|
Post by heath on Feb 2, 2011 19:55:50 GMT
Hope Im putting this in the right place! Apologies if not!
Has anyone been to Arena UK since the proposed alterations have taken place in the white stable Area and parking Areas? I really dont think I will bother if its as bad as the last twice as thats pain, not pleasure !!! I could really do with someone who has competed there to tell me what it is actually like before wasting money on trying to qualify!!! Thanks
|
|
|
Post by Rockstar on Feb 2, 2011 21:24:07 GMT
i have been reliably informed that they have put a lot of astroturf down to combat the mud problem but I havent seen it for myself.....
|
|
|
Post by sundayroast on Feb 2, 2011 22:07:12 GMT
what are they planning to do to prevent water going into the stables? surely they will need to lift all the stables to truely combat the mud problem, otherwise the stables will still flood?
will astroturf be tough enough for the parking, or will the wagons still be swimming in mud if it rains?
|
|
|
Post by heath on Feb 3, 2011 9:55:12 GMT
You can see why I dont want to waste hundreds in entry fees, stabling and diesel if its even half as bad as last time!
|
|
mummy
Full Member
Posts: 522
|
Post by mummy on Feb 3, 2011 10:11:22 GMT
I can, Heath!!
|
|
|
Post by bigmama on Feb 3, 2011 10:54:28 GMT
me too and we arent braving the elements to go .. have you thought of ringing Arena UK and/or BSPS and asking them directly?
|
|
|
Post by heath on Feb 3, 2011 11:14:48 GMT
They are bound to say its fine arent they?! I could really do with finding someone who has competed there recently to give us an honest opinion. I dont think the powers to be realised just how bad it was and how much we had to put up with the last twice we have been.
|
|
|
Post by heath on Feb 3, 2011 11:16:14 GMT
Mummy, send her the pillow!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by jinja on Feb 3, 2011 11:23:33 GMT
At least this year it is at the end of April not March so the weather has more chance of being warmer. As for the flooding I'm am sure they will have done something as they could not risk such horrendous conditions again this year. I would ring and ask for assurances that the stable areas have been improved, I am sure they will have to give you a straight answer. I do think that each year they have made improvements, but agree last year was dreadfu.l Even some of the sponsors stables were under water we spent 3 hours trying to drain ours as it was a lake, and we would have gone home before put a pony in it. I have to say the BSPS were really helpful as were the security and between us we sorted the problem. I do not know what the answer is as those stables were on hardcore but the rain was torrential and had been for days.
|
|
|
Post by iluvponies on Feb 3, 2011 11:25:59 GMT
They are bound to say its fine arent they?! I could really do with finding someone who has competed there recently to give us an honest opinion. I dont think the powers to be realised just how bad it was and how much we had to put up with the last twice we have been. I have just asked directly by posting on BSPS's Facebook wall including a link to this thread...be interesting to see if they respond..I have concerns too as last summer we missed 4 classes due to flooding in our stable and areas around...our horse got down and rolled when her rugs came off..gettin her ready for the class on one occassion...she stood in 3 inches of silt & crap for the best part of the championships... I have voiced my concerns directly and most of the time the buck gets passed...we dont know..someone will call you back etc etc...I haven't rang Arena Uk direct but feel if I did I too would not get any answers.... The difficulty with asking peoples opinions of people competing there is that I'm not so sure there are any competitions that run that are on such the large scale that BSPS is so probably only use the hard standing areas...not sure they would even be in the area of WHITE Stabling which had to be the worse by far over the last 2 years
|
|
|
Post by jinja on Feb 3, 2011 11:29:06 GMT
Well whenever I have rang the BSPS they have always been most helpful, I would ask to speak with Karen Ward and I have never known her to be anything but honest.
|
|
|
Post by fayeandash on Feb 3, 2011 11:34:30 GMT
This will be our first year of going to the bsps champs, not 100% sure i want to brave the winter ones yet if it's going to be flooded, it will be quite a long journey for us and i will not be prepared to put our pony into a flooded stable
|
|
|
Post by bbanks on Feb 3, 2011 11:56:09 GMT
Jinja, it is later, which hopefully will be warmer, but if you cast your mind back to AUGUST , it was still foul and very muddy and flooded with just one days rain! It is really putting me off the winter champs, I just cant bear it again, in that awful field, mud everywhere, in the lorry, all over the ponies, dogs and children! I dont know what to do really.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 3, 2011 12:20:48 GMT
We did the 2010 summer champs. I for one won’t subject my ponies, or family for that matter, to the terrible conditions in the white stable area, if it is still the same as last year.
If they make the required improvements to the stabling area I would continue to support the show.
|
|
|
Post by heath on Feb 3, 2011 15:57:51 GMT
Thats just how I feel Admin, I want to support the show if the facilities are going to be up to it but if we go and its anywhere near as bad as the last twice Im sure I will have a divorce on my hands!!!!! Bear in mind we have been supporting the winter Champs since the very first one at Stoneleigh back in the dark ages!!!! and never had it so bad as at Arena UK
|
|
|
Post by jinja on Feb 3, 2011 16:34:49 GMT
I agree with you Admin, and like I said anybody with any concerns need to ring and discuss it with the BSPS. Heath you need to speak with the people putting on the show as I said I have found them very helpful and if I was wanting to stable in the white area I would certainly have spoken with them by now. On a personal note I have always preferred East of England show ground to Arena UK, but I love the BSPS Champs, so I always go. They have made more and more improvements each year or I would also have stopped going, and I am sure that they will have made more for this year. The BSPS are not stupid they know people will not come and stay in those conditions again. I don't think it was much fun for anyone I would not like to have been in the Sec office last year, there was a constant stream of people complaining. Arena UK need to spend a lot more money to sort out all the problems and I do think they are trying. Failing that why not go up to Arena UK and have a look for yourself they have shows all year round, although there is still time for them to do more
|
|
|
Post by dogandbone on Feb 6, 2011 11:31:05 GMT
I wish they would all move!! Champs a bit more central would be sooo much easier and the MUD!!! Say no more!!!
|
|
|
Post by pipandwill on Feb 8, 2011 19:25:11 GMT
Solihull riding club used to have it... they could have it there?!
|
|
|
Post by Grace1991 on Feb 22, 2011 13:50:00 GMT
I remember being at Solihul and it was as bad as Arena UK, really deep mud and limited working in areas. At least there are surfaces to ride on at Arena UK.
|
|
|
Post by WH Management Group on Feb 27, 2011 13:22:05 GMT
Dear All,
As some of you may know I was the stable manager at BSPS winter and summer champs last year and I had the task of trying to keep the stabling side of the shows running as well as possible. Both BSPS and Arena UK are fully aware that immediate changes had to be made to cater for unprecedented Summer rain last year.
(FYI we had a total of 69.2cm or 2.7inches, of rain at Arena UK in August, most of it the days before, and of, the summer champs and I do not believe there is a single showground in England that could cater for 1250 stables with that much rain)
Since then Arena UK have invested a considerable amount into a new drainage system. This consists of land drains running along the walls of ALL the “White Stables”. The alley ways between the stables and from the hard standing to the stables is then overlaid with 4cm thick green Astroturf.
This system was put to the test 3 weeks after the summer champs at the BSJA Arena UK Festival where we had 1,400 stables. It worked very well, only one stable from that area became wet and the Astroturf even allowed some enthusiastic people to sweep outside their stables at night meaning that the whole area was clean, tidy and smart.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the forthcoming Winter Champs. And please, instead of writing degrading remarks on Horse Gossip about show centres and show organsisers PLEASE PLEASE pick up the phone or write an email with your constructive thoughts and comments. Feed back is a vital part of this business, positive and negative!
Douglas Hinckley
|
|
tulip
Full Member
Posts: 257
|
Post by tulip on Mar 2, 2011 12:47:02 GMT
dougle, thanks for the above. Ths is very helpful, have you put some photographs on Arena UK Website and BSPS? I only say this as things have been promised before and not done so this might restore a bit of faith.
Also I do write and so do many friends but Horse Gossip is a form of feed back both positive and negative, as you yourself have seen.
|
|
|
Post by WH Management Group on Mar 2, 2011 13:01:14 GMT
Tulip, great idea. I will get on to both parties this week. It may take a while as I know Arena UK were taking delivery of MORE equipment/supplies last week to install before the Winter champs and it is all in big piles everywhere at the moment.
Sorry about my ranting raving comment and it was most definatly NOT towards this thread but more about some previous comments last year!
Hope to see you in 7 weeks!
|
|
tulip
Full Member
Posts: 257
|
Post by tulip on Mar 2, 2011 14:04:31 GMT
We will be there, really looking forward to it. We always sponsor a worker class for the winter champs and daughter already planning on what to wear for giving out rosettes.
|
|
|
Post by masters on Mar 2, 2011 14:49:15 GMT
OMG Dougle.......7 weeks, so looking forward to it but not the drive up from cornwall!!!!
|
|
|
Post by dippykestral on Mar 2, 2011 20:45:46 GMT
7 weeks...not long! Corr thought it was further away actually! XX
|
|
|
Post by WH Management Group on Mar 23, 2011 11:43:05 GMT
|
|
tulip
Full Member
Posts: 257
|
Post by tulip on Mar 23, 2011 13:44:25 GMT
Please can you post it to BSPS as I cannot get this to come up on Facebook
|
|
|
Post by fayeandash on Mar 23, 2011 14:15:54 GMT
it works if you copy and paste the link tulip xx
|
|
tulip
Full Member
Posts: 257
|
Post by tulip on Mar 23, 2011 19:50:57 GMT
Ok will try have been shown how to copy and will have a go!!!!
|
|
tulip
Full Member
Posts: 257
|
Post by tulip on Mar 23, 2011 19:53:20 GMT
Right have tried that and it says it cant find it!!!
|
|