AEC coursewalks

[Winding_Down]

GM, I am not saying it is a good course this year. I am saying that there is a good chance it will be an outstanding course in the future.

I have been reading FB reports from trainers and riders. None are nearly as damning as the posts here, which are from those who have NOT run the xc course.

If you are on FB, check out Patrick McGauhan and Stuart Pittman (sp may not be correct). Both are trainers I respect who have no iron in the fire of promoting the “new format.” They are not glowing but the potential for this venue is noted.

There are others posting as well, and I do not think you can accuse them of being there because they want to make a pile of $$ etc etc., as accusations above indicate.

Most venues are not that great the first few years. This venue is fabulous in all regards except that the xc course does not (yet) use the available land and is partly in a derby field this year.

[Sticky_Situation]

Have there been official statements that more XC with more terrain (beyond the WEG/4* bid … I’m talking all levels of eventing) is in the works?

Honestly, a statement from TIEC to the effect of, “we know the XC courses aren’t ideal yet but look what we have planned for the future” would go a long way as far as I’m concerned. I’m all for supporting new venues and giving them a chance to work out the kinks.

That said, all the official press I’ve read has been fawning commentary about how nice the facility is and “ooh look how pretty the jumps are and how much money was spent on the sprinkler systems and sod footing!” A statement about what is planned with further development of the course (beyond diplomatically worded statements from ULRs about how nice it has the potential to become in the future) would be a very good thing if there is going to in fact be real XC in a year or 2.

[Duckz]

Hi all, Lincoln and I are running Novice in a few hours. Here’s a blow by blow of the course walk for those not here:

Start box to fence 1 and 2 on footing. About 20 strides between them
Briefly on grass, then back on footing to fences 3, 4, and 5 bending left hand turn. It walked 8 strides 3 to 4 and 6 strides 4 to 5.
Out on grass to the new Xc track
A bit of a gallop, then downhill to fence 6, a cabin. At this point you’re going downhill and as you approach the cabin you see a very busy water below. There were issues here yesterday for Training. I expect my studs to come in handy on this downhill approach.
#7 Novice water is just straight in and out, but I expect peeking because it is very very busy with jumps, stands, jumbotron, and horse statues.
Out and downhill then levels out to a table/brush thing #8
Then the floor drops out. VERY downhill for a few strides. Yay studs. Looks like they added arena footing here after the downpour yesterday. To a very long gallop. I’ll be looking to get up on the clock here.
Left and uphill to 9 a rolltop thing. Uphill to 10 a very easy brush shared with BN. Maybe 15 strides after 9.
Long uphill gallop. Sorry Linc.
Left at top of hill to 11 a cabin. Right and 20-25 strides to 12 a big flowery thing. Turn left into the derby field.
13 is a white table/rolltop then left maybe 20 strides to 14 a double brush. Straight shot to the unnumbered water and about two strides out of the water to 15 a wide wedge brush.
Left turn to 16 another white rolltop thing.
Left around to 17 a cabin where it gets tricky. Maybe 4-5 strides up a mound and down 18 a bank which you can jump on either side of a 90 degree angle.
Depending on where you jump the bank it’s either a right bending line or a rollback to 19 a corner. Then turn left and gallop 10 or so strides to 20 a house then through the finish flags.

Thoughts:
I’ve never seen a course like this.
From the novice perspective, there’s terrain. I’m glad Linc balances himself well downhill and I hope the long slog uphill halfway through doesn’t take it out of him too bad.
It looks kind of fun to be honest.
I wouldn’t want every event to look like this.
I don’t feel like this is the eventing apocalypse.

Dressage was disappointing for us yesterday. My fault. 36.5 put us in 28th. It’s probably going to be raining by the time I go. Im 99% sure we’re going to have a f***ing blast running around this thing. I can’t wait.

And that’s my smurf perspective on this thing. Carry on

[Sticky_Situation]

Thanks for sharing your perspective as someone who’s competing and seeing it in person. Good luck and have fun!

[Divine_Comedy]

[QUOTE=Sticky Situation;8826740]
Have there been official statements that more XC with more terrain (beyond the WEG/4* bid … I’m talking all levels of eventing) is in the works?

Honestly, a statement from TIEC to the effect of, “we know the XC courses aren’t ideal yet but look what we have planned for the future” would go a long way as far as I’m concerned. I’m all for supporting new venues and giving them a chance to work out the kinks.

That said, all the official press I’ve read has been fawning commentary about how nice the facility is and “ooh look how pretty the jumps are and how much money was spent on the sprinkler systems and sod footing!” A statement about what is planned with further development of the course (beyond diplomatically worded statements from ULRs about how nice it has the potential to become in the future) would be a very good thing if there is going to in fact be real XC in a year or 2.[/QUOTE]

All of this. It worries me if Mark Belissimo thinks this sort of track would be sufficient for WEG. A statement from Tryon like this would go a long way in reassuring me. Instead we keep getting ‘Look how awesome this currently is!’. Which it’s not.

#Slovakia2018

(Having said that, I don’t think this is the sign of end of times for the sport. Nor do I think UL riders would sell their soul for prize money. Geez guys, take a chill pill. Vote with your feet and support events like Richland or Five Points instead and they’ll get the message. And if you’re there and you don’t love the courses, for the love of God fill out your event evaluations.)

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Divine Comedy;8826792]
And if you’re there and you don’t love the courses, for the love of God fill out your event evaluations.)[/QUOTE]

PLEASE! DO this! I do (or did) this at EVERY event. Feedback is so, so important, good and bad.

Re: Tyron and expanding the course – I was under the impression that there were no plans to expand the XC acreage; that the rest was allotted for housing developments… I am curious where people are hearing/getting the idea that MB has any plans to expand the track any further… This is one of those rare occasions where I would LOVE to be proven wrong…

[asterix]

Good luck Duckz! Linc’s girlfriend is rooting for him!!!

The way the pony club champs were handled left a bad taste in my mouth - to deprive the polocrosse kids of their champs due to overpromising and underdelivering pretty much sucked.
I hope it does not become a pattern.
Super not a fan of the look of the CMP course for my level. Very interested to learn whether the footing was the problem for the T riders or not.

Two separate issues - course design, which is a lot about the course designER, and running two major events before they were able to actually put a proper course/footing in place. Both can be rectified going forward. We’ll see.

[Divine_Comedy]

[QUOTE=asterix;8826803]
Two separate issues - course design, which is a lot about the course designER, and running two major events before they were able to actually put a proper course/footing in place. Both can be rectified going forward. We’ll see.[/QUOTE]

I normally am not a big fan of CMP, but looking at the preview photos of his new Advanced track at Stable View, I’m wondering how much Mark Belissimo had a bigger say in the style of design than he should have. And the footing. Which isn’t so much the next big thing from what I’m hearing from riders who are there, but which MB seems to think is the best thing he can do for our sport.

[asterix]

Well, that’s a bit ominous on both counts. Very interested to hear a post-run Duckz report and others from a variety of levels.

[beowulf]

Go get them, Duckz and Lincoln! Report back

[Duckz]

@Sticky Situation;8826782

Thanks for sharing your perspective as someone who’s competing and seeing it in person. Good luck and have fun![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=asterix;8826803]Good luck Duckz! Linc’s girlfriend is rooting for him!!!

Thanks guys! I’m suiting up and trying not to puke. Mister President is eating hay and looking undisturbed. I’m eyeing the studs I bought this morning and hoping they aren’t overkill for a horse who hadn’t worn studs in at least a year. But then I think about fence 6… And the rain… Please keep fingers and toes crossed at 11:56!

[barnmaven]

Like I said before I do believe that CMP had to play with the cards that were dealt him…I’m no fan of his…when you look at the initial courses released, the course is surrounded by what appear to be future lots…

[Desert_Topaz]

[QUOTE=MsRidiculous;8825794]
Holding out hope that Colorado will be more “back to normal”[/QUOTE]
Colorado Horse Park’s XC course is on designated open space and there’s a lack of water, so it’s basically impossible for it to turn into the galloping golf course of Tryon (though, I guess with as much money as they have they could, it just would make no sense at all, but the open space designation probably has some constraints on its development). However, that said, they’ve made some changes to the course this year to make it more “spectator friendly” that make the whole thing windier than it used to be that didn’t particularly thrill people when it was unveiled in June. They’re having their first Advanced in a couple of weeks, I’m really looking forward to seeing what they’ve got.

[Duckz]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8826824]
Go get them, Duckz and Lincoln! Report back :)[/QUOTE]

[MsRidiculous]

[QUOTE=Desert Topaz;8826831]
However, that said, they’ve made some changes to the course this year to make it more “spectator friendly” that make the whole thing windier than it used to be that didn’t particularly thrill people when it was unveiled in June. [/QUOTE]

Greaaaaaat… :rolleyes:

[Fergs]

[QUOTE=Desert Topaz;8826831]
Colorado Horse Park’s XC course is on designated open space and there’s a lack of water, so it’s basically impossible for it to turn into the galloping golf course of Tryon (though, I guess with as much money as they have they could, it just would make no sense at all, but the open space designation probably has some constraints on its development). However, that said, they’ve made some changes to the course this year to make it more “spectator friendly” that make the whole thing windier than it used to be that didn’t particularly thrill people when it was unveiled in June. They’re having their first Advanced in a couple of weeks, I’m really looking forward to seeing what they’ve got.[/QUOTE]

I rode at CHP in June and August. It wasn’t windy but actually a nice forward and gallopy course. The ground is hard but they do aerate. It’s the best event in the area by far. It will be a great location for the AECs, but I do wonder how many people will want to haul out here for it. It’s a long way from the eastern eventing hubs for sure.

[Desert_Topaz]

[QUOTE=Fergs;8826875]
I rode at CHP in June and August. It wasn’t windy but actually a nice forward and gallopy course. The ground is hard but they do aerate. It’s the best event in the area by far. It will be a great location for the AECs, but I do wonder how many people will want to haul out here for it. It’s a long way from the eastern eventing hubs for sure.[/QUOTE]
I agree it’s not really windy. But, it’s windier than it used to be with the change of start box location. But, as you point out, it’s still forward and gallopy. I’m finding myself a fan of James Atkinson’s courses (granted, I’m not riding them, just watching them at this point.) I hope lots of people come out for the AECs because it already is a great facility.

[MsRidiculous]

[QUOTE=Fergs;8826875]
I rode at CHP in June and August. It wasn’t windy but actually a nice forward and gallopy course. The ground is hard but they do aerate. It’s the best event in the area by far. It will be a great location for the AECs, but I do wonder how many people will want to haul out here for it. It’s a long way from the eastern eventing hubs for sure.[/QUOTE]

If the XC course is good, we would come from Texas. We went to Arizona to show this summer and are looking at either Arizona again or Colorado next summer, so its within a reasonable distance for us. It’s closer to us than Tryon is, and definitely way more doable for Cali. I imagine a lot of Texas people would come, plus the west coast crowd. Probably wouldn’t get east coast numbers, but I’d think a decent turnout?

[Fergs]

[QUOTE=Desert Topaz;8826904]
I agree it’s not really windy. But, it’s windier than it used to be with the change of start box location. But, as you point out, it’s still forward and gallopy. I’m finding myself a fan of James Atkinson’s courses (granted, I’m not riding them, just watching them at this point.) I hope lots of people come out for the AECs because it already is a great facility.[/QUOTE]

I think the relocation of the start box was a big improvement. The warmup is about ten times bigger now, and the finish is by the start, which makes things easier for ground crew. The terrain here makes it a spectator-friendly course without the need to manufacture spectating areas; you can see quite a bit of the course from one spot. The Area IX championships are in 2 weeks; that will probably be a good preview of the AEC course design for next year. I hope lots of people come because it really is a fantastic facility!

[goodmorning]

Perhaps the event people who are deciding that twisty is how you allow for good crowd viewing should check out Burghley or Badders. Spectacular viewing, not the silt golf course feel.

How spineless to allow someone as flakey as MB to influence the sport for his financial benefit, for as long as he finds it beneficial. Why does anyone care if MB is involved in Eventing? He’s not needed. Disappointing on so many levels. But if he decided to throw in the towel on Eventing, he’s not loosing much land and the tracks can be used for hacking etc. Many jumper riders gallop their horses so I bet the track could be quite useful. The derby field is just that and can be used for hunter & jumper derbies. It’s actually quite clever, the lack of permanence.

I support my great large & small local events, and perhaps because I love Millbrook, Groton House, and the fantastic VT venues, I find Tryon sad.

But I hope everyone has fun & as Buck & Kyle mentioned, the weather just improves the footing.