Why is the BE event at Merrist Wood always cancelled?

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Sunny_Star

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As in title really, I was looking at the 2008 BE calendar and saw that the BE event at Merrist Wood has been cancelled.

It was cancelled last year too...anyone know the reason why?

If they're never actually going to run it, it shouldn't be on there in the first place!
 
I heard that last year they decided not to run it due to the BE levy being to high for them to make money. MW are rather money grabbing so it probably wouldn't add up for them. I too was surprised that the event was listed this year as the track was good although the ground was hard and rutted last time I jumped round it. All it does is hog the date to prevent other southern events having the date - very disappointed!
 
Apparently they've hiked their prices up really high so now hardly any Pony Clubs are using it for camp, I know my pc has moved its camp from there.
Also when I went to a PC sj competition at MW, there were so many entries it started at 8am and finished at 8pm, they must have had to allow loads of entries because it's so expensive to rent.
Grrr!
mad.gif
 
I was thinking just that! Don't know the answer though.
As it happens it fell on the same date as another event a similar distance away but in the opposite direction. So it helps me as at least I know which one to enter now!
grin.gif
 
You are right, my riding club has stopped using the arena because of the cost and they couldn't afford to take the risk of not getting enough entries. Apparently they would just like BSJA as the Gilespies (Vicarage Farm) run those days and MW don't have to do anything except sit there and take the money! I would love to boycot MW - but where would I go? One day someone is going to have an accident at their CR SJ or dressage days with all those horses standing in the gateway to the outdoor school - no one ever tries to keep it clear there should be a small "collecting area". It has all been lottery funded and APPARENTLY at one stage they wanted to cancel all comps except demos, and BSJA/BD until someone pointed out that the facility was funded partly for the horse public of Guildford to benefit not just top competition people.

Its a shame about the event as we have lost so many venues around Guildford (Shamley Green, Dunsfold Rise,Petworth) and a couple of extra dates at Twesldown.
 
Grrr, I'm avoiding it as a venue at the moment,
I agree about the collecting ring, the entrance to the outdoor arena is ALWAYS blocked by some numpty who feels they have the right to stand there and chat to their friend.
 
Is that same as with our local college: Hadlow.

The price to hire if for the day is astronomical.

The last time our RC Area held an event there it was several hundred quid to hire for the day including a basic set of jumps. But they didn't have the correct cups so we had to dash back to our store to collect some otherwise we weren't BHS legal and this was a RC Qualifier.

They have 2 massive indoor schools and an outdoor school and yet the college hold very few competitions there. They don't have proper timing equipment so the SJ timing is a bit hit and miss, and the courses are sometimes a little odd....
 
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