Ridecamp: [RC] RC] Points is points.......

> Can anybody enlighten me on the point system???  I thought you basically got
> a point per mile - more if you finished in the top ten.  This seems true in
> general, but not regionally?  Howzzis work?  Anybody?

You can read more on the aerc.org website.  Mike Maul can probably help 
with the exact link....(?)

Each region has a different amount of riders in each weight division. 10% 
of each weight division in each region is calculated for the points 
standings. So, the West Region for instance, generally has 10 people in 
almost every division while some other regions are much smaller, and only 
have a handful or less.

If you are going for points you just have to learn how to play the game. 
You need to figure out who your competition is, what rides they are going 
to, and then figure out what rides you can go to that have less entries in 
your weight division -- and hopefully go and ride slower and get more points.

You can try to win or place well in your regional point standings by doing 
a lot of rides, or by doing fewer rides and riding faster, or a combination 
of something inbetween. Which is usually what I do. This year, I've got 550 
miles on each of my two main horses (and a junior also has 550 on one of 
them <g>).  It doesn't really mean anything, in the end, everybody gets the 
same jacket.  If you place with two or more horses, or in two or more 
categories, you still only get ONE jacket.  The best thing that you will 
get out of it all, is something that nobody else but you will understand, 
and isn't material.

Then, there is also strategy involving 2-day 100 and one day 100 mile 
rides. One day 100's give you 1.5 x the regular points. Say you are 1st on 
a 50, you get 150 points overall and weight division. If you are 1st on a 
100, you'll get 450 points overall and weight division. Provided, of 
course, that there is a full starting field of at least 11 riders. (you can 
finish last on any 100 and will get 150 points -- the equivalent of being 
1st on a 50, if both rides have 11+ entries)  You can see where it benefits 
those who go to rides with a smaller number of entries, *especially* on 
100's. As an example, I came in 2nd on a 100 without a lot of entries and 
got a whole lot more points than if I had come in 11th at Tevis with over 
200 entries. If you are at a multiday ride that also has a 2-day 100, it 
benefits you to enter the 2-day 100, provided there are enough entries -- 
because by simply finishing you'll get more points than if you had busted 
your butt two days in a row on the multiday ride. Of course, there is some 
risk involved there -- if you don't finish day 2, you won't get any credit 
at all.  But even if you finish last, and 12 started and 8 finished -- 
you'll get 8th place overall points (and probably that or higher up weight 
division) for TWO 50's (2-day 100's are figured as two separate 50's 
pointswise).

I think setting year-end goals is a lot more beneficial for me.  This way I 
have an 'ultimate' goal which is above and beyond whatever happens at any 
one ride.  The point standings do show the riders who are able to keep a 
horse going thru an entire year -- not just thru a ride or two or a few 
months.

Then, there are all the ways to psych out your competition. :>D  Even if 
you know they are going to beat you....you don't have to let them know 
that. >eg<    Have fun, it's all a big game!

Did I make it clear as mud?

Happy trails,

Karen (don't anybody take me too seriously)
West Region
& Weaver & Rocky -- 11,000 miles between them (exactly, at the moment....)




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