| Author | Message | ||
     Ginny White Member Username: Ginnyw Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2009 |
I would like to digrese slightly off the thread i hope with an outside thought from my husband, Chris, please read dumbing down marathon, if you haven't. Then bear with me while i tell you that Chris has been competeing very strongly this year with my passion of horses, helping save his financialy embarrassed golf club that is set in the past and run by enthusastic elderly people that where totally anti change, internet bookings for tee times and think the shop should be open at 7-30am and no jeans in the club house. Change is very hard, but sometimes necessary. Venues clearly cost a lot of money, the keeness of of fast and furious/ world cup is more like scurry, and i'm sure not where us keen 2/3 day people want to go. But as Chris said it would be so easy to put on at county shows and the like and this would make the sport more noticable for possible sponsors or membership interest. However you look at 3 day events they are surely 5 1 getting packed up, a day driving and a day unpacking, if not 6 totally unattainable for any one working, not too mention keeping the nag fit. We all know this but even if the world cup format helped generate a new drivers, indoor seems to be suffering if only with the cost of fuel. The 3 day format is still aimed at the driver with the presentation vehicle, and dedicated helpers or grooms. yes the encouraging of singles has to be the way forward, what about a marathon vehicle class making us feel more comfortable at the bigger events, so encouraging more to have a go at Nationals. Yes i know we can compete like this already but having done a couple i felt intimadated and not really belonging. I love the sport it gave our out grown pony club pony and me a new interest and goal. I personally love driving my obstacles as fast as is safe and am very competetive but do not wholey enjoy flat out cones or the world cup. It becomes more like a speed class in show jumping and does not suit every horse. With the weighting fairly distributed there has to be a place for driven figures i like that! optimum times and a good walk, infront of great obstacles, we must all fight together to save this format. | ||
| Louise Hodgson Member Username: Louisehodgson Post Number: 2 Registered: 07-2011 |
I agree, great post Lyn and if I may I would like to add to it with regards to Marketing. We mustn't forget that there is far more to Marketing than promotional video's and attracting new sponsors to the sport. Marketing is the process which creates, communicates and delivers value to the customer. Marketing (research) generates the strategy which underlies sales techniques, communication and development and is integral to the success of any Brand. When in doubt, RESEARCH!! | ||
| Liz Harcombe Member Username: Lizzyh Post Number: 16 Registered: 08-2010 |
So for those who don't know, and we do these in teaching and planning too... SWOT is Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Analysis done in teams drawn from varying experience, not just those at the top! Takes a brave team. But it's a good starting point. | ||
| Patti Atkinson Member Username: Pattia Post Number: 46 Registered: 03-2007 |
Lynn - Really good post. Most of us that run a business will do a 'swot' on a regular basis and they can work really well. Especially if facilitated by an 'outsider' - ideally someone who knows next to nothing about the subject so no preconceptions! | ||
| Lyn Price Member Username: Lyn_price Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2011 |
Firstly I want to applaud all the responses to "dumbing down" and "finances" - I think it shows a commendable engagement from the membership. I would like to recommend a strategic approach to the HDTA in the appraisal of the now and a methodology of developing the way forward. One of the issues with an open forum is it is only the brave will post. The posts will be valuable but single ideas and opinions all of which are valid are not necessarily the answers to take the sport forward. PLEASE consider a systems analysis of the whole organisation starting with 1. a basic SWOT analysis of the structural organisation 2. and then a SWOT analysis of the competition structure. 3. asking the membership for their thoughts ( not on a public forum) 4. looking at parallel structures GB and abroad 5. producing a report of a) quick fixes b) short term plan 6. produce from 1-4 a one year business plan to be published on the internet 7.produce a three year plan to laid before the agm next year. The HDTA needs to move strategically forward from a dedicated but committee culture driven organisation to a dynamic and genuinely structured and evidenced based organisation I think it is striving to and could actually be. I believe among your membership there is a skills base that could be harnessed (sic) to enable the organisation to achieve its goals. | ||
| Christopher Priestley Member Username: Chrispriestley Post Number: 17 Registered: 04-2008 |
Could three-day events be scheduled over two or three of the bank holiday weekends that fall within our season - Sat-Sun-Mon - thereby giving those with work commitments a better chance of attending? Could two-day Regional classes be run in parallel with three-day events to help spread the costs and increase participation? | ||
| Nicolette Hughes Member Username: Nicolettepurple Post Number: 49 Registered: 05-2008 |
It does make sense if doing it over 2 days to do cones after dressage on day one. There are also a lot of juniors who can't take time off school for a national that would do them if they were 2 days. Also those people that only get 4 weeks holiday a year cant take it all for trials as they might have children or go on holiday too! Just thinking of ways to get more entries and reduce cost of hiring venue. We have only been in driving about 5 years and I just can't iamgine life without it! The people and places are fantastic! Nicolette | ||
| Liz Harcombe Member Username: Lizzyh Post Number: 15 Registered: 08-2010 |
With regard to the issue of two day over three day...in the 80's there were rarely events run over three days. I remember clearly having to turn round after the marathon to clean up and people drive cones same day. Tough on a muddy day. Sometimes there was so little time between marathon and cones that horses were barely unharnessed. Three phase vehicles went in muddy. Also I remember many competitors arriving very late on Friday nights having travelled after work. All hands on deck to support your neighbours setting up...oh and dont park in a space cos someone is bound to turn up at midnight and wake you up! The main reason I cannot do national events is that I simply cannot have time off during school term time. August is my only hope and then Windsor championships is at a time I cannot do. I do wonder how many people this affects. It bumps up the already substantial cost of competing to miss one or two days of work. Club events do indeed represent very good value, good fun and good venues. And dont run at a loss. ???? | ||
| Jane Wilson Member Username: Janewil Post Number: 32 Registered: 06-2007 |
It's a thorny issue every which way round. There's no such thing as a free lunch and I think if you look at most sponsorship deals, they come out of the fact that someone already has a connection to the sport and their decision to sponsor is for altruistic reasons rather than any real expectation of a return on investment. We're a small sport in a catch 22 situation where sponsorship is concerned. With regard to holding nationals over two days instead of three, there would be most of the advantages that Nicholette mentions but, why would you spend the extra on entering a national when you could have the same level of competition at most of the good club events? I can't help but think that to promote and protect our events for the future, we need to promote the sport of driving from the bottom up - county shows, pony/riding clubs, equine colleges - any other public platform we can find. And I also think we should do more to promote singles which will surely make the sport seem more accessible to the uninitiated in terms of tempting people to think about having a go? | ||
| Nicolette Hughes Member Username: Nicolettepurple Post Number: 48 Registered: 05-2008 |
I might be wrong and please do tell me if thats the case but I think there might be more entries at nationals if they werent over 3 days. If they followed the club format of weekend competing and turning up on the friday, the venue costs would reduce as it would be a shorter hire period, toilets would be needed for less days and more importantly more people might be able to come because they didnt have to take any times off work or possibly only 1/2 - 1 day rather than 2 or 3. More entries and less cost would be more income!Just a thought! | ||
| Kathleen Upsall Member Username: Katastrophy Post Number: 68 Registered: 10-2008 |
I rather like that idea Siobhain, I'd happily take my turnout to local shows, county or smaller, and run through an obstacle/some cones as long as someone more experienced was on hand to answer questions!! :D Janet- very valid points, sponsors want something g more than their name on a banner in most cases, for them to reach into pockets, something really needs to be given back as well. I'm a newby, and it is an expensive sport to get started in (my poor dad will be counting the cost for some time!!) amd im not relishing it being more expensive with increased membership costs etc, but clubs are great at providing support- or at least i can say that mine is, NEDTL have a great network, active Facebook page and great training opportunities. Just out of curiosity, what counts as 'nice to have' activities? | ||
| Siobhain Fletcher Member Username: Kempshills Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2012 |
How about County shows? Perhaps an obstacle could be set up near the main attractions and it's an easy way of getting maximum viewing (for equestrian events) from the general public. If somehow two turnouts could race against each other side by side in the main arena through two identical portable indoor-type obstacles? The rest could be run as an event is now. I'm sure the county shows would appreciate the chance to share the costs too. Another lateral thought from my brain... | ||
| James Lewis Member Username: Rufuss Post Number: 15 Registered: 05-2008 |
with regard to running ridden and driven events concurrently Breda this year ran the driving alongside both ridden international eventing and the national showjumping championships,as well as the world para driving championships.I remember very well run and succesful ridden and driven events at Wylye and Lulworth in the past with very little problem. | ||
| Janet Pilling Member Username: Janetp Post Number: 75 Registered: 03-2007 |
I have to say I found Julia's (Jeff's?) post rather depressing. I'm sure the BHDTA is NOT on the brink of bankruptcy. We are all going through hard times and there isn't a lot of money to go round but companies still have corporate days - golf, football, quad biking - whatever (I'm sure they've all been done a zillion times!) We can offer something quite different. For ten years our company, OPG, sponsored Hopetoun event. When we hit hards times and started to struggle with this in 2010, we tried our hardest to bring new sponsors into the sport and have managed to keep an income going for this event. It isn't easy - we sent dozens of begging letters to friends, acquaintances and business contacts, however there have been a few who have come back for the past couple of years and they thoroughly enjoy the experience. IMO you have to offer the sponsors something attractive on the day and if you can manage to accommodate a couple of their guests on a carriage on an exercise route (Hopetoun's is stunning) or provide horse drawn transport to/from the sponsors' tent, or even just a spin round the arena after a prize giving, it gives sponsors something to offer to their guests. It is a simple thing to do and requires little effort or organisation but can go a long way to making a corporate day a day to remember. We used to always offer this at Hopetoun and it went down a storm! It is possible to bring in a substantial amount of sponsorship revenue in small bites so we could all do our bit. We also looked at running the Hopetoun driving event alongside the annual BE event at Hopetoun but there were issues with the huge amount of parking space required and other things so it didn't come off this time. As for encouraging new members, hopefully the Olympia spectacular will be another opportunity to provide people with contact details of UKcc coaches and a supported route into the sport. There are people out there who are dabbling at the minute - they are ready to come into our sport and with the correct drive and encouragement, some of them could well be future members of Team GB. In my opinion, training of our drivers (at every level) should be given as much support as possible as only with good regular training will we nurture good competitive drivers. | ||
| Christopher Priestley Member Username: Chrispriestley Post Number: 16 Registered: 04-2008 |
Siobhain - it is a good idea to fund a way of sharing costs with another sport. Perhaps we can't share the cross-country course, but other things could be shared. And it need not be with eventing; There was a French carriage driving competition that shared a venue with an off road HGV trials the other year. Whatever sport, venue hire, loo hire, some insurance costs, tents and so on could all be shared - even if the bigger event warrants a bigger venue and more loos, there could be good discounting on offer for wanting a bulk order. Having more to see might attract more spectators and therefore some sponsorship. It might also put our sport in the shop window a bit more. But any such enterprise would, given the circumstances, have to have a low start-up cost. How about an Arab Sheik or a Russian Oligarch? They're all the rage in football, and all BHDTA admin and national and club event organising costs would cost the same as one Premiership footballer's wages! | ||
| Siobhain Fletcher Member Username: Kempshills Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2012 |
I'm a member of the MDTG but only got to one event due to illness and other issues. It was just an idea, I have them from time to time! ;-) | ||
| Carole Redgrave Member Username: Caroleredgrave Post Number: 65 Registered: 03-2008 |
Yep! I've been saying for ages, We def need to get Harry or Wills on board!!! ;-)) | ||
| chris manger Member Username: Chrismanger Post Number: 15 Registered: 01-2012 |
What we could do with is getting someone in the monarchy interested in the sport with lots of Clout and £££££  | ||
| Martyn Willis Member Username: Martynw Post Number: 38 Registered: 02-2007 |
Siobhian, White Horse Harness Club a few years back ran a club event at Highclare Castle (Downton Abbey) lovely venue in conjunction with their Festival of the Horse event. We did our dressage and cones on a Saturday with the Marathon on the Sunday the eventers did their Dressage on the Sunday with the Cross County on the Monday (a Bank Holiday) The problem we encountered was where we used the eventers jumps as our obstacles. It proved potentially dangerous for the drivers and the eventers as they wanted to walk their course whilst we were driving it. Many were reluctant to leave the jump when a carriage turned up. Our sport has a very strong club network who do many of the things you suggest. They run have a go days and have classes for the beginner. we encourage drivers to join clubs as this provides a level of insurance cover for their members at their events and indeed some (not many) do have a day ticket arrangement for members of other clubs. A lot of clubs have Facebook Pages White Horse Harness Club, South Down Harness Club and Brockham in the south have active pages so we are embracing the media. If you haven't already go on join a club. | ||
| Siobhain Fletcher Member Username: Kempshills Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2012 |
Just a thought, could driving trials events be run alongside BE events or showjumping events at suitable venues? That way there is opportunity to share costs of hiring events as well as attracting spectators and potential members. Also it seems, from a complete newbie there doesn't seem much opportunity for those people who have broken their pony/ horse to drive for a hobby to "climb up" for want of a better word . Not many people know about how to get into it and also there are those who don't wish to join a club but would like to have a go at a local competition as they would be able to with showing for example. Also perhaps organising fun farm rides with simple obstacles would maybe encourage some to get the bug. Advertising through the social media and free magazines as well as demonstrations at local shows could be lucrative as would a reduced rate of membership or "day tickets" to compete once to see if it's viable to compete at the level you are at as well as having training days open to newcomers. | ||
| Douglas Strachan Member Username: Douglass Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2007 |
Finances of BHDTA and National Events Draft 2 by Douglas Strachan 19.10.12 I refer to Julia Liles’ Forum topic “To the Candidates”” and the Erdigg topic I think Members must “get real” on the finances of “Our Sport” I understand that the Reserves in 2009 stood at £110k and at the end of December 2011 they may be of the order of £39k plus a one-off donation of £15k from the Lowther Closure. Most of this drop can be attributed to the Marketing Expenditure in 2010/2011 (about £70k minus some Sponsorships). In 2010 and 2011 BHDTA received substantial Grants from Sport England and very generous Donations. These were “ring-fenced” and allowed members to enjoy reduced Starting Fees, Training for Trials, Sustained Coaching (UKCC), Drivers with Disabilities, Excellence in Internationals, Sponsorship, and Driving Back to Sport. Similar Grants and Donations may not be available in the future and so members can not anticipate the same level of support from the BHDTA in the future. I have tried to separate the costs of the basic priorities of the Association from the “ring-fenced” Grants and Donations. I think these show that in 2011 the Income from Membership Fees, National Championship, Starter Fees and smaller items amounts, was probably about £164k (I think the equivalent figure in 2010 was about £179k). In 2011 Expenditure on Insurance, Levy, National Championship, Staff and smaller items was probably £185k ( £180k in 2010) The Council have had a very difficult year in 2012 and I recognise all the time and personal expenses which they have incurred on behalf of “Our Sport” and I thank them most sincerely. Members must expect, in the present fiscal climate, another very difficult year in 2013 and I would suggest the following i) BHDTA must increase Membership Fees. (60% of all Membership/Affiliation Fees goes straight to insurance)) ii) Starting Fee Income must be maintained at least to the 2010 level iii) Consideration should be given to re-locate the National Championship iv) There will be a drastic reduction in “nice-to-have” activities v) Sponsorship . This will be extremely difficult as the Marketing Project demonstrated how difficult it was to generate any significant sponsorship. Any sponsorship will be “ring-fenced” and will go directly to specific events and not to the administration costs of BHDTA. (Remember that the only event run by the Association is the National Championship) |