unaffiliated over BE tracks

diggerbez

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after all the angst ridden stroppy posts about BE being money grabbing (allegedly ;)) and not respecting us poor one horse amateurs....lets see how many events we could do over genuine BE courses but at unaffiliated.... be it through PC/RC events or the centres organising them themselves....

off the top of my head:
Oasby, Stafford, Kelsall, Hexham, MKEC, ALW, Northallerton, Eland Lodge, Solihull, Llanymynech, Hunwick, Shelford, Cumwhinton....any more? (i'm based north west so not sure about the rest of the country!)
 
after all the angst ridden stroppy posts about BE being money grabbing (allegedly ;)) and not respecting us poor one horse amateurs....lets see how many events we could do over genuine BE courses but at unaffiliated.... be it through PC/RC events or the centres organising them themselves....

off the top of my head:
Oasby, Stafford, Kelsall, Hexham, MKEC, ALW, Northallerton, Eland Lodge, Solihull, Llanymynech, Hunwick, Shelford, Cumwhinton....any more? (i'm based north west so not sure about the rest of the country!)

Ascott under Wychwood, Sapey, Swalcliffe...and I think maybe Stockland Lovell?...also N Cots hunt are running a hunter trial over Broadway BE after the BE event in Octobe- does that count too?
 
South West- West Wilts, Pontispool, Moreton, Aldon, stockland Lovell,Nutwell court, West Buckland ran one after the BE. Stonar hold a schools only I think. All the others have several unaff. each year.
 
South East: Eridge PC (over Eridge BE course), Ashford Valley Hunt PC (over Chilham BE course), Romney Marsh PC (over Brightling BE course)
Tweseldown, Borde Hill, Mattingly (unaffiliated over corresponding BE course)

Those are just off the top of my head, sure there are more.
 
It might be easier to name the events that DON'T run unaffiliated....:D:D

Brand Hall, Weston Park, Gatcombe, Upton House, Purston

I think most organisers will run an unaffiliated event or two to boost their income!

http://unaffode.webs.com/

thanks for the link- knew there was a webby somewhere but couldn't remember what it was :)

i'm a bit fussy about unaffiliated events around some courses (as i think they often put stupid fences in like a whopping open ditch for novices/babies) but i think with ones round BE courses you tend to know what you are going to get. its something i'm seriously considering next year- now i just need to pick my fave 4 BEs to do on a ticket :)
 
Somerford have RC and PC events over theirs.
Bold Heath.
Smallwood is easily BE standard even though no BE is run there, RC and PC events there too.
Eland Lodge
 
thanks for the link- knew there was a webby somewhere but couldn't remember what it was :)

i'm a bit fussy about unaffiliated events around some courses (as i think they often put stupid fences in like a whopping open ditch for novices/babies) but i think with ones round BE courses you tend to know what you are going to get. its something i'm seriously considering next year- now i just need to pick my fave 4 BEs to do on a ticket :)

Yes but unaffiliated you can usually miss out the fence and carry on instead of being thrown off the course.
 
Yes but unaffiliated you can usually miss out the fence and carry on instead of being thrown off the course.

ha true :D i also heard a rumour that somerford might be considering running their own unaffil next year. hope so as i'm actually away for their BE event so can't do it anyway but otherwise it would definitely be on my top 4 list
 
As ever though, you do need to pick and choose where you run - even if the course hosts a BE event as well.

I've booked in at a couple of unaffiliated events over BE courses this year and have sworn I will not go back to them - the SJ (both the jumps and the course) has been dire, the ground unworked, the XC courses randomly changed - and not for the better, and the organisation terrible.

For some u/a events (the likes of ALW and Keysoe immediately spring to mind) - you get as good as the BE events and they are well worth supporting. For some (who will remain unnamed) you most certainly don't.

You pays your money and you takes your choice..... :p
 
I always get the impression that Keysoe do as much XC groundwork for unaff as BE. Always very happy for my son to go XC there. He only does the Hunter Trial that runs at the same time but the SJ always looks good too.
 
RE somerford - not just a rumour. They have said that if they cannot agree an early date with BE for next year they will consider running an unaff
 
RE somerford - not just a rumour. They have said that if they cannot agree an early date with BE for next year they will consider running an unaff

That would be brilliant for me! :-)

There is loads in the North West I can try and if the organisation/sj is really awful then I can always upgrade to BE!

Is it wrong that I feel less pressure doing that knowing that my rubbish results wont be available for all to see?!
 
South East you can add Tweseldown (Garth South PC ODE), and Nurstead had a PC ODE,but they only run 100 upwards at BE, but ran a 90 too at the PC event. Coomblemads (Pulborough) held the PC Area 11 ODE.
 
RE somerford - not just a rumour. They have said that if they cannot agree an early date with BE for next year they will consider running an unaff

Fab news, hope it happens

Skipton also have PC area's with open classes
agree with CPTrayes - Smallwood, not BE but excellent and def BE standard
Rodbaston - sure I've seen a PC one there too

Also some of the hunts run them, West of Yore always have a nice one early on near Lightwater Valley
Eleanor Mercer have just had one - not BE but good standard
Helen Bell's
Oxenholme PC have one, always well supported although I've never been
Plenty to do without being a BE member
 
catton hall? I believe thats BE and it ran unaffil there this yr. Brill course :). Agree with the ripping off; woman at shelford BE had the nerve to say the extra expense is due to better facilities :S the xc course is used for unaffiil and the showjumps were borrowed off a local PC and had been used for PC area SJ a week or so before! I wouldnt mind paying a bit more for BE but if you go on a day ticket I can on average do 2 1/2 unaffil ODEs for the price of 1 BE thats a little excessive IMO, particularly when the unaffils are run over the same course as BE, and you dont even usually get the cost of your entry fee back if you win! Im doing a couple purely to get a record on my mare for sale purposes havent been particularly amused so far in terms of waiting around for prizegiving etc its quicker at PC! Would also love to see them scrap those silly leaflets with whose running in them at lower levels and pass the savings onto us! and save the unnecessary waste! rant over :p
 
There are also some good venues which don't run BE.

Burghley PC run an ODE at Burghley, and although the SJ could be better as it's in a small-ish arena and gets a bit deep after a lot of horses it's an amazing venue! The XC is very testing though at 1m and 1.10m... Not a nice intro to the height :D Area 6 on the whole has some amazing PC venues which run open classes so well worth looking into.
 
I have course photos from a number of unaff events run over BE tracks (or ex-BE tracks) - many are run by Pony Clubs or Riding Clubs so need to hunt around and find the schedules:

-Auchlishie
- Carlton
- Urchinwood Manor
- MKEC
- Isleham
- Somerford Park (PC event held previously)
- Eland Lodge
- Bicton
- Moreton
- Mattingley
- Tweseldown
- Chilham
- Rolleston
- Burnham Market
- Aston-le-Walls
- Gleneagles
- Scone
- Llanymynech
- Berriewood
- Pontispool
- Stockland Lovell
- Rodbaston
- Munstead
- Solihull
- South of England
- Borde Hill
- Rackham
- West Wilts
- Sapey

www.facebook.com/unaffiliatedxccoursephotos

Would like photos from more though!! ;) Be good to have them all covered and up-to-date if anyones going to any soon.

Agree with Lolo too - there are so many courses I've had photos sent in from that look great, really nicely presented and well-built fences, and always have good feedback.
 
Poplar Park run a few Unaff - BUT at the recent Unaff 2.6ft class they had the drop in the course thats usually in the Novice level BE....
 
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