Larkhill or Ebbesbourne, which is better?

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igglepiggle

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Because I'm sad and haven't ridden for days, I thought I'd start to think about what sticker to use where in April..Larkhill seems to have a history of balloting but I was put off by the mention of having to take "taxis" everywhere. Ebbesbourne Wake looks better so why hasn't that had as much balloting? Anyone suggest which to use sticker on, ideally I might do both, but as long as I can do one for definite that would be fine. Thanks.
 
EW is normally midweek. Its a lovely event with the Sjing on a surface and a long xc with plenty of questions.

I think Larkhill is in the right location and pretty much guarranteed to run.
 
Ebbesbourne is a lovely event, very friendly people and good courses.... it is quite new and midweek so maybe why less ballotting? Larkhill is also an excellent event - can be a bit cold as its very exposed but rarely cancelled as ground is well drained. Its a bit of a hike from the lorry park to the XC but everything else is close by. I'll be using my ballot sticker for Larkhill and taking a chance with EW!
 
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both are nice events, ebbesbourne is more compact and usually a bit warmer, however not such good ground!

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Thats not true at all.
The ground at Ebbesbourne is better than Larkhill because they make a really huge effort to make it so. Theyre both on free darining chalk but EW will soften it up for you whereas Larkhill rarely do. The going at Larkhill can be pitted and it's either rock solid or deep.
Both events are a bit sprawled out but EW less so. Both courses are nice but EW has the edge over Larkhill imo
 
lol agree with boss
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Well last year the going at EW was pretty soft and boggy in places on the XC and not such a long walk to the dressage and xc at EW! Both good events tho! The xc warm up was completely bottomless that it was dangerous even to attempt the practise jump!!!
 
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Well last year the going at EW was pretty soft and boggy in places on the XC and not such a long walk to the dressage and xc at EW! Both good events tho! The xc warm up was completely bottomless that it was dangerous even to attempt the practise jump!!!

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We had very unusually wet weather just before the event, they did well to run at all. Trust me, Larkhill's worse when very wet- I even managed to come 3rd there one year because so many people WD or didnt complete (I never get placed
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This post is right up my ally I plan to do both but like IP am confused about what stickers to use etc. Might use my super on L and my month ballot on EW just to make sure.

Personally I have always wanted to do EW but never made it so more keen to do that as have been round L many times as it is only 15mins drive from me.

L is always described as good going chalk downland and mostly it is but I agree with BN they don't do a huge amount of xc maintenance so there are often rutty, sandy, boggy bits but the course is so wide you can usually avoid them just walk it and make extra mental notes on the going as you have to negotiate that as well as the jumps.
 
I think that has confirmed to me that I'd prefer EW and as it is on a weekend this year, it may ballot. Maybe I will take a risk with Larkhill and not sticker...doesn't sound like it would be worth using a super ballot. Thanks to all comments!
 
I personally think larkhill ground is better...last year EW was very sticky (it;s in a valley) and really zapped the energy from my boy. Larkhill even ran last year despite it snowing when I left home! And you only need to taxi to the xc. EW is nicely run though - very professional. The course at EW is a bit more up to height than larkhill. Up to you...
 
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