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Post by citygirl on May 23, 2007 11:18:40 GMT
I prefear qualifly rounds like HOYS, less stress for the ponies with long journey all over the country to chase just to win a Champion to get ticket to Olympia I dont understand this as people chase HOYs just as much as Olympias and they are spread over the country.
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Post by Guestless on May 23, 2007 11:28:16 GMT
I prefear qualifly rounds like HOYS, less stress for the ponies with long journey all over the country to chase just to win a Champion to get ticket to Olympia I dont understand this as people chase HOYs just as much as Olympias and they are spread over the country. I'm assuming WM means you only have to win a class for HOYS as opposed to the championship so better odds and therefore possibly less shows if you win an early class.
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Post by oneopinion1991 on May 23, 2007 17:06:17 GMT
I think I might be on my own here, and I don't intend to offend anyone, but I think the new wildcard qualifier is an elitist bad idea... The whole concept of showing is that the pony that the judge feels is the best on the day goes through to the final round. If a pony wins several qualifiers and even gets several reserve championships under different judges, then doesn't this suggest that that particular pony just doesn't have that extra extra extra sparkle in order to stand as champion? I am definitely NOT saying that such ponies do not deserve to be at Olympia, there are several ponies that I know have won many a qualifier and would fully deserve to compete there (i'm not mentioning names for the worry of being accused of blowing anybody's trumpet ), BUT if the judge decides on that day that that pony is not going through, then why should they get another 'special' chance that others are not eligible for? I personally (and I mean this personally, I'm not trying to vilify anyone!) do not believe in the 'always the bridesmaid never the bride' - as to me this is a pseudo-phenomenon...if the pony is always 2nd then there is always one better than it! A different judge on a different day may not agree and may put the 'bridesmaid' in the 'bride' position...but I think the concept of putting all the bridemaids together for some sort of elite consolation prize is wrong - if the pony is good enough then surely it will become champion at some point anyway? I know the limited amount of qualifiers and complete sporadic geography of them all makes it difficult (and I would not condone dragging a pony up and down the country to every one of them...) but the concept to me seems bizarre (as my complete waffle probably suggests) I speak completely unbiased as I myself don't do M&M's, but as someone who competed in show pony qualifiers not all that long ago...I spent one very frustrating season finishing 2nd in about 6 HOYS qualifiers and yet never got the ticket, I'm not saying I wouldn't have appreciated a chance to go up against all those ponies that I had beaten all season and get my chance to win - but I just accepted that on the day there was one there on each day that was better than me! I'm just not sure why Olympia have introduced this, but as someone has already stated, it will be interesting to see what happens, and the fact that they are trying new things is only a good thing. Just my opinion!
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Post by johnwayne on May 23, 2007 19:53:02 GMT
The points system is also something that we discussed at the champs last year. Again the problem is making it workable. For example go North and the Olympia qualifiers are thin on the ground go south and they are in abundance. Not getting into the north south debate here but we live near Blackpool and 99 times out of 100 my wagon heads south. To be honest though we consider ourselves fairly well placed in the country 50% of the shows are still realistically beyond or reach as they are way south. Now if we consider it a problem what about the poor members North of the border. Must be a nightmare for them. Just a suggestion, and I'm all ready to be shot down in flames. . . . But - how about if the Qualifiers were open only to competitor/members in that Area? It would stop ponies being carted all over the country, chasing tickets, and following judges. I know it's not necessarily that simple, but it could be worked on.
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Post by was there on May 23, 2007 20:26:42 GMT
You all seem to be forgetting the sponsor with all your suggestions. Every sponsor wants high profile shows for their qualifiers also can you imagine telling Royal Windsor who run Olympia that they cannot pick their own judge for their qualifying round. It seems that the nps are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. The suggestion for the Wild Card came from the membership so how about giving it a chance.
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Post by Too Right on May 24, 2007 6:49:14 GMT
I think I might be on my own here, and I don't intend to offend anyone, but I think the new wildcard qualifier is an elitist bad idea... The whole concept of showing is that the pony that the judge feels is the best on the day goes through to the final round. If a pony wins several qualifiers and even gets several reserve championships under different judges, then doesn't this suggest that that particular pony just doesn't have that extra extra extra sparkle in order to stand as champion? I am definitely NOT saying that such ponies do not deserve to be at Olympia, there are several ponies that I know have won many a qualifier and would fully deserve to compete there (i'm not mentioning names for the worry of being accused of blowing anybody's trumpet ), BUT if the judge decides on that day that that pony is not going through, then why should they get another 'special' chance that others are not eligible for? I personally (and I mean this personally, I'm not trying to vilify anyone!) do not believe in the 'always the bridesmaid never the bride' - as to me this is a pseudo-phenomenon...if the pony is always 2nd then there is always one better than it! A different judge on a different day may not agree and may put the 'bridesmaid' in the 'bride' position...but I think the concept of putting all the bridemaids together for some sort of elite consolation prize is wrong - if the pony is good enough then surely it will become champion at some point anyway? I know the limited amount of qualifiers and complete sporadic geography of them all makes it difficult (and I would not condone dragging a pony up and down the country to every one of them...) but the concept to me seems bizarre (as my complete waffle probably suggests) I speak completely unbiased as I myself don't do M&M's, but as someone who competed in show pony qualifiers not all that long ago...I spent one very frustrating season finishing 2nd in about 6 HOYS qualifiers and yet never got the ticket, I'm not saying I wouldn't have appreciated a chance to go up against all those ponies that I had beaten all season and get my chance to win - but I just accepted that on the day there was one there on each day that was better than me! I'm just not sure why Olympia have introduced this, but as someone has already stated, it will be interesting to see what happens, and the fact that they are trying new things is only a good thing. Just my opinion! I agree with you 100%, I was not to sure on the wild card round, it has it advantages and disadvantages, I like the idea that there is a small breed champ and a large breed champ. However, and I am sure it is just down to time and fitting it all in, but I thought the wild card round would be in addition to the Olympia qualifying rounds, not replacing one of them.
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Post by HandH today on May 24, 2007 8:28:05 GMT
Anyone seen Stu's article in H&H? Why is he ALWAYS so critical of NPS but hard sells the BSPS? Answers on a postcard please!
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Post by clobo121082 on May 24, 2007 9:02:42 GMT
I agree with a lot of what is said above but at least NPS are trying something new and if it doesnt work i am sure it will be changed lets not all bury it before we give it a chance. At the end of the day it seems to me that Olympia has always been deemed the most prestige m&m event and we all know how hard it is to qualify for but why take that away from it??? If you start making it easier with lots more qualifiers surely this takes away the prestige and why everyone strives so hard to get there?
I dont think qualfying from areas would be fair at all, it wouldnt work logistically as imagine if one area only had around 20 people in it and another nearer 60!!
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Post by been there on May 24, 2007 9:52:31 GMT
SH is anti nps and very pro bsps.
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Post by Guestless on May 24, 2007 10:02:42 GMT
I agree with a lot of what is said above but at least NPS are trying something new and if it doesnt work i am sure it will be changed lets not all bury it before we give it a chance. I agree - there's nothing wrong IMO with giving something new a go. IMO there will be instances where it is VERY close between champion and reserve (and some of the other 1st placed ponies) and there may even be situations where the champion at one qualifier isn't as good as what was reserve at another; so the wildcard IMO is an opportunity to address that.
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Post by Stacey on May 24, 2007 11:50:38 GMT
I personally think the wildcard is a very good opportunity for those who have just missed qualifying in some cases several times despite winning their class. I am sure we can all agree that to win an Olympia class is an achievement in itself so to say that a pony may not have qualified because it lacks necessary 'sparkle' for Olympia is irrelevant, at the end of the day it all boils down to opinion and when you have several different breed class winners in a championship, all with different attributes it is inevitable that some will lose out even though they are perfectly worthy of a qualification. If a horse is a consistent 1st/2nd throughout the season but just misses the ticket, surely that speaks for itself, rather than some that end up further down the line on some occasions but higher up on others.
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