| Author | Message | ||
     Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
Just a thought on collecting ring manners: In riding you always pass left hand to left hand and this saves alot of bumps/collisions. You always walk off the outside track in dressage working in areas although for show jumping you walk around the outside so people can get to the jumps. Perhaps drivers could adopt the left hand to left hand rule and NOT drive across the cones when others are trying to school through them. Everyone needs to think practically if there are a number of turnouts in the school and leave if they are too early for their slot. Drivers also need to keep half an eye on their fellow drivers and try to anticipate those doing circles etc | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
I agree with the comments about the indoor team doing a great job, and they should be congratulated for this, it is a hard task to get competitions to run smoothly and to get the finals to run as smoothly as they do must be even harder especially with so many people attending, well done in the indoor team! However, I do feel the venue is starting to get a little small for the number of new classes that are being introduced, which I have to say “are they all needed”? Last year there were a few near misses where people thought they were the only ones in the warm up arena and obviously felt they owned the school, as Minta said there needs to be a few rules which will hopefully prevent this happening again this year. As there are so many competitors taking part during the season should people be allowed to take 2 turnouts to the finals if they qualify in 2 different classes, would it not be nice to let someone else take theirs if they have finished 2nd, otherwise you just end up with the same people in all the classes! Plus is it fair to allow that, when people that have two animals which are in the same class but have competed in different areas and have been lucky enough to qualify in both areas they can only take one, they have also paid the same amount to compete with both, so why do they not have the same privilage. Perhaps this needs to be thought about 1 turnout per person seems a lot fairer, gives more people the chance to qualify and means you end up with different people competing and not the same people in all the classes! | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
I agree with Minta on this. I have always had a bit of an on/off competition career as I could never afford to run a turnout myself. I have to beg/borrow/steal turnouts from genourous friends or put up with other peoples "cast offs" that normally give a very white knuckle drive!! I always try my hardest to get the very best out of every horse I drive at a competition as I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to compete and wish to give something back to the owner of the horse to thank them for their generousity. So far I have never had a horse to compete for a full season and so have never had the chance to qualify for the finals but if I did I would do my very best to get there and enjoy every minute of the experince. The IHDTC team work very hard indeed in the midlands area and I'm sure other areas are the same. Its easy to say we'd do a better job when it's not us that has to!! Driving has never been a cheap sport and esp now with the cost of fuel etc. We all just need to make the best of what we can afford and have fun - thats why we all started driving in first place isn't it?!?! Laura C | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
It's always intersting reading the threads especially when it comes to 'How to improve Indoor driving and ideas for the National Finals, What a lot of you need to remember when Indoord started nobody really wanted to know, the IHDT Team put their hands in their pockets and got out there and did it, Ok like all new ventures there are bits that need improving and bits that are great but we are not going to please all the people all the time, The finals have suffered possibly by their own success, The team have added and added to enabled more to get to the finals, yes its is now becoming for some, difficult to get time off and to pay for it but thats your choice, if you want to do it enough you will find a way, and we need to try and help the team with constructive ideas and hands on help, Keycoe has 2 schools,plus the outdoor arena it has stood by us from the start and is as easy to get to, as some other venues, yes its got its problems for parking and stabling if the weather is dodgy, maybe the IHDT does not have the money to put UP FRONT and there are far more hidden expences to moving venues, I possibluy have the dilema of my son possibly qualifying for the novice or juniors to be held on the fri/sat and me with a tandem on the sat/sun, and we have taken the decision that hell if we do qualify then thats a reason for working harder shifting stuff about and attending, it won't be easy but whats the use of quailfying if you don't or can't go to the finals, for 2 seasons I was not in a position to qualify or go to the finals even though I had one year an automatic quaifying position as a previous class winner, I just could not afford to do it so I cut my coat according to my cloth did not go and did not winge. on the matter of safety Drivers overall have bad collecting ring manners, so maybe we need a good steward in the collecting ring and a few rules of how to conduct onesself in there, if people do not know how a safe collecting ring works then its up to us as organizers and competitors to communicate, not all people come knowing, and few seasoned drivers need reminding, i am sure at times I have not been perfect, but a good steward would sort this!! Lets see how this year runs, with safety in mind and tidy parking ( a very good Parking steward is a must) and then see where it goes from there, everyone will find this year tight or even prohibitive, so cut your coat etc etc and enjoy what you are able to do, minta | ||
| Duncan Seth-Smith Username: Sakofox Registered: 08-2007 |
It appears that we don't have a say in our own sport. I don't like the idea that qualifiers will have to decide if they wish to compete depending on if they can take time off work/school. Surely that defeats the object of having a National Finals with only the best attending.We all strive to qualify but what is the point if we cannot attend due to work commitments, and I don't buy the argument that people already arrive on friday. I would not want to drive for 4 hours and then rush for a lunchtime start. Most people will opt to arrive Thursday afternoon/evening so they still need extra time off and an extra day stabling. I agree with James that Arena UK is a far better venue.With seperate all weather arenas for warm up, Cones and 2 Obstacles if required, plus 2000 temporary stables.Hardstanding for 1000 vehicles. Why would the entry fees have to increase at Arena UK. 200 x £60 is still £12000. If qualifiers cannot attend will the class runner up be invited to ensure that competitor numbers are retained? | ||
| James Binns Username: Jamesb Registered: 12-2008 |
The fee's for Arena UK of 5,000 for two days include the indoor arena, which is as big if not bigger than Keysoe's and the very large outdoor arena!! Stabling would cost less and although the overall cost of the venue I agree is more than Keysoe, it is all together a better venue with the available weekend date for 2009/10 finals. If organised right a healthy profit can still be had. | ||
| IHDTC Office Username: Ihdtcoffice Registered: 01-2003 |
Thoughts from the Office on the Finals. When we first started Indoor Driving, we had Regional Finals and the National Final. This is already being considered for next season, but this would mean extra work all round for the hard pushed Indoor Team. We also have to consider the expenses of any event and the Finals expenses are quite considerable. Arena UK has been suggested but the cost will be £5000 for two days and only one indoor school. This venue would put entry fees up to somewhere around £100 which would not be popular. We manage to keep the entry fees down only due to the generous sponsorship of CARRIAGEHOUSE INSURANCE who have sponsored us for the last four years. Keysoe this season will PROVISIONALLY start at 1pm on the Friday. We are trying to sort out a provisional class running order which will be posted on the News Page when available to allow competitors to decide if they wish to compete and arrange time off work/school if required. The argument of having to take extra time off does not really apply as most people arrive on the Friday. ALL obstacle will be driven indoors and only the Cones will be in the large outdoor school, obstacles were driven out side last year due to numbers and not enough hours in the day! Only ONE competitor from each class in each area will qualify, and THIS INCLUDES JUNIORS & NOVICES who in the past have had two qualifiers from each area. Competitors who have qualified will be notified by the Office NOT by the area organiser. Schedule should be available early March. Keep an eye on the Points League to see who is likely to qualify in each class in your area. If you have not been to Keysoe before and have not qualified why not come along and watch (or even volunteer to help) Saturday evening is International Night which should be very exciting with the very best of UK drivers competing. Any other thoughts on NEXT season Finals will be gratefully received. Rita | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
It now looks as if the decision has been taken to run the finals over 3 days. From talking to people at two events there has not been one in favour of having the event over 3 days. Nor has anyone been in favour of increasing the number of competitors; last year was pretty dodgy safety wise and will be worse with more competitors. Why not make qualification a little more difficult so that only the best from each regions go to the final. Having said that , several juniors have said that they cannot go because of exam commitments and others because of getting time off work so the problem of overcrowding may not rise. Paul | ||
| Alan Hodges Username: Alan Registered: 10-2006 |
Personally I don’t thing Keysoe has sufficient room or facilities. With such a proliferation of classes too many competitors are involved for safety at a single event. Why not allocate areas to a region, six would cover the UK, hold a regional final and invite the winner of each class to the national final? Assuming 14 classes this would mean 70 participants max. this number would be fine for a two day event at a large number of venues all around the UK so the nationals could move around a bit. | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
I've only competed 3 times at Keysoe and trying to qualifi again this year, I think it is a lovly venue with the big schools, it works well having the 2 Dressage arena's indoors and the cones tucked in a corner of the outdoor school, I was only grooming last year and the warm up was like playing on the M25!! You had the people concentrating warming up for dressage who should have had priority, but instead they had to avoid the people that were watching the cones (in carts) when surely they should have been kicked out the warm up arena when finished, Maybe have half the outdoor arena for the cones and practise for the cones and a limitied number of people warming up ready for dressage?? I think that if it has to be run as a 2 1/2 day event to fit it in then thats what you have to do, no-one wants to be leaving Keysoe at midnight becasue you didnt start til sat, everyone wants to get var/www a descent time after camping all weekend I don't think the Indoor team have been given enough credit for all the hard work they put in, poor Rita is like a headless chicken at finals trying to make sure it all runs like clock work and everyone has a great time, so the least all us competitors can do is thank them and go with whatever she decides to do. Many thanks Rita and Dick and all the helpers | ||
| James Binns Username: Jamesb Registered: 12-2008 |
It has been over 1 month now and only 2 people have voiced any thoughts on this matter, are we to believe that the rest of the 200 plus competitors dont really care or is this issue just going to creep up on us and then people will complain after the fact? Not helpfull!! We may not be able to fix this problem for this years Finals but we do need to address this issue in time to fix it for next years Final. I have suggested using Arena UK, which is near Grantham, Although the cost will almost be double the venue is vast has easy access from all areas, plenty of parking and at least 70+ onsite stables. If we dont find a solution soon all possible dates for next year will be booked. | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
Hi I am very surprised that there has been so little response to this thread. As I see it there is one major problem and the blame for it must land on Rita and Dick; they have done such an amazing job running the Indoor Trials that too many people want part of the action! I would hate to see more competitors at Keysoe than there were last year, the warm up area was inadequate and there were many near misses. Parking was extremely difficult and would not have been a lot better with the large number of lorries had the grassed area been dry. If competitors have to take 2 days off work/school it is going to increase the cost dramatically for those people. Are there any adjacent fields available for parking and warm up area; if there is something that can be used more competitors could take part and by running later on Saturday and Sunday it should be possible to get the event over in two days. I understand that the Saturday evening is to be used for some "International" type event for 8 or 10 competitors. Most people I have spoken to think that the International event is a good idea but takes up time which should be for the Indoor finalists to compete and would be better held somewhere else at another time. Just a few thoughts Paul C | ||
| Duncan Seth-Smith Username: Sakofox Registered: 08-2007 |
Last year Keysoe suffered from the weather with an excess of mud and water,limited hard standing and I think it was at capacity for carriage driving.If we get the same weather conditions, where will the extra 30+ lorries park? The warm up area near the entrance to the indoor arena was at times dangerous with the number of competitors, some circling in the opposite direction,plus a lack of stewards. I think the event this year with over 200 outfits should be held at a bigger better venue, with more facilities and then run over 2 days. It is expensive enough without losing a days work.Friday competitors would also need to loose half a day on thursday for travel and prep. | ||
| IHDTC Office Username: Ihdtcoffice Registered: 01-2003 |
We need your help! Due to number of competitors at the last Championship at Keysoe we plan to run the 2009 Champs over THREE days. PROVISIONAL IDEA ONLY............... It is proposed to run P&P-Cones + 2 obstacles for Junior-novice-intermediate and Veterans classes on the Friday, with the remaining obstacles on Saturday afternoon. All other classes will do P&P-Cones and for some classes 2 obstacles on Saturday. We know this will mean Junior's getting off school and some taking holiday from employment. We also know this could prove difficult for some competitors which is why I am asking you now for your thoughts and comments. There is a possibility of 200 + competitors at Keysoe so you can see what we have to sort out is no easy task. Sensible suggestions only please. Thanks in advance for your input into this tricky problem. Enjoy the rest of the winter season. Rita |