Re: RC: Endurance as a team sport

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

Sbeseda@aol.com wrote:

> Heidi wrote:
> >Good start, but I'd make 'em declare 6 at the beginning of the season, name
> >the four in competition at the beginning of any given ride, and award credit
> to
> >the top three--that way they have to use the same sorts of strategies they
> >would be using in FEI competition.

Strategy comes with knowing your strengths and weaknesses, it also comes with
pertinent information being close at hand and used.  It also needs coaching,
which involves knowing your opponents and anticipating their strategy.  So, this
alone is not enough.

>
>
> I think you are close, but there is something I want to ask about FEI
> competition.
>
> Is a team that declares 4 rides and completes 4 riders better than
> a team that declares 4 riders. pulls 1 rider, and completes 3 riders?
> Why is the 4th rider never able to contribute towards the win?

The fourth rider, even if not a finisher, DOES contribute.  In fact, that fourth
rider also gets a team medal.  You never know (particularly in this sport) what
may happen. No one expects something to happen, but often it does.  Only 5 teams
finished three rides in France.  No team finished all four riders. The fourth
rider can be having a bad day and hang back and possibly finish.  There is much
truth in "To Finish is to Win".  Working as a team makes every rider responsible
not only to himself, but to his team members.  he thus has a duty to do his best
and his best just may be to finish.

Patti Pizzo in Dubai 1998, although not actually on the TEAM, contributed heavily
by riding with Shirley DelSarte on the last leg.  Shirley's horse was having
problems and the company of another horse riding with her, helped to achieve her
successful  finish.  Steph Teeter in France had problems from the start, rode
very carefully and finished.  Even though we did not finish enough horses for a
team medal, she and Connie Walker were the ONLY ones to finish.  A big hand goes
out to both who rode well and planned their race according to their horses.

>
>
> I understand that a team needs a little wiggle room for completion.
> Therefore, losing one rider does not disqualify the team, but the
> 4th rider should be able to help the team win.
>
> Can a team choose to name 3 or 4 riders for competition at the
> beginning of any given ride? A 3 rider team still must finish 3 riders
> to be awarded credit, but naming only 3 riders would allow some
> wiggle room for pre-race day problems. The 3 rider team must ride
> with the understanding that a single pull would disqualify them,
> but a team, riding cautiously, could finish be awarded credit.

You are getting closer.....but,frankly, there is no "wiggle room" at a WEC.

>
>
> Scott
>
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--
Teddy Lancaster

American Endurance Ride Conference # 139422
- Member since 1974
6000+ career miles

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