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Post by summer24 on Jul 26, 2015 13:14:53 GMT
We too left yesterday...a day early. I couldn't face another day walking between the lorry and the stables. Why were day people parked on the hardstanding, near the main rings, closer to the stables than us and dry..... when duration were parked in the field, miles away from the stables? I dreaded forgetting anything and having to go back.
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Post by lightup on Jul 26, 2015 17:02:40 GMT
I Wont be joining puk again that's all!
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Post by lillybet6 on Jul 26, 2015 17:25:44 GMT
I think this is the end of ponies UK now from what I have heard about the Summer champs I will not be joining again next year if there is a ponies UK next year , shame as is was the show to go to but not any more has gone down hill now and I donot think it will ever get back to how it was before .
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Post by maddiesmum on Jul 26, 2015 18:03:09 GMT
I feel really sad reading this! I loved Ponies UK as a child (it was at Peterborough then). We had hoped to support this year now my daughter is doing LR, but we were at a family wedding. I for one hope that it can continue, but perhaps needs to make a few changes reading this. It is the only summer champs under 3 hours away for us, so that is a big advantage in itself!
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Post by GaynorStones on Jul 26, 2015 18:29:06 GMT
I feel really sad reading this! I loved Ponies UK as a child (it was at Peterborough then). We had hoped to support this year now my daughter is doing LR, but we were at a family wedding. I for one hope that it can continue, but perhaps needs to make a few changes reading this. It is the only summer champs under 3 hours away for us, so that is a big advantage in itself! I too am very sad. I have many happy memories of PUK. There were so many classes to choose from and Peterborough is such a fabulous venue. The evening performances were electric with a packed grandstand. It was the best week of the summer. I'm sure we must have had some bad weather over the years we went but I can't remember them! Unfortunately, as I said earlier, there are just too many championship shows in August so we have to look carefully as it is so expensive now to compete with stables, entries and diesel so we only do one stay away show now. I do hope they manage to turn it around and if we could ever get back to the way it was I would be first in the queue to return
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Post by GaynorStones on Jul 26, 2015 18:29:27 GMT
I feel really sad reading this! I loved Ponies UK as a child (it was at Peterborough then). We had hoped to support this year now my daughter is doing LR, but we were at a family wedding. I for one hope that it can continue, but perhaps needs to make a few changes reading this. It is the only summer champs under 3 hours away for us, so that is a big advantage in itself! I too am very sad. I have many happy memories of PUK. There were so many classes to choose from and Peterborough is such a fabulous venue. The evening performances were electric with a packed grandstand. It was the best week of the summer. I'm sure we must have had some bad weather over the years we went but I can't remember them! Unfortunately, as I said earlier, there are just too many championship shows in August so we have to look carefully as it is so expensive now to compete with stables, entries and diesel so we only do one stay away show now. I do hope they manage to turn it around and if we could ever get back to the way it was I would be first in the queue to return
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Post by Toaster on Jul 26, 2015 19:35:51 GMT
Personally i think they are pitching to the wrong audience. the PUK qualifiers are at shows similar to ones that hold Royal London and Equifest qualifiers but the show seems to be aimed at a notch higher
there is definitely a space for a show shorter and less overwhelming than Equifest aimed at a notch down from the likes of BSPS but the costs need to be reasonable to suit the purses of many of the competitors at that level. I attend plenty of shows in that area and enough competitors are definitely out there
The below paragraph is how the show was pitched on a Facebook page local to the showground which does sound good, it sounds friendly and makes the show sound fun and all inclusive:
Fun, friendly, family show... Supreme Championships 24th - 26th July 2015 at Bury Farm EC, Slapton Buckinghamshire, LU7 9BT Showing, Working Hunter and Dressage Classes for every type of horse and pony. Cheap entry fees, prize money in every class. Please PM me if you would like a hard copy of the show schedule.
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Ponies UK
Jul 26, 2015 21:23:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by harrythepig on Jul 26, 2015 21:23:35 GMT
Very sad news but Im not surprised. Attended PUK 2 years ago and never again. The evening performances were lack lustre and classes too expensive. This was when HOYS qualifiers were still there and producers went in numbers. There was an air of superiority which wasnt comfortable and the cost of stabling and hook up was excessive. In my opinion PUK needs to rethink who its customer base is and whether a southern and northern early and late season one day show is more attractive to competitors than a summer 3 day when it is competing against other more cost effective options.
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Post by dancer on Jul 27, 2015 8:19:34 GMT
The below paragraph is how the show was pitched on a Facebook page local to the showground which does sound good, it sounds friendly and makes the show sound fun and all inclusive: Fun, friendly, family show... Supreme Championships 24th - 26th July 2015 at Bury Farm EC, Slapton Buckinghamshire, LU7 9BT Showing, Working Hunter and Dressage Classes for every type of horse and pony. Cheap entry fees, prize money in every class. Please PM me if you would like a hard copy of the show schedule. It's interesting that there is no mention of the need to qualify for the show, I know they have open classes & probably qualifiers on the first day or so but nothing to reflect that in this statement.
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Post by Toaster on Jul 27, 2015 12:28:04 GMT
The below paragraph is how the show was pitched on a Facebook page local to the showground which does sound good, it sounds friendly and makes the show sound fun and all inclusive: Fun, friendly, family show... Supreme Championships 24th - 26th July 2015 at Bury Farm EC, Slapton Buckinghamshire, LU7 9BT Showing, Working Hunter and Dressage Classes for every type of horse and pony. Cheap entry fees, prize money in every class. Please PM me if you would like a hard copy of the show schedule. It's interesting that there is no mention of the need to qualify for the show, I know they have open classes & probably qualifiers on the first day or so but nothing to reflect that in this statement. I thought that too, it makes it sound like a fun show and very attractive with the prize money but then the schedule/website/entry form seems rather more formal and upmarket in contrast
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Post by samd on Jul 27, 2015 16:41:06 GMT
Prize money in every class?? We also won one of the RIHS qualifying classes which did have 4 pre entries and still didn't get prize money. Although we did win the £500 grand prix championship and did get the money so at least that was honoured!! So very pleased with that!
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Post by emmah86 on Jul 27, 2015 20:26:24 GMT
Returned from Ponies uk feeling rather dejected, the entry fees are expensive, the prize money is withheld unless 4 or more pre entered exhibits which I can understand, but when you are accepting late entries up until the day of the show is frankly taking advantage of members/ competitors who only wish to exhibit and reap their rewards for alot of hard work and us amateurs annual holiday!
Bury Farm is a good venue but lacks any atmosphere and has a generally unkept feel....... the outdoor arena are lovely but it does not have the feel of a supreme championship show, the evening performances only compounded this feeling. They lacked atmosphere and the poor entry numbers only make matters worse, only having one or even none entered for PUK championship classes must really ring alarm bells for PUK! or I hope it does, equifest has stolen PUK crown, it caters for all, prize money is honoured, qualification is possible around the country, entry fees are reasonable and the atmosphere is better than HOYS! I cannot wait to go to Equifest this year, I will not be attending PUK again unless they seriously rethink their attitude towards their show, the amalgamation of classes ie hacks/riding horses/coloureds/hunters...... really how are you meant to take this show seriously! Rant over but Puk is on a very slippery slope!
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Post by danichapel on Jul 30, 2015 16:08:59 GMT
Very sad to read this, I went to the Champs once, at Peterborough the summer after foot and mouth. We all had a great time, the evening performances were fab. I then had a long spell out of horses and when I came back to it I was surprised to see the downturn in PUK, I live in Wiltshire and there are no qualifiers around here at all (not many others either to be honest), the cost of classes for all of the showing societies are, I think, too high, especially when fuel has to be factored in. I do very little affiliated showing these days due to cost, I feel as though you are only really making up the numbers as professionals seem to dominate the majority of the classes Perhaps PUK should completely re think their organisation, aim more for the 'hobby rider', not so many classes, there are far to many presently, hold smaller regional Champs
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Ponies UK
Aug 5, 2015 10:13:45 GMT
via mobile
Post by nightrider on Aug 5, 2015 10:13:45 GMT
Such a shame. I hope Puk committee read these comments and pull their socks up. This used to be the highlight of the year. Too many shows to chose from, which are better, cheaper, more fun!
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guinness
Junior Member
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Posts: 112
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Post by guinness on Aug 5, 2015 15:47:36 GMT
Oh dear! This is so sad. I ,too am one of the lucky ones to have experienced PUK in all it's glory. It was our summer holiday and had such an electric atmosphere. To claim that you had won, been in the evening performance and always been in the top 10 actually meant something but now it seems to be in a sad state. We always reflect on the good times we had there and I think that is all you can do as obviously the good times have gone. Thanks for the memories PUK!
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Post by bfb99 on Aug 8, 2015 4:55:42 GMT
who was the photographer please?
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Post by pipandwill on Aug 8, 2015 6:12:17 GMT
who was the photographer please? equinational, wouldn't hold your breath, they have put the pictures up from festival of hunting which was before this
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Post by cayo on Aug 8, 2015 8:00:24 GMT
we went once ten years ago it was awful then too .
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Ponies UK
Aug 9, 2015 18:34:19 GMT
via mobile
Post by bubbles1822 on Aug 9, 2015 18:34:19 GMT
who was the photographer please? Pictures are up on equinational website!
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