View From The Top
by
Martin Holgate (Club Chairman)
The end of the Summer heralds the conference season, Brighton for the Lib Dems, Bournemouth for Labour, Blackpool for the Conservatives and Kegworth, East Midlands, for the British Horse Driving Trials Association!
I shall forsake my bathing cossie and bucket and spade and head off to the East Midlands at the end of October to represent the Oaks to put our point of view.
They are trying to get their house in order but, in my view, some of the changes to competitions, e.g. excluding Novice Qualifiers from national events and changes to the classifications which has seen experienced competitors in inappropriate classes, are a bit of a joke and need sorting out.
If you have any views I will be pleased to convey them. Remember, I am representing the Oaks as a whole and not just my personal views.
At home, despite very difficult weather conditions and uncertainties resulting from Foot and Mouth disease, we have completed a full summer programme which has been well organised and well supported (although earlier entries would be much appreciated). The early winter programme is all fixed. We are, in addition, hoping to include an evening for new or would-be competitors to come along and learn some of the procedures for one-day-events and the show ring in readiness for 2008.
Finally, my thanks to the organisers and helpers, and in particular, to the course builders who, having spent the best part of a week setting up the course are normally invisible during the event, only to reappear just as the last competitor exits the first obstacle in order to pack up the course, leaving the site as we found it.
Safe driving.
Martin Holgate