Weston Park - balloted 90...

[kerilli]

And I know for an absolute fact that a different horse trials organiser has applied to BE three times to be allowed to run an Autumn 3-day event, and been turned down because the venue "isn't smart enough."
This isn't sour grapes, fwiw, I didn't enter for Weston Park.
However, I really really feel for those who did who are going to be balloted and have the end of their season (and chance for qualification) scuppered.
What do YOU think about BE's stance on this? They know that Weston is over-subscribed every year (afaik.)
Would you care about not being at a "posh" venue, as long as: the dressage arenas and warm-up area are completely flat and good going guaranteed.
The courses are well-built, with great going.
Just wondering...
*puts big spoon away*

 

[ihatework]

Ask Brynley Powell his thoughts on BE event management, and it's not just him.

BE need a good kick up the backside sometimes.

** puts even bigger wooden spoon away **

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I'm with you on this one. To be honest also I don't think Aldon is the smartest - well run and a lovely event yet they allow a 3 day there.

I know of a local event that canc because of the weather they wanted another date so they could run Novice and Intermediate and BE wouldn't let them run. At the end of the day we need these extra events.

 

[Maesfen]

Load of cobblers, it smacks of jobs for the boys to me or 'your' course owner's face doesn't fit!

If the courses are up to standard, the facilities are good for both horses and the public, they can arrange for enough and well prepped stewards, judges, etc, then surely they are cutting off their noses to spite their faces as it would be extra money into the coffers, which let's face it, they need after Burghley and Blenheim.

Am I right in thinking that most of the 3 days, (B, B & B excepted of course) started out as 1 day events anyway? They all have to start somewhere and there are more than enough riders to fill them all so I can't see their objections - but then, I'm not involved so don't know what I'm talking about anyway!

 

[BBs]

It was Powell who immediately sprang to mind tbh.

It quite honestly sucks! I know Nigel Taylor has requested extra days to accomodate everyone at his events and every time BE say no!

Quite honestly other events need to get a grip, as its been said BE wont allow certain events to add extra days as it upsets others. There are more ppl than places extra events need to either run or extra days added.

I certainly for a 2nd year will NOT be renewing my BE memebership and stick to the Unaffilated events held at Tweseldown, Aston le Walls and MKEC throughout the year.

 

[SpottedCat]

How bizarre, after all, Aldon, whilst a great event which I love, is hardly 'smart' now is it??!

Ah, yet another BE management mystery, along with why they haven't made certain safety kit compulsory

 

[kerilli]

I'm not talking about Brynley Powell, btw. I'd forgotten his battles with BE, actually!
This is an organiser who runs packed 1-days up to and including Intermediate level, of up to 3 consecutve days, and has the infrastructure, helpers etc in place...

 

[BBs]

Ahh... not an Aussie by any chance? slightly more northern than here?? am I warm?

Well BEs membership is down this year, be interesting what they are going to do next year, cos if they cant pull in the membership from the grass routes then they are going to struggle.

 

[BBs]

[ QUOTE ]
How bizarre, after all, Aldon, whilst a great event which I love, is hardly 'smart' now is it??!

Ah, yet another BE management mystery, along with why they haven't made certain safety kit compulsory

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite agree.
Perhaps we need a meeting with BE

 

[AutumnRose]

Crazy. I really don't mind how 'smart' any event is as long as there is good going, courses and organisation.

We keep hearing about BE not doing/doing certain things to keep organisers happy and i understand that we all need to be grateful to all the organisers...of course we do. But the purpose of BE is for it's members to event is it not? We all pay our membership equally and it should not be this continuous flippin scramble for places to run.

BE are going to lose out in the long run....the number of events who have decided to run unaff events in place of/in additon to their BE events is increasing and they are always very popular.......as BB's said i'm sure a number of people just do these anyway and the more there are the more people will decide their membership just isn't worth it.

 

[Baggybreeches]

It is a classic case of double standards. I also didn't renew my membership and won't be next year, I would think that BE need some wholesale board changes and maybe (although highly unlikely) put some 'real' people in charge of the calender.
I don't believe for one minute that there is a shortage of venues, here in the North West they have let a fair few decent old venues dissappear with nothing to replace them. Why not have a pro-active person who sources and supports new venues, instead of trying their hardest to make it difficult.

WOW Rant Over
*steps back into box*

 

[kerilli]

Nope, BBs, you're not.
I won't say who it is anyway, I don't want to get them into trouble.
I think I might make the effort to go to the BE AGM this year though. There's a few things that I'd like to see tabled.

 

[BBs]

Oh pants.
My detective skills fail me once again **back to the day job for me then**

I think it might make more ppl go to the AGM. Its a shame more ppl (who matter) dont go. It always seems the same old same old, who it tends not to effect.

 

[Thistle]

Where did you get the Weston onfo?

 

[Cullohill]

wow that many balloted - lucky i got in (i am so excited

)

i think it's a travesty that more is not done to enable more events, i'd much prefer the runs as long as it's well run i don't care about posh or not

i am still in shock in how much Weston is costing me

hope it's worth it

 

[kerilli]

[ QUOTE ]
Where did you get the Weston onfo?

[/ QUOTE ]

a very very reliable little birdie told me.

 

[Thistle]

Ahhh that explains why I can't find anything on BE or the Weston site - birds can't type.

 

[13798]

You raise some good points but why don't you post them on the BE site so that BE know your feelings?

 

[kerilli]

[ QUOTE ]
You raise some good points but why don't you post them on the BE site so that BE know your feelings?

[/ QUOTE ]
because my BE membership number doesn't seem to have a password, and I've tried to get it sorted a few times to no avail...

 

[wizoz]

I cannot believe that BE have done that?! Really?? To me, it's not about "how smart" a venue is, it's if the course is the right one for my horse, the going is good and a big factor is how far away it is BUT to say that A place isn't smart enough is plain snobbery.

I agree with the poster who said put this on the BE website, kick some butt Kerilli

I don't mind adding my 5pence worth!

 

[billyslad]

BE membership is up this year A future event was asked if they could put on a 3 Star after the cancellation of Blenheim but BE and the Fei declined to make up the £40k shortfall as it considered the major benefit to doing this would be to competitors trying to gain qualifications.The organiser was not prepared to take on this financial risk , quite rightly

I believe that there are about 40 on the wait list already for Boekolo

The weather has really played its part this year but BE need to let the market dictate which events run.Those that are oversubscribed are for very good reason.

As Kerelli points out , are you prepared to write to the board or go along to the AGM ?

There are a lot of very good people in BE doing an excellent job in difficult circumstances but you cant please all of the people all of the time.

All weather venues with free draining ground are the future and these are the ones in my opinion that deserve the support of BE and the FEI

 

[seche]

Where can I find the ballot list - friends horse will loose his ** qual if he doesnt get to run!

 

[TableDancer]

Stories like these make my blood boil - I know they aren't always completely accurate but enough of them are: I trust Kerrilli on this one and Nigel T told me earlier this year about wanting to put on an extra day on (I think) the May event and BE not letting him

Can't believe there are venues out there wanting to run and competitiors wanting to likewise and BE blocking the process?!!

I am planning to enter Aldon but if Weston have ballotted that many Aldon is going to be swamped too

I do seriously feel a trip to BE AGM coming on - both this (a perennial topic I know) and EXOs seem good ones to raise. Kerrilli are you on? Anyone else? (Come on S_C you know you want to

I wouldn't dare on my own but if there was a HHO possy riding into town?

 

[Nando]

Hmm snap Kerilli, I spent months trying to get into the site and I did have a password..it just didn't work!!!

As you wise people have already said, I don't think it matters whether the venues are particularly 'smart' or not, yes it's nice but as long as the ground is good and the courses well built I for one am quite happy to slum it if it means I can get the run or qualifications!

The main point here being that not for the first time the beginning and end of the season is one big bun fight, I know the weather has not played it's best hand for many events but more specifically towards the end of the season there are just not enough events to accomodate everyones needs - the decision not to allow this venue to run is, IMO slightly short sighted.

Like Carlton, for eg, there are organisers out there who are willing (with the right guidance and support) to put their necks out and run new events. There are also those who are willing to put on extra days, which is no mean feat and should be applauded and encouraged - not rejected!

Perhaps I should offer my services to take on the suggested role of sourcing new venues...afterall, looking for a new job, hee hee

Seriously though, it might not be a bad idea for a load of us to maybe go to the AGM and put across our thoughts/views as 'lowly members'!!

 

[kerilli]

Unfortunately I can't post on the BE site, it denies me access, won't let me change my password, and no-one at BE could sort it out the last 2 times i tried to get it done. *sighs*

Put it this way, an incredibly reliable little birdie told me, and I have no reason at all to disbelieve them. Maybe we'll wait a few days and see how many people were balloted, if Janet puts it up on her site. Or, I could email her and ask if it is true that they were oversubscribed by that many... I doubt it's a state secret!

 

[Bossanova]

I think BE need to wake up and face reality.

More and more people are doing FEI events- partly as qualification is now easier and partly as short format takes less out of the horse. Also, I think everyone is now very mindful of getting as many FEI points as possible in preperation for later when ballots start with lowest number of points.

The number of horses doing CIC**s this year is outstanding- thanfully BE put enough on but they really then must expect these horses to trickle through to 2* and not everyone can or has the inclination to go abroad. Why should we?

 

[SpottedCat]

[ QUOTE ]

I do seriously feel a trip to BE AGM coming on - both this (a perennial topic I know) and EXOs seem good ones to raise. Kerrilli are you on? Anyone else? (Come on S_C you know you want to

I wouldn't dare on my own but if there was a HHO possy riding into town?

[/ QUOTE ]

When is it? I reckon I could be persuaded. Providing I don't have any daft creatures to go and count....

 

[kerilli]

[ QUOTE ]

I do seriously feel a trip to BE AGM coming on - both this (a perennial topic I know) and EXOs seem good ones to raise. Kerrilli are you on? Anyone else? (Come on S_C you know you want to

I wouldn't dare on my own but if there was a HHO possy riding into town?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's usually in November, isn't it? i've only been once, and discovered then that unless you have put forward your question ahead of time, you aren't allowed to ask it. no idea if that's still the case.
there was a very spirited argument when I went, because a sponsor had offered big prize money for a specific new event, and BE refused to allow it because it would be out of line with the other events... i.e. turning down a nice big new generous sponsor! as you can imagine, this didn't go down too well with certain Pros...!
I'll go if we're going to have a bit of a posse and submit a question or two!

 

[13798]

Its a shame you guys can't get on the BE forum; it would make it much livlier! Do please try again.
The AGM is Wednesday 29th October at 2pm. at The Avon Suite, Stoneleigh Park.
I think you would need to notifie BE of any questions that you wish to raise.

 

[TarrSteps]

So what's the professed reasoning for not letting events add days/events to the schedule? Conflicts? Is there a mileage rule? (In North America recognised shows have to be "x" miles away from other shows of the same level, depending on the area and the class of show involved.) Is it to do with inspection of venues? (Can't see BE making that a full time paying gig.

) Is it a cost issue?

Has anyone asked? Has anything been offered?

How about a petition? Write a letter saying it has come to your collective attention that even though there are so many events over subscribed there seems to be reluctance to open the door to new/extended events. Is this so? If so why? And why have members not been consulted? (Or have they in the past?)

It would be interesting to see what BE has to say. If they came back with a list of the issues involved that might be a opportunity to start to find solutions. At the very least people would know WHY it's happening and either be mollified or spurred to action accordingly.

Worth a shot. If you want to know, ask.