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Post by julie on Jun 5, 2007 9:56:20 GMT
Has anybody been to one of these FOC shows? What are they like? Its a very long trawl for us and I am just wondering what we are in for - fun and a bit relaxed would be nice! Thank you!
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Post by frobster on Jun 5, 2007 10:52:28 GMT
I would never ever again go there in my life!! But that's just my experience show ground is awful, its a pit, indoor is dreadful.....
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Post by julie on Jun 5, 2007 11:04:17 GMT
Oh no! We're supposed to be doing dressage as well as show classes.....was the dressage on a surface does anybody know? Old pony needs it!
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Post by Guestless on Jun 5, 2007 11:10:03 GMT
Which one - there's a Scottish one on this year at Ingliston, Bishopton.
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Post by julie on Jun 5, 2007 11:20:22 GMT
its somewhere Blackpool way and their website looks good - I think we'll go anyway - just wanted a little input from the more experienced out there! (If we can afford the diesel!)
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Post by please tell on Jun 5, 2007 11:54:40 GMT
hi guestless penny here how do i get any info on this show you have mentioned at i house stud in july?
cheers
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Post by julie on Jun 5, 2007 11:56:48 GMT
i havent got my ticket with me here but I googled Festival of Champions and up it came......
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Post by Guestless on Jun 5, 2007 12:43:37 GMT
hi guestless penny here how do i get any info on this show you have mentioned at i house stud in july? Good question, lol! It's not July, it's October. AFAIK it's a riding club level thing and you qualify at various shows for the final but you have to be a RC member to compete. Info on the Festival of Champions website is
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Post by julie on Jun 5, 2007 13:14:12 GMT
There is one "Summer" FOC on July 21-22 then there is a Winter one which seems to be rather longer in October.
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Post by Guestless on Jun 5, 2007 13:24:27 GMT
There is one "Summer" FOC on July 21-22 then there is a Winter one which seems to be rather longer in October. Yes, but there's only one Scottish one and it's in October.
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Post by Jane B on Jun 5, 2007 15:36:49 GMT
The one near Blackpool is held at Valients Equestrian Centre and all you hear are complaints from anyone that's been. Apparently the surface at last years FOC was a disgrace.
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Post by ld on Jun 5, 2007 16:49:08 GMT
i didnt find the indoor surface that bad and i was only there a couple of weeks ago i think that they put extra on for foc give them a ring (steven gardner) he will tell you exactly what you want to know
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Post by foc on Jun 5, 2007 19:07:17 GMT
in my opinion the festival of champions last year wasnt that bad. although the ground was a little rough, it was,to me, very light-hearted and fun and the rosettes especially were fantastic!!although saying this i wouldnt make a long trip and go out of my way to attend. it is however on the same weekend as royal lancs so when we were booking our sjows we decided to go to lancs instead.
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hehe
Newbie
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Post by hehe on Jun 5, 2007 19:47:40 GMT
I would never ever again go there in my life!! But that's just my experience show ground is awful, its a pit, indoor is dreadful..... lol not being nasty but I have qualified for everything already even though I would not of liked to qualify for this as me and my mum do not like it the indoor is small and other reasons I just went for the uk showing premier qualifier lol i love it is anyone else going I think this is the best well I have always done great there lol
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Post by judge last year on Jun 5, 2007 23:18:59 GMT
I would never ever again go there in my life!! But that's just my experience show ground is awful, its a pit, indoor is dreadful..... lol not being nasty but I have qualified for everything already even though I would not of liked to qualify for this as me and my mum do not like it the indoor is small and other reasons I just went for the uk showing premier qualifier lol i love it is anyone else going I think this is the best well I have always done great there lol The rings last year were poor, dusty and rough, and the competitors need to learn some manners, unfortunately they dont know how to conduct themselves in the show ring, they seem to think that because it is unaff. they can just do as they like. Sorry not as good as birchenley manor...
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Post by FOC on Jun 10, 2007 10:36:41 GMT
We have attended the FOC for many years since it was at Birchinley and sadly have found Valiants to be lacking in many ways. The indoor is dark and dingy, the surface looks cr@p but our very fussy show pony doesn't mind it so it can't be that bad However if you do a LR class or in hand you may find it difficult to run on and it clumps on the bottom your shoes. There is usually a good standard of pony at these events, even though it is a RC thing many of the ponies we know from the BSPS circuit as well. We enjoy the Winter ones but attended the Summer one last year for the first time and the rings were shocking! Like concrete in places and looked as if they had been rough harrowed and all the rock hard clumps and stones just left on the top, it didn't help that in our class the ponies were kept cantering on the go round for ages and ages Have qualified for this summer one (well it isn't exactly hard ) but don't know if we are going to go or not, our Sec A shouldn't find it a problem (after all he is a native and should be able to cope with a bit of rough terrain) but our SP may not be so keen. Have to say though, the Spring festival is a farce We went up to watch after a hectic week at the BSPS Champs and some of the class winners/champions were shocking It doesn't help that nobody needs to qualify for the Spring FOC so the standard is much lower and a win means nothing IMO. In conclusion Julie, I wouldn't make a long trip to get there, it won't be that much fun or relaxing, for this type of day out I would find a nice club show with better ground We only go as its just round the corner for us and the kids like it
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Post by ferret on Jun 10, 2007 21:08:43 GMT
The Premier Uk showing one is much better ...and yes have a few County circuit ponies there as it is eve performance top hats etc so nice to get thro to evening ! This one is held at Myerscough . The FOC one is not as good ...venue not great ...to be honest i wouldnt travel a long way Julie. Not sure if the Premier has any qualifiers out of north west ..but that one would be worth going to !
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rtk
Junior Member
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Post by rtk on Jun 10, 2007 21:23:35 GMT
We did the first one at Valiants and would never go back. Dreadful narrow arena without much atmosphere. Poor parking so you get blocked in. Stables in a foot of clay mud and no hose to wash it off with. Dreadful.
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Post by what on Jun 10, 2007 21:26:56 GMT
what where there horse's like that won the supreme of show at the winter one and the spring ?? show
where they all top show pony's /
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Post by FOC on Jun 10, 2007 21:40:29 GMT
what where there horse's like that won the supreme of show at the winter one and the spring ?? show where they all top show pony's / Were they hell! Winter ones tend to be of a better standard as the pony/rider combination has to have won overall in the points at their respective clubs, the champions were fairly predictable, nothing shocking pulled forward. The Spring one was very dodgy especially after the first weekend, some champions pulled forward with shocking conformation, some riders on very very good terms with the show staff, some obvious favours going on, and no, not sour grapes as we didn't compete.
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Post by frobster on Jun 10, 2007 21:59:21 GMT
I think the same horse has been supreme about 12 times over the history of FOC
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Post by julie on Jun 11, 2007 8:26:14 GMT
Must confess I am now in a bit of a quandry over this as daughter was asked to represent rc at dressage for them - does anyone know what the dressage rings were like? Its a borrowed pony and I'd hate to take him somewhere unsuitable but the rc mentioned are really nice and have been told its (the FOC) of a much higher standard than Royal London (which we went to and enojyed albeit the classes in some sections werent as well represented).
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Post by flashthecash on Jun 11, 2007 17:46:45 GMT
Got to admit.. the FOC ain't as good now.. it was much better at Birchinley.. Our RC are registered, only because the member love it the UK Premiur at Myercough is much, much better I love it there. Will be going to their summer champs Also going to the USOC at the GYS ground..... alas only one day this year but it's still a great time!
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