| Author | Message | ||
     Mike Watts Posted From: 80.176.138.26 |
...the definition of Competitor. Defined in passing in the FEI rules as the driver, under the definition of Entry ?! thus: "900.10. Definitions ..... 10.3 Entry – the Competitor (Driver), horses, Grooms, required harness and vehicle appropriate to the turnout as defined in these Rules." | ||
| Mike Watts Posted From: 80.176.138.26 |
Graham, yes it's based on the driver. We try to make sure everyone sticks to the rules that Cathy quotes below, to be fair to all. If anyone seems in the wrong class, please have a quiet word with your local organiser who will tactfully sort it out. As for whether the rule is right, at least it's fairly simple and seems to work. Open drivers with an inexperienced pony do have to compete in an open class, or h/c, not counting for placing, in other classes. This can make them uncompetitive for a while, but with a young pony they'll be training anyway. It seems fairer on the novice class. Novices shouldn't find themselves competing against any open drivers in the novice classes, so shouldn't be held back the way you describe for ridden dressage. | ||
| Graham Cooper Posted From: 80.177.0.217 |
I assume that "Competitor" means the driver. If so, I think from the results that I have seen, that there may be quite a few people competing in the Novice class who shouldn't be there. I suppose it depends on what is meant by "competitor". If it means the horse or pony, or the combination of the horse or pony and the driver, then those people are probably OK. When my wife first started out doing ridden dressage a few years back, she became frustrated that she could never advance through the ranks because riders were competing in her class, often using it as a warm-up for their more advanced classes. This discouraged her. As a driver, just starting out with indoor trials, my outlook is that I am just thrilled to be there and having a great time. If I get a rosette for coming last, then I would be just as happy with one for coming first, provided that we did the best we could and had a good time. However, I can see that if I get into it more and start doing well, I will become increasingly put off if I can't progress because I am constantly competing against "Open" competitors who will always have the edge. However, if their horse or pony is inexperienced, would it be right for them to be competing in the open class? What is the position, and what does everyone else think? | ||
| Cathy Username: Cathy Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi the rules for moving up from Novice to Open indoor as as below 4.3 OPEN: Competitors, who have competed in open classes in BHDTA national horse driving trials competitions or that have qualified for a novice class at a National Indoor Horse Driving Trials Final. Outdoors are run under different rules, most clubs have a rule whereby you need to win 2 novice classes and /or have entered a National Novice Qualifier then you are classed as Open outdoors. | ||
| Mel Posted From: 86.136.84.159 |
Hello - can anyone clarify the rules regarding when Novice drivers move up to Open classes? In my first indoor season last year I competed as a Novice driver and qualified to go to the Indoor Championships. However, as I had only done 7 events I wanted to wait for another season before I went. I was under the impression that if a Novice driver competed at the finals, when they next competed at an Indoor event they would then be classed as an Open driver. Is this correct? I do know of someone who competed at the finals (qualified as a Novice driver) but when they went to a club event they competed as a Novice driver again. Should they have been entered in the Open class seeing as they had been to the finals? Otherwise, if going to the finals does not automatically move you up to Open, what is the criteria for progressing out of Novice classes? Please could someone help?! Thanks! |