However, I totally understand that for anyone south of the border it's a long way to travel and if there's anything more local on the attraction must lessen. The fact it clashed with two other events this year didn't help. You don't see that many 'big' names at it either which is a shame. A couple of years ago we got Zara and Ruth Edge which was nice. Caroline Powell is a regular and she's always good to watch.

It would be a real shame to loose it, but, given the circumstances, the low entry this year was inevitable.
 
At least it hasn't got the clash with Hutton again this year - I'm sure that really didn't help. Same weekend as Longleat but that is really the other end of the country. Really hope it is busier this year to ensure it continues.
 
The 3DE this year no doubt suffered low entries because of how the schedule was written. I initially thought I wasn't eligible to enter because I'd either a) been placed in the top six in that class before at Burgie (different horses) or b) had been placed at BE90/BE100. I was one of the few who had entered this year, but with the cancellation, re-routed to Hutton (some 4 hours closer to be than Burgie!).

However, in Burgie's defence, I can fully understand why they introduced the rule about having competed in BE90 previously. I've done the Taster 3DE since it was first introduced and I've seen so many horses/riders who have just not been competent and/or fit enough to compete in a 3DE. It's not the height of the jumps (run over their BE90 course) but the fact Burgie is a testing course for stamina at the best of times, never mind with the full roads and tracks too.
 
Yes it is.

The dip in the entry for the taster was enormous. I'm sure I saw 5 entries (Noodlejaffa is that right?) and previously over the two classes there has been at least 30. I've jump judged every year there has been a taster class. Thing is though, most of the local non BE entries know the Burgie course and know the challenges. Not many people will travel a long way for non BE I wouldn't have thought.

I agree that there were good reasons behind them introducing the rule, but, it clearly backfired big time. It meant many people capable couldn't enter. Maybe if they didn't do the long format for the taster it would be better? A BE 3 day event at 90 level and even 80 level as well would possibly be more attractive? It would also cut the number of required volunteers which are always a struggle to get up here. The ** class is never that big in entries so maybe they need to make it more attractive to lower levels. We are amazingly lucky to have a great course available to RC.

I've done the full course a few times in training and RC and mine has never been out of puff. I wouln't say he's massively fit but he is very used to much steeper and longer hills than Burgie has. I've seen a fair few Horses pulled up (two by pro's) at the top of the hill on the second loop in the * and **. It just goes to show how fit hillwork keeps them.

Another 25 odd entries at £100 a go would have helped I'm sure :-)
 
I have always enjoyed Wee Burgie and will continue to support it. However, I have always chosen to go elsewhere on the June Burgie weekend because of the stabling situation.

I will only make such an epic long drive north if I can then stable on site. Yet they make you pay approx £125 for stabling. Who is going to take an intro/PN/Nov horse all the way there and pay £125 on top for stabling? Every year I have asked if I can just pay per night and have been told no. So I've gone to a different event. I think it is too far to stable off site as you have horses standin gin the lorry all day and then they have to make a huge journey home.

Also, at wee burgie, when they decided to re-shedule I asked if they would consider making the Nov and ON to increase entries. They again said no and ran the Nov with just 12 in the class.

I love Burgie but I think they have to be a bit more rider focused. If they except people to pay the fuel to drag an HGV all the way up there full of horses they have to put on a broader range of classes and provide on site stabling.
 
Sorry, I meant less helpers if they didn't do the long format. Both for riders and in terms of the course itself. I would really struggle to find helpers and I expect I'm not alone there so the short format may be more accessible. Just a thought :-)
 
What's the point of doing the Taster as a short format? They already run a BE80 and BE90 - which is effectively what a short format wold be, but only over a few days (where's the incentive in that?!).

There were lots of folk who could have entered the Taster this year, but the way the schedule was worded made it very unclear who could enter. That was the crux of the problem. No issue with the stabling for Burgie as if we're up we tend to take a couple of horses and do 4-5 nights there and do some of the other classes too. Treat it as a week away with the horses and get as much as we can out of it.

Re Wee Burgie (entirely different matter) - I usually stable off site near my mum's as it's only a ODE. Stabling on site for the main Burgie in June if you're a) doing a 3DE (can ride round the roads and tracks) b) doing more than one class is much more worthwhile.
 
Noodlejaffa said:
What's the point of doing the Taster as a short format? They already run a BE80 and BE90 - which is effectively what a short format wold be, but only over a few days (where's the incentive in that?!).

There were lots of folk who could have entered the Taster this year, but the way the schedule was worded made it very unclear who could enter. That was the crux of the problem. No issue with the stabling for Burgie as if we're up we tend to take a couple of horses and do 4-5 nights there and do some of the other classes too. Treat it as a week away with the horses and get as much as we can out of it.

Re Wee Burgie (entirely different matter) - I usually stable off site near my mum's as it's only a ODE. Stabling on site for the main Burgie in June if you're a) doing a 3DE (can ride round the roads and tracks) b) doing more than one class is much more worthwhile.
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Well I probably know nothing but I just assumed that maybe some people don't have access to the help required for a long format. I certainly don't and is the reason I haven't entered it - though I would love to have a go. No events are run over long format anymore, or are they? I'm sure there's a taster type 3 day event run at Milton Keynes as well which is popular. I would think the whole experience would be good. Having each day to prepare etc. It would also be good for anyone looking to move up levels to get experience of what's required over 3 days. The * and ** don't do roads&tracks and steeplechase after all.

My point is that given the location, they NEED local riders to attend. The XC events at MRC and SRC are always well attended. I'm only trying to think of ways that might help the event continue. Sorry if I've got it all wrong.
 
chatter1 said:
I also got one - only they forgot to put a stamp on mine - so it cost me to pick it up!! I thought the event was great and such a shame but I cant say Im in a hurry to make the journey up there again!! :-)
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What?? And I thought we were having such fun - never had such s good excuse for intravenous chocolate and red bull, not to mention that hilarious game of aerial/roof vent removal :eek:

Seriously, though, my thoughts were 1) Great marketing idea to send us all cards - they know they are reaching the people they need to and at least if we don't go and it does fold nobody can say they didn't give fair warning :( and 2) Wow, must have been a lot of work for someone, address and card were both hand-written and I reckon it was Polly's writing - so good on her/them for putting in so much effort. Does make you think that we should put some in back if we really care about the event.

I have done both the 1* and the 2* and the old 2 day Novice when it ran, and really rate the courses - and of course the atmosphere etc is famous. I was lucky enough to finish in the top 3 one year and we got fantastic prizes too (I'll gloss over the fact that one of them was the Veteran's Prize :eek: ) Can't imagine I will have anything I can take next year but I really really hope they manage to stay in business :confused: Happy Christmas to everyone involved in Burgie and I, for one, will be rooting for you in 2011 :cool:
 
TableDancer said:
Can't imagine I will have anything I can take next year but I really really hope they manage to stay in business :confused: Happy Christmas to everyone involved in Burgie and I, for one, will be rooting for you in 2011 :cool:
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Ditto this.

Must admit, having been there in 2009 (chuffing long way to go for a Novice section!) I can see why they changed the rules, most of those I watched going xc in the Taster were trotting between fences and really didn't look as if they'd done much xc before... which, however teensy the fences, isn't exactly safe, is it?

I really hope they keep going too, it's a super venue, just a shame it's such a long way.
 
Having written for dressage phase and fence judged the xc, I too can see why the rule change occurred. The dressage a few years ago was horrific for many horses and the judge I was writing for was quite concerned! But the standard has improved as the years have gone by for this class.

I do think the biggest problem is the distance for many people to come, the north of scotland is not greatly populated in general so to get sustainable numbers it needs people to come from the south fo scotland. That in its self is a fair trek, combined with the price of diesel does make it a very expensive trip.
 
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