Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
The annual Kenilworth Show, a large show, Unaffiliated Show Jumping starting promptly at 9.30am. There were 7 classes 60cm, 65cm, 75cm, 85 cm, 95cm, 1.00m & 1.05cm.
The schedule had first 3 classes then a break for judges Lunch. We were pre entered in the 95cm, 1.00m & 1.05m & arrived at around 1.00pm-1.30pm thinking that by that time the judges would probably be at lunch & we would be about a class early for our entry. How wrong could I be ..they were still jumping the 65cm class & there were 27 to jump off. By the time that class was finished it was 2.45pm. Air ambulance came for an injured person nothing to do with the jumping but everything had to stop for 30 minutes (cant be helped). The time was now almost 3.30pm when the 75cm class started ..there were 50 entries in it so that class was going to run for at least 2 hours & probably more with the jump offs.
At this point I was wondering what I was doing there & was rapidly losing the will to live
. It would be at least 6.00pm or later when that class finished & there was still the 85cm class to run before our first class. I was lead to believe that there were a similar number of entries taken for the 85cm
I worked it out that it would be around 8.00pm & more likely later before we could jump our first class & Lord knows what time our final class would be
wed probably need miners helmets.
To be honest is was a nice show, there was a lot going on for the spectator but someone should have made a decision as to maximum number or entries per class because it got ridiculous. The secretary was evasive as to how long classes were expected to take & when roughly classes would start. It appeared that they were too interested at making money on the entries (£8 per class) to actually work out if it was possible to get the classes all finished before dark.
Needless to say we left, we would have been there about 6/7 hours before the 1st class for us started. We were not the only ones who were annoyed, so many people were moaning about the excessive entry numbers & excessive delays in the classes.
If you ever think about going show jumping at this show, honestly dont bother, the phrase comes to mind is All the gear ..No idea & that sums up the organising of the show jumping. We could have & should have gone somewhere else .next year we certainly will.
The schedule had first 3 classes then a break for judges Lunch. We were pre entered in the 95cm, 1.00m & 1.05m & arrived at around 1.00pm-1.30pm thinking that by that time the judges would probably be at lunch & we would be about a class early for our entry. How wrong could I be ..they were still jumping the 65cm class & there were 27 to jump off. By the time that class was finished it was 2.45pm. Air ambulance came for an injured person nothing to do with the jumping but everything had to stop for 30 minutes (cant be helped). The time was now almost 3.30pm when the 75cm class started ..there were 50 entries in it so that class was going to run for at least 2 hours & probably more with the jump offs.
At this point I was wondering what I was doing there & was rapidly losing the will to live
To be honest is was a nice show, there was a lot going on for the spectator but someone should have made a decision as to maximum number or entries per class because it got ridiculous. The secretary was evasive as to how long classes were expected to take & when roughly classes would start. It appeared that they were too interested at making money on the entries (£8 per class) to actually work out if it was possible to get the classes all finished before dark.
Needless to say we left, we would have been there about 6/7 hours before the 1st class for us started. We were not the only ones who were annoyed, so many people were moaning about the excessive entry numbers & excessive delays in the classes.
If you ever think about going show jumping at this show, honestly dont bother, the phrase comes to mind is All the gear ..No idea & that sums up the organising of the show jumping. We could have & should have gone somewhere else .next year we certainly will.
