Re: RC: Sky's first ride/Sportsmanship

[charrazon409@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/2/00 10:21:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
ribbitttreefrog@yahoo.com writes:

<< A gal approaches and says she is going to go ahead of us because she is
 continuing on for her 75. >>

By the way things run in the PacNorth, this person was correct. Riders 
continuing in upper distances always take priority over completions. If 
someone is showing for BC, as long as they make it known to the vets that 
they are there by their time limit, they cannot be disqualified. There ARE 
reasons for this. Sometimes these people are racing for position, sometimes 
they need to just keep the horse moving, but most importantly, the upper 
distance horses need to get through the vet check so they can have time to 
eat as they need a lot of food. I myself have been on both ends. I have had 
to ask to go to the front of the line as I'm continuing on, and I have been 
asked to wait for my completion exam until upper distances have vetted 
through. I have never had problems with people letting me go ahead nor have I 
found people rude that have asked to go in front of me if I was completing. I 
was crewing this particular ride, and I know and have ridden with most of the 
riders that were competing in the 75 miler. All are experienced, good riders. 
Out of the ones I know, none of them are rude or pushy, but they do know what 
needs to be done to get their horse through a ride. Many ride managers in the 
PNW eliminate this problem by annoucing that upper distances take priority in 
vet lines at the ride meetings, or arrange different lines for completions 
and continuing. I would be interested in hearing how other regions deal with 
this.
Hope this answers some of your questions. If anyone feels the need to flame, 
go right ahead....goes great with my red hair. ;-)

Karma Hurworth
PNER #2838
AERC #M19113
1,500 miles