Showing question- championships and also show jumping - outside help?

Twizzel

Twizzel

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Have photographed dozens of showing classes this season, probably going on 100 classes, and quite a few championships.

What I've never understood is why do people who came 2nd place go into a championship? Surely if there is someone who was better than them and won the class they should have more chance of winning the championship?

I've spent hours trying to figure it out, as in most of the championships I've watched, a 1st prize winner was named champion...


Oh and another question whilst I'm at it, this has been bugging me for months
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I went to a Pony Club one day event about a month back, and was stood in the showjumping ring (well, it was an arena) taking photos. One of my friends entered the ring and fell off at jump 3 after already having a refusal at the same jump.
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When someone shouted if she was ok, she said no, so whilst someone ran to help her up, I caught her horse... I then got told that she had outside help and could be eliminated- but don't you get eliminated in the sj phase if you fall off? I explained to the stewards that I knew her and the horse quite well, but it still left my mind wondering why someone catching a horse was grounds for elimination but falling off in showjumping wasn't?
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You could still go reserve with a second place. Your horse could be better than the other 1st place winners. And in a rare case the 1st place winner could mess up performance wise, leaving the championship open to a 2nd place winner.
 
1. because the more people go to the championships, the more money they make from entry fees.
2. ??? did they think you had said something to her before she fell off, maybe after the first refusal?
 
Nope I didn't say anything, only caught the horse when she fell, as I thought falling off meant elimination. It wasn't a big problem as she went on to complete the rest of the course and XC really well, but it's always kept me on my guard now- are you really meant to just stand there when someone falls off and not do anything?!
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The Championship judge could well be different from the judge who pulled in 1st and 2nd in the qualifying class .... therefore Championship judge may well prefer a 2nd placed horse.
 
i have seen several classes where a pony who has stood second in it's class has outshone the winner of the class and taken the champ..... the championship is for first and seconds of each class and it is considered bad manners for 2nd places to not turn up (unless you let the steward/secretary know you are not coming forward, like when i din't want to wait all day with a tired youngster) there was also a case when at a big affiliated show a horse was stripped of it's champion place for rearing as the rosettes were awarded and the horse that was second in the same class took the big prize...
championships can also be viewed as extra schooling/ringcraft with the added bonus of being free of charge!!
please do not berate 2nd place people for taking part, they have earned the right to be there, and as an organiser of a show, it can be hard to convince people to stay that extra hour or so......
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Oh I'm not doing that at all, I was just wondering why but you've all answered my question well now
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I never just take photos of just the people who come first place either
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Oh here's an interesting one - the BSJA are now not eliminating competitors for outside help

Haven't quite worked out to whether that extends to someone chasing you round with a lunge whip (if only!!)
 
Having been stewarding today, can I make a heartfelt plea for the 2nd placed people to return to the ring for the championship, or at least let the poor soul stewarding the ring know that you are not going to be there.
 
i recently took my freebee 2 yr old into a best kept in hand class at local riding club show , just for experience for him , he moves very nicely and looks nice but isnt top class quality , anyway he was 2nd in his class to a very nice coloured mare
we then went forward for the section championship which included all the firsts and seconds ( i was oinly one to come forward from the 2nds ) from the best combination classes and the other in hands , he got reserve champion
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Outside assistance is not allowed BUT I believe after a fall minimal intervention is allowed eg catching and giving a leg up if on xc (not sure of SJ rules though. PC rules do not elimate until 2 falls SJ.
 
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