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Post by standrews on Mar 29, 2010 15:45:52 GMT
What are peoples opinions of Ponies UK Northern Winter Champs at Southview?
We went to the Southern Champs the week before and the facilities, as always, were fantastic. Towerlands is just in a different league to Southview!
At Southview our horses were stabled on hardcore, which despite our best efforts and 5 huge bales of shavings each, they still managed to rig up and make it rise the surface of their beds. There was no lighting in the temporary stabling area on Saturday night, so we were getting ready for the evening performance in the pitch black! And the evening performances themselves just didn't have the same atmosphere as at the Southern. The seating areas leave alot to be desired - There is only an audience at one end of the ring, so there just isn't much of a buzz. The outdoor rings meanwhile were on the other side of the car park, and the Bronze ring was TINY. They had to split the Llanarth Finals because they couldn't fit the classes in, and there still just wasn't enough room to do a decent show. Also, why have the LR & FR finals and RIHS quals with big entries over the back in that tiny outdoor ring, and then have Pollyanna Best Handler summer quals in the gold ring, with one and two entries?
It just seemed that the two champs were worlds apart. Even though we are up north and it took us 5 hours to get to Towerlands, we will be going there and not to Southview again next year, even though it is 'just up the road'.
Surely there are better facilities in the Northern half of the country to hold such a show? And if not, do they really need to have two winter championships?
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Post by The economist on Mar 29, 2010 16:28:54 GMT
I went had a fab time, perhaps you should stay down south. I thought the lady in the restaurant was always smiling. Life is what you make it.
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Post by StephWheway on Mar 29, 2010 16:57:27 GMT
We had a really enjoyable weekend and love the fact that we dont have to travel hours to get there. As for the stables im sure people would be moaning if they were stabled on knee deep mud aswell so cud they have won really?
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Post by lillybet6 on Mar 29, 2010 17:05:10 GMT
Towerlands is a far better place , It would be nice if PUK could find a more central location to hold the winter champs over a long weekend and then only have one show , they seem to be putting no money into southveiw it was just as bad last year, the staff in the restaurant could not help you any more than they did . And PUK staff always try to help you the best they can.
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Sara
Full Member
Posts: 532
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Post by Sara on Mar 29, 2010 17:18:45 GMT
We had a lovely time coming up north to puk from the south.. , pleasant competitors and officials made for a really enjoyable show
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Post by frankie1 on Mar 29, 2010 18:47:34 GMT
My only complaint really was the size of the Bronze ring it was tiny, last year the Llanarth was in the Gold ring so hopefully next time they'll have a rethink and put it back in the larger ring.
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Post by poniesuk on Mar 29, 2010 20:38:52 GMT
Did anyone hear the inconsiderate people/teenagers on Saturday night parked in 2 cars until gone 1am in the morning blasting music, screaming and swearing? In the end and after 2hours of it and no sign of it ending we moved our wagon soon to be followed by a further 2 more wagons from one side of the car park to the other! Why was there no security? Early the next moring there was smashed bottles and rubbish every where! Also the parking became abit of a nightmare, no parking staff on our arrival at all and virtually no where to park, South View just isnt a big enough venue! Couldn't follow the judging in some classes and it threw up some very odd results, others was fantastic but I suppose that's showing! All in all I dont think Id go again maybe would try the Southern instead next year....
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Post by flicker on Mar 30, 2010 9:28:01 GMT
We had a really enjoyable weekend and love the fact that we dont have to travel hours to get there. As for the stables im sure people would be moaning if they were stabled on knee deep mud aswell so cud they have won really? absolutely agree.given you a kalmer. as for the comment from poniesuk there was tons of parking and yes i was woken and was annoyed by the noise but have not been to a show yet where that hasnt happened.
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Post by okcaj on Mar 30, 2010 10:02:21 GMT
Ok Southview may need a lick of paint and a bit of a tidy but there was ample parkin, it is easy to get to and makes for a nice winter show.
I never went to the winter champs when there was only the one down south as it was just too far to travel to, since they have split it to northern and southern I have been each year. I wouldnt want to be travelling 5 / 6 hours to a championship show, thats just added cost I dont need
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Post by littleted on Mar 30, 2010 10:20:03 GMT
i agree its what u make it ! i did enjoy the weekend on the whole , and i liked southveiw staff were very helpful couldnt have done more , but was very disappointed at the way they ran the gala performance on sunday afternoon , waxwing 1 st ridden was supposed to be in at 5 oclock , why did it start at half four ? then to top it of my daughter wasnt placed not even a mention of her in the class left at the back of the line up then was dragged forward by a steward and given a fifth rossette , and reserve lee smith still no name mentioned , so i rang puk yesterday to be told my daughter came ninth which i find hard to believe when only eight managed to get in to the class !!!
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Mari
Full Member
Posts: 291
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Post by Mari on Mar 30, 2010 11:58:39 GMT
I didnt attend this year but last year so cant really comment about this year. Southveiw is local to me, but there are better venues i am sure that could hold the northern champs.
Southveiw hold alot of shows throughout the year tha we attend.
I do agree there isnt the same atmosphere as there isnt alot of seating for the evening performances and also the carpark isnt that big for a show of that size, also dont really like the carpark being right in the middle of the venue with outdoor rings on one side then the indoor at the other end. My oppinion through.
I think it would be in PUKs best interested to maybe find a more suitable venue to hold the event even though it is on our doorstep. I think a larger venue would intise more people to attend.
I do still agree ""the show is what you make it" and we always have a laugh were we go so. x
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Post by southview on Mar 30, 2010 13:10:21 GMT
Its not the most northern northern champs though is it? There are plenty of good venues considerably further north that could be used that actually would cater for northerners instead of midlanders. If it were further north even remaining on the western side then it would be far more accesible for those of us in the NE.
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Post by foster on Mar 30, 2010 17:45:17 GMT
we had a good weekend but do agree with some comments on here! the bronze ring was tiny and thought the sat afternoon gala placings where a pain as they started before the brown ring had finished and my daughter ended up doing the m&m workers in her navy jacket and didnt even get to walk the course!! luckily lots of lovely kind people at the side of the ring ran through the course with liv as she stood at the gate to go in!! xxx
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Post by Welshy86 on Mar 30, 2010 19:14:07 GMT
i think they could have organised the rings better, having the m&m riddens in the bigger indoor would have been alot better, as the bronze was an in-hand size ring I did enjoy watching the sat eve performance but expected alot more atmosphere than there was. Stabling at southview is good, especially the indoor barn ones. The ladys in the cafe are always helpfull and friendly - enjoy the food too!! My only gripes would be the idiots on the sat night with the loud cavorting and music blarring etc etc. there were alot of younger kids there that would have needed a good nights sleep ready for the next days early morning and riding etc and I couldn't understand why the judge for the Llanarth M&M ridden wasn't having any marks wrote down - not to sure how she could remember 11 horse ridden shows and confirmation points? or did i miss the mark sheets??? all in all i had a good day/night but would agree that southview is not the best for a championship weekend hosting that many people and horses :S
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Post by yep on Apr 1, 2010 19:23:36 GMT
Enjoyed the show but was kept awake by the partying on Sat night. You do get this at a lot of overnight shows tho.
Agreed that classes should have been marked. Same happened in the Novice M and M LR. Some naughty ponies placed right up the line obviously because the judge had forgotten what they had done.
Southview staff very friendly and helpful and stabling is ok really. Yes bronze ring is small but a nice surface. outside working in area very busy at times though.
Will be back next year
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Post by PUK on Apr 3, 2010 13:32:24 GMT
We had awful problems with loud drunken |"neighbours" at PUK Summer champs, weeing up tents and screaming and f*ing and B*ing all night. We were in the Sponsor's area too! It seems PUK needs to address the Security issues! IMO they also need to tighten up on parking permits as the drunken idiots that ruined our Summer Champs had nothing to do with any equestrian activity whatsoever - they'd just come to party and make as much of a nuisance of themselves as they could!
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Post by lillybet6 on Apr 4, 2010 19:34:10 GMT
nobody gets into PUK summer champs with out a pass , its people who are already there who give them there passes to get in so it is them that you have to blame for the few who cause trouble for the rest of the people who are there to compete. PUK cannot be blamed for the few who go there to cause trouble . To have more security staff on would cost more money then you would be moaning when the entry fees had to go up to cover all these extra costs you would be shocked at how much it costs to put on a show of that size its not cheap you try to run one .
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cleo
Newbie
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Post by cleo on Apr 5, 2010 19:47:08 GMT
They obviously do need better security there, wasnt someones car badly vadalised last year by a jealous competitor.
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Post by lillybet6 on Apr 5, 2010 19:54:51 GMT
didnot hear about that, i think thats just someone trying to stir it up.
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