Who is the associated championships for?

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Muddywellies

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I always assumed, with the qualifying score being 60%, that the associated champs was aimed at amateur/ grass roots horses and riders. However I have seen many professionals competing there. Am I wrong in my assumption?
 
It is for anyone who qualifies. Some of the classes very much attract amateur riders; I've done the cob ones and there's sometimes one or two pros but it's mainly amateurs. In contrast, the Iberian classes seem to attract professionals, as do the veteran classes.
 
I believe there is one Gold rider in the Novice vetran rider who is also a professional. Whilst ever BD allow professional, gold riders to compete, they will always be in the classes.
 
smiggy said:
I think it’s a shame that the one championship BD give to non average dressage types, is the one championship where everyone is lumped in together. So bronze, silver and gold all in one section.
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possibly the assumption these non average types are unlikely to be professional level?!
 
Having competed in the Associated Championships over the past few years it seems to have grown! I was lucky enough to win the first year, didn't even get a mention in the BD magazine, back then and you also had to be a member of the relevant society. I didn't bother this year, i have a PRE and they have now lumped "Baroque" breeds together. Which i get to increase the class sizes, but it has lost what it was about for me. I also found Onley a complete disorganised mess and the stewarding was some of the worst i have encountered. In fact the steward completely ruined our day and being parked on a dark field with no lighting finished me off! I hope this being their second year things are more settled. But it definitely did not have a Championship feel to it at all.
 
I always just thought that with a qualifying score of just 60%, it was to give amateurs a fair crack at the whip. Ive seen more and more pro's doing area festivals, and have been surprised to see how many are also doing the associated championships too.
 
There is a special rosette for the highest placed BSG in each class so they are recognised and you can call yourself the Bronze Champion if that is what you want to do.
I think there are 106 classes at this show, if you split them into three sections there would be 318 classes with most classes only having two or three riders in them. The cost of the rosettes and prize money would be prohibitive, no centre would want to run the show without a significant increase in entry fees. My other thought is would you really want to call yourself a champion if there are only two in the class. Some classes would be worth splitting but they are a minority. Do you really want to be a Champion of two entries.
I think it is great this show is taking off, I have several clients competing there, none are gold riders, they are all going for a good time and to enjoy the taking part, they want to compare themselves again horses of the same breed as theirs, if they beat a Gold rider or in some cases a Silver rider that will be the icing on the cake.
 
I’d be interested to know the % split of GSB entries and also be interesting to know the GSB status of say the top 3 in each class.

I suspect it won’t be quite as full of those evil pot hunting gold pros as those worried might be thinking!!!

I think these champs are a great idea. Opens up a champ to the regular amateurs. But it should also showcase the non-warmbloods and to do that well, you kind of need good examples competing too, your high 60/70%+ combinations. Otherwise you are just showcasing mediocre and that’s quite frankly dull and not a championship
 
ihatework said:
I’d be interested to know the % split of GSB entries and also be interesting to know the GSB status of say the top 3 in each class.

I suspect it won’t be quite as full of those evil pot hunting gold pros as those worried might be thinking!!!

I think these champs are a great idea. Opens up a champ to the regular amateurs. But it should also showcase the non-warmbloods and to do that well, you kind of need good examples competing too, your high 60/70%+ combinations. Otherwise you are just showcasing mediocre and that’s quite frankly dull and not a championship
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But then why have a qualifying score of 60% ? I thought this was for more average combinations to have something to aim for?
 
Muddywellies said:
But then why have a qualifying score of 60% ? I thought this was for more average combinations to have something to aim for?
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It does give average combinations something to aim for!! Makes the championships very inclusive. But if you are a low scoring 60’s type of rider you aren’t really ever going to be a championship winning combination (spoken as someone who has been to many dressage championships and scored deservedly distinctly average!)
 
ihatework said:
It does give average combinations something to aim for!! Makes the championships very inclusive. But if you are a low scoring 60’s type of rider you aren’t really ever going to be a championship winning combination (spoken as someone who has been to many dressage championships and scored deservedly distinctly average!)
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A low scoring 60's combination prob wouldnt expect to be winning, but to have an international rider, or even a rider winning at the nationals, in your class, it must be a little disheartening.
 
I really enjoyed the Associated Champs, first year at Bury Farm then second year when they moved it all to Onley. Although I was in a very small section - Part Bred Arabs - so was lucky enough to place as we were very mediocre lol.
I think it's nice competing against the same breed and certainly shows what are popular! As @CoachinaCar rightly says you couldn't split for sections as it would just increase costs which would then end up making entry fees higher etc. which would then lead to more moans!
Really hoping I can do a bit of BD again with my new pure bred Arab and will definitely try to qualify for next years. I don't envy any centre running these as it must be a headache from start to finish. Last year I actually rode one of my tests after 9pm, first time for everything I guess!
 
You are lucky to compete against the same breed. The new "Baroque" class is ridiculous. Open to basically anything, as Baroque isn't a breed but a term. The Associated Champs are a great idea, but lumping a load of types together in one class to increase entries is not. Surely that is what straight BD classes are about?
 
KC31 said:
You are lucky to compete against the same breed. The new "Baroque" class is ridiculous. Open to basically anything, as Baroque isn't a breed but a term. The Associated Champs are a great idea, but lumping a load of types together in one class to increase entries is not. Surely that is what straight BD classes are about?
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I do wonder if they will amalgamate certain breeds and their relations e.g. Arabs and PBAs to create bigger classes if numbers remain low. The native section always blows my mind as to how big it is!
Frustrating change for you, I admit I really know nothing about those breeds so wouldn't understand why that is a bad move, but the outcome is they've lost them a competitor!
 
lottiepony said:
I do wonder if they will amalgamate certain breeds and their relations e.g. Arabs and PBAs to create bigger classes if numbers remain low. The native section always blows my mind as to how big it is!
Frustrating change for you, I admit I really know nothing about those breeds so wouldn't understand why that is a bad move, but the outcome is they've lost them a competitor!
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Very frustrating as I am yet to understand what a Baroque breed is! No idea how they manage with the Natives as those classes are huge! It may need a rethink and i do appreciate that you can't please everyone, but it was so nice to have a class for the Spanish, who are very marmite with the judges anyway! So i will just wait for the GBPRE show in July. :)
 
Muddywellies said:
I always assumed, with the qualifying score being 60%, that the associated champs was aimed at amateur/ grass roots horses and riders. However I have seen many professionals competing there. Am I wrong in my assumption?
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My interpretation is that it hasn't got anything to do with amateurs or professionals but showcasing the breeds/ types of horses and giving them an opportunity to have a championship where they compete against just their category. The qualifying scores are lower because often it's the sportshorses/ warmbloods who get the big scores and there are less of the breeds at the associated champs so they want to try and encourage people to go. As the pro's usually ride warmbloods there are less pro's at the associated champs so less need to have the bronze/ silver/ gold.
 
This year's entries: https://online.equipe.com/shows/72735

Even having combined the sections, there are loads of classes with just a handful of entries. I did a quick whizz through the classes, and there are twenty classes with three or less entries.

I did the Associated Champs on my previous mare, and won my first ever sash in 2019. A very special thing to have, as I lost her to lymphoma less than a year later. There weren't loads in our class, but we did do it with a PB for a champs/AF/regionals, so it wasn't handed to us on a plate.
 
nikicb said:
This year's entries: https://online.equipe.com/shows/72735

Even having combined the sections, there are loads of classes with just a handful of entries. I did a quick whizz through the classes, and there are twenty classes with three or less entries.

I did the Associated Champs on my previous mare, and won my first ever sash in 2019. A very special thing to have, as I lost her to lymphoma less than a year later. There weren't loads in our class, but we did do it with a PB for a champs/AF/regionals, so it wasn't handed to us on a plate.
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Thanks for the link, interesting to see numbers. I need to get myself in gear and get there for next year!
 
If I'd realised how low the gypsy cob numbers were I'd have got my extra BD entry done!

Are the part / full gypsy cobs per the TGCA? Surely those classes could be combined.
 
smiggy said:
I think it’s a shame that the one championship BD give to non average dressage types, is the one championship where everyone is lumped in together. So bronze, silver and gold all in one section.
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The classes put everyone together but the placings are per section so it doesn’t matter?
 
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