| Author | Message | ||
     Nic Castle |
My wife and I watched the obstacles at Lowther and from a spectators point of view it was great to watch. The only criticism I could add would be about the water obstacle and the length of time it took to remove it. I only add this as many competitors mentioned it especially when there ponies had to start to swim. All, in all I thought it was a great event for spectators to watch and we enjoyed it a lot. Thankyou to everyone who took part in the event for making it so enjoyable for the spectators. Nic | ||
| Catriona Bertram |
Despite both being involuntarily ejected from the carriage in obstacle five when we hit a post(driver error),we quite liked the obstacles this year - although I was aware that Ian was clipping more posts than normal - but I don't feel this was anything to do with the obstacles. On another subject despite knocking down two cones Ian thought the cones course was flowing and one of the best this year. | ||
| Geoff Kay |
Mike I was Steward on No 7 (gates) at Sandringham and whilst it looked, at first sight, to be very technical and tight the majority of competitors drove it quickly and smoothly without having to pull the ponies about. The secret of a fast time seemed to be the route chosen, Ms Cadwell (USA) used an unusual route and was seconds faster than the top singles of Sue Denney and Liz Rowe; plus of course a complete absence of nerves! Geoff | ||
| Janet Pilling |
An excellent example Mike! We have been to a lot of indoor events on the continent - yes, we're sad enough to want to watch good driving in the winter! :o) - and the excitement built in the crowds is amazing. I wish it was more like that for us over the summer season. There is also a general 'damping down' of cheering competitors on (doesn't stop us!) and I know of one particular spectator who was warned by an official at Royal Windsor for cheering on her brother!! Come on folks - on the one hand we are trying to encourage people into this fantastic sport but it on the other it seems we are not prepared to make the necessary changes to show driving at it best. The formal side of driving can be seen in dressage (and in the showring) - obstacles and cone driving are the crowd pullers and especially at shows like Lowther, Sandringham and Castle Kennedy they should be designed with this in mind. | ||
| Mike Watts |
We agree that too many tight gates are no fun for spectators or ponies - thought last year's Windsor championships saw many obstacles just too tight to be good [even for our agile 13 hh ponies], especially the new obstacle, and saw the same with the new 'gates' obstacle at Sandringham. We seem to be at the stage where indoor obstacles are more flowing than outdoor - why? (Video example here - indoor pony pair - listen to the audience!). We'd like to see the majority of gates free flowing - or at least offering drivers the choice of a free flowing route - even if a few tight turns are asked for or are alternatives in some obstacles. Also can we ask for some landmarks in obstacles especially at Windsor [like different colours or decoration] so drivers, grooms and spectators can actually see/find the gates, not just endless dark coloured post and rail? I agree Brigthon and Farleigh were very good in being flowing and also for variety - more like this, please! | ||
| Julie Hoskyns |
I didn't go to Lowther this year as I had no groom but isn't it the case with most of our events now, they are all slow, technical and boring. Brighton was good and a huge improvement as was Farleigh but the Nationals last year...I love the sport and went back to watch after I had finished,it was like watching paint dry! You are right, spectators want to see fast flowing fun obstacles. We should not be expected to pull our horses/ponies around in tight, technical obstacles, it's no fun for us, the spectators or the horses. We need to showcase our sport and make it exciting for the spectators so they go home and encourage others to come or to have a go themselves. | ||
| Janet Pilling |
We always go to Lowther as it is such a great event but I have to say that the past three years have been pretty dismal spectating for the general public. The obstacles out at the water seem to be much better for crowd appeal with crowds running between obstacles - I don't know why they should be so markedly different - the five in front of the castle seem to be a struggle, even for singles sometimes and almost like a side show for picnickers. Lowther is a marvellous opportunity to show carriage driving at its most exciting and the obstacles should be spectacular. Why not plan the routes to exploit this? Only a few years ago we were in the crowd watching the single ponies going through and from the start the atmosphere was electric with spectators cheering and whooping as the ponies exited the obstacles. More recently there has been an uncomfortable silence and everything seems very intense as they weave through the very technical routes and by the time the pairs and multiples come through the crowd seem to be losing interest. Is this really how it is supposed to be? The obstacles are always very pretty to look at and exceptionally well dressed but please - give a thought to how it is perceived by non-drivers. Let's get some fast flowing routes in there to show that driving trials are exciting! | ||
| Mary Kusin |
I agree with you Patti. I drove last year and this year and also felt that the open flowing routes obstacles from 2006 had become much tighter and more technical in 2007. Lowther is a fabulous show-case event for our sport with a fantastic crowd and excellent viewing however the crowds see many turnouts walking round tight turns, bumping horses and carriages off posts and becoming stuck with reversing required. As a competitor I love driving open flowing obstacles as I find it far more exciting than negotiating tight technical turns. I feel that the crowd would probably find this a more exciting spectacle too. Lowther get it right in the main arena on the Sunday with the Lowther Challenge where horse and pony teams race at speed but still demonstrate ample skill to impress the crowds who are then able to get involved to a far greater degree and enjoy cheering the competitors on. It is very difficult to cheer on turnouts struggling at slow speeds to negotiate tight turns. As drivers, we can appreciate how difficult it is to drive a technical obstacle well, but I doubt the crowd see it in the same way. I do not want to sound too negative because Lowther is one of my favourite events and I'll be back next year to take on the obstacles however they are designed. | ||
| Patti Atkinson |
I didnt drive at Lowther this year but loved my first ever trip round last year. Was it my imagination or were the hazards very tight and technical this time? Last year most of them flowed really well and for spectators that has to be more fun. What do others think? |