Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Julie's thoughfs

On Sun, 13 Oct 2002 21:16:26 EDT, Merryben@xxxxxxx wrote:

>And there you have it.  Exactly how I feel but I don't say it nearly as 
>eloquently.   Actually it is how a lot of us feel but once something is a 
>done deal it is hard to undo.......look at the LD awards system.  It is just 
>about as bad......maryben

Weight Divisions have followed something of a "Camel's nose in the
tent" pattern.  When they were first created there were only two
divisions (Lightweight and Heavyweight) and were a "second-teir" kind
of level, not getting the attention of the overall standings.  Then
they were expanded to three, and a big push was made to make them
equal with overall standings.  Some people even wanted to eliminate
overall standings (there was even a proposal to stagger the starts at
rides, so that each Weight Division had a different starting time, so
people couldn't compare overall placings).  Today we have four, and
the AERC gives almost no recognition to overall placings.  "This is
the Very Best" has been almost squeezed out of the tent.  

As long as we're stuck with weight divisions, I believe we should have
no more than three, and still honor the horse/rider team who is "First
of all on the trail."   Even three Divisions diluted the competition,
and the honor of winning your Division, I believe four dilutes it
waaay too much.

It's not as bad as the show circuit, where 50 horses show up and 45
take home blue ribbons.  Yet.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com


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