Re: RC: THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

At 11:51 PM 08/23/1999 -0400, Eride4fun@cs.com wrote:
>HOW ABOUT PICKING A DISTANCE SAY 1000 MILES AND TAKE THAT HORSE AND RIDERS
>BEST 1000 MILES TO COUNT AS THE CHAMPIONSHIP.  THAT HORSE AND RIDER TEAM MAY
>DO 20 FIFTIES OR 10 HUNDREDS OR A COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE.  BUT THEIR BEST

This isn't a bad idea.  Though I do think that 1000 miles might be hard for 
people in some regions to attain.  Then it boils back down to who has the 
most $$, who can afford the time off work, the travel expense, etc.  Though 
I suppose if that is what you want to do you have to be willing to pay for 
it.

Besides, when you've got a rider in one region competing against 10 times 
as many entries in their rides it is hardly fair to use the existing point 
system to judge who should be National Champion.  I mean come on, even I 
have figured out (duh) that if I travel a long distance to another ride 
that is only going to have 10 entries that I'm probably going to top ten 
versus going to a ride in my own region where there are going to be over 
100 entries and a lot more competitive type people.   If you are doing 
100's then the point spread can be huge between a rider in one region whose 
100's never have more than a dozen or two entries and one that nearly 
always has at least 60 riders or sometimes more than 200.  At some 100's 
you just have to complete and be in the top ten, others you can complete in 
a very good time on a really tough course and not be anywhere near the top 
ten.  Am I making any sense?  (I know what I want to say but it's not 
coming out right)

How many horses did complete over 1000 miles last year?  Probably not a 
whole lot, my guess would be maybe 2 dozen at the most.  Look at the 
standings for last years National Mileage champions:

www.doublejoy.com/pointstandings/default.asp?collection=1998\Rpnmilec.htm&ti 
tle=1998+National+Mileage+Championship

The *lowest* mileage horse had 1315 miles, and the top horse had 2535.  I'm 
nearly positive that every single one of those horses is being ridden this 
year.

I think that the majority of the riders out there aren't really concerned 
so much with who wins the most races.  I know that sounds funny but what 
impresses me the most is the ones that can pull off doing all of these 
miles and keep their horses sound season after season.  These are the 
riders that have really figured out what To Finish Is To Win means!

Karen
in NV
& Rocky, 1,745 miles
& Weaver, 2,930 miles







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