Showjumping round table article in H & H this week.

Santa Paws said:
It must be impossible for younger people to imagine that when I was a teenager The Horse of the Year Show was on BBC1 every night after the nine o'clock news. It took over the entire schedule for a whole week.

I can still name the horses. I can't name one of the current lot. I wonder what happened along the way?

I've tried watching it these days but it bores me rigid seeing the same thing round after round :(
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I totally agree with you SP.I am of the same era and spent long hours watching all the big shows on TV.The riders rode horses with character and names which the public could identify with,and remember.The riders were more characterful and seemed to enjoy engaging with the audience.The classes were different,making it easier to distinguish one competition from another.At Olympia this year i found the classes seemed very generic,other than the puissance and 6 bar.There were no fun classes,as in the past,when the riders got into the Christmas spirit. Today's riders,with the exception of Tim Stockdale and Geoff Billington,have no idea how to relate to the public,and they give extremely bland interviews,showing no personality,and a somewhat indifferent attitude.
 
SusannaF said:
Did anyone see the h&h news story about Jennifer Saunders being the new sj ambassador and making a documentary about the team?
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I didn't see the news story but anything to highlight the sport has to be a good thing. Some of the ambassadors they have so far are real Z list people which smacks of desperation tbh, so its good to see someone like Jennifer Saunders getting involved.

I think much more needs to be made of people like Martin Clunes and Alan Titchmarch who did the Windsor documentary really well and I think the only showjumper who portrays a really strong media presence is Tim Stockdale. He should be used far more but I guess that has to be married with his competing aspirations.

Also what did you think of Kelly Marks letter in H & H saying SJing doesn't need personalities and people should recognise true horsemanship ? She said If people want that they should watch Britains got Talent. Never read so much rubbish IMO why does it have to be either or why can't you have a real horseman with a personality.
 
As much as I respect Kelly Marks, I think some of her comments were wrong. She has forgotten one important factor:

Show Jumping needs the 'Public' more than the public needs show jumping. We need the personalities to help the sport gain popularity and prosper. Is it really too much to ask the show jumpers to express a little bit of personality in front of the cameras? They will gain from it in the long run after all.

I was lucky enough to be an assistant show secretary in one of the largest equestrian centres in Essex way back when it was first built (sadly closed down now). I was also a BSJA judge until the early -90's, so I know a little bit about the show jumping world. The riders were a lacklustre lot back then and they haven't changed much.

I am old enough to remember the days when HOYS was on every evening and we all knew the names of the riders and their horses. The general public expect to be entertained by sport and show jumping is no exception. I think show jumpers ignore this at their peril!
 
PaddyMonty said:
Haven't read it (dont read H&H) but will dig out OH's copy and have a nose.
Perhaps they could start by actually having some characters in the SJ world like we used to in the 60's and 70's.
Then scrap the silly idea of only wanting 10 in a jump off. With good prize money often going down to 15th place and so few fighting for it the excitement is lost as riders settle for soild placing rather than risk all. Get 25 in the jump off competing for 6 prizes and things will be far more fun for Mr/s Public
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Don't forget the 50's either, with Pat Smythe and the D'Inzeo(sp?) brothers. My grandmother who did not ride loved show jumping and horse racing and never missed the BBC coverage. I was allowed to sit up late as a treat but have to confess I don't get the same enjoyment from watching the sport anymore. Love eventing though.
 
Rollin said:
Don't forget the 50's either, with Pat Smythe and the D'Inzeo(sp?) brothers. My grandmother who did not ride loved show jumping and horse racing and never missed the BBC coverage. I was allowed to sit up late as a treat but have to confess I don't get the same enjoyment from watching the sport anymore. Love eventing though.
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Ah yes, I remember all the 'oldies' and was also allowed to sit up late and watch. We need people to come back to watching and get the same enjoyment as you and your grandmother got back in those days.
 
Just as a note really: In August, Brisbane Australia World Cup had 18,000 approx spectators all whooping with delight at the competition. Does it happen here in UK, no.
 
jennyf said:
Just as a note really: In August, Brisbane Australia World Cup had 18,000 approx spectators all whooping with delight at the competition. Does it happen here in UK, no.
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I know it doesn't in equestrian centres up and down the country as the stands are empty and most 'spectators' that are there are connections.

Olympia and Hoys are packed and the atmosphere is great but Olympia is a Christmas institution and Hoys prob attracts the northern audience. I think that showjumping has to tempt people into visiting more shows not just one which is their annual favorite.

TBH if the lack of interest in SJing at the Windsor Europeans wasn't a wake up call for change then nothing will galvanise those running the sport int action.
 
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