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Red Rum
Gold Member
 England
508 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 1:28:40 PM
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Can't wait for Friday afternoon as I am really looking forward to the first show of the year. Look on the new website for The Hand Equestrian Centre it looks fab. Just wish my horse did still has a bit of a winter coat and left it to late to clip. Hope you make it Jackie and Alan. www.handequestrian.com
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
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alethea
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1526 Posts |
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Red Rum
Gold Member
England
508 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 1:40:40 PM
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Hi Not to far for me only 80 miles but this will be the longest I have driven my lorry and it only does 50 mph, wouldn't want to go much faster anyway. Lets hope it is a good and at least we can get in out of the rain if it arrives. Mandy |
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 2:46:35 PM
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after much thought, and after doing a route planner last night we have very sadly decided not to go
it will take approx 3-4 hours for me to get there and for one class its expecting too much of a baby to travel for 6/7 hours.
such a shame as i was really looking forward to it.
maybe somewhere like hoplands equestrian centre which has fantastic facilities would be worth the organisers looking into.
i cant see that bristol is central to wessex members.
hope those that do go have a great time |
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
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rafabreeze
Gold Member
757 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 3:20:28 PM
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| What area does the Wessex Group cover? Georgina |
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alethea
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 3:33:24 PM
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I have also decided not to go, the journey really is too far for us for a spring show. Its so far away from crofton i know that alot of people are no longer bothering with the wessex spring show due to this fact.
I think the loctaion needs looking into. It isnt that central to the wessex region anymore
Alethea
Aristotle Arabians
aristotlearabians@hotmail.co.uk |
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Hollyhill
Gold Member
589 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 3:46:15 PM
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The distance is the reason I'm not going to the Spring show either.
Trouble is tho, that whilst its a long way for us lot in Hampshire/Sussex; its nearer for others. Can't win either way I suppose.
Perhaps the Autumn show will be held more local to us.......??
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Edited by - Hollyhill on 10 Apr 2008 4:03:07 PM |
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rafabreeze
Gold Member
757 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 3:48:43 PM
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| As I asked previously what area does the Wessex Group cover? G |
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Hollyhill
Gold Member
589 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 4:02:18 PM
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I've always understood it to be Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire - ish, but not totally sure! If you google it, Somerset is also included.
If you look at the Wessex website, they have a map showing the area; The Hand would appear to be at almost the most westerly boundary. |
Edited by - Hollyhill on 10 Apr 2008 4:08:12 PM |
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rafabreeze
Gold Member
757 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 4:16:02 PM
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| Thanks Holly, so guess the Hand isnt very central for the Group then. I know a few people from the Midland Group are going, its probably closer for them then the majority of the Wessex Group people - Georgina |
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Lanabanana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2691 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 5:54:28 PM
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For the first time in 15 yrs I will not be either exhibiting or spectating at the Wessex Spring show
The Hand may well be an excellent venue, but it isn't an easy journey from where I live and I cannot justify the expense of overnight stabling for a 'Spring' show.
When it was first mentioned that the Wessex were moving to The Hand I posted that I thought it was out of the area and was told that it IS in the Wessex region, but as Hollyhill says it is just about at the limit.
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Hampshire. |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 7:20:06 PM
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| Thats a shame your not going Alethea, i was hoping to meet up with you! its actually alot nearer than having to go to Exeter or Devon so selfishly because i live in Bristol its great for me!! but then we have the same trouble with Ardingly and Braintree which is 4+ hours away for us!! its always swings and roundabouts i suppose. |
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2008 : 8:45:28 PM
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i agree with everyone. you will not please everyone all of the time, but as its a wessex show, then surely it should be more central for wessex members,not at the furthest part of the map.
it was also said that its very accessable from the M4 and M5, but for me it would be going in totally the opposite direction to the show to get on the motorway adding about another 1hr to the total drive.the alternative would have been the A36 all the way there which as you might know is a horrible road to travel on especially with animals on board.
as rafabreeze has said there are a lot of people from the midland group going, which doesnt make sense that its more central for people from the midland group than it is the actual wessex members!!!
i am so dissapointed not to be going, and am now going to have to spend the whole day scrubbing harmess and washing heavy horses for my husband in preparation for the wedding he will be doing with them, yukky job
hopefully the autumn show will be more local to local members |
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
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Hollyhill
Gold Member
589 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2008 : 1:02:28 PM
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Copied from the Wessex Group Website...........
Reasons for choosing a different venue:
This year, the show has been relocated from Crofton Manor Equestrian Centre, near Fareham in Hampshire, where it has been held for the past few years. Before that the show was held at Hurstbourne Priors, which is much nearer to the centre of the Wessex Region.
Crofton Manor is a good venue but has two main drawbacks:
It is located close to the South Coast and the eastern edge of the Wessex Region.
Hence, many of the previous exhibitors from north of the M4 and the western part of the Wessex Region found Crofton too far from their homes and the number of entries declined.
There are no stables available for use by visitors.
This makes it difficult for potential and previous exhibitors who are not local to the show venue. Many former exhibitors were unable to travel several hours without somewhere to off-load the horses when they arrived.
New entries from exhibitors local to Crofton did not compensate for these losses.
When the enhanced Hand Centre was "discovered" with the prospect of more than enough stables it was felt that it was time for those who live near the western part of the Wessex Region to get the benefit of a local venue. Access to the Hand Centre is excellent from the West Country (via M5), South Wales (via M4), Midlands (via M5) and even from further east along the M4. That, together with the new stable facilities, should increase the number of entries from all directions.
This move was made after much careful consideration by the committee, several members of which live close to Crofton.
If anyone feels really hard done by as the result of this move away from Crofton, please let a member of the Wessex Committee know. They wish to please as many people as possible. Do not just moan to your friends as that will not bring about any change or satisfaction. An easy means of general communication is via the webmaster, who can be contacted by clicking on either of the Wessex Group logos at the top of this web page. Alternatively, use the information given in the Admin Section of this site to contact a particular Committee member.
In addition, offers to help with organising a show at Crofton could add much weight to such requests.
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Cakes
Silver Member
United Kingdom
341 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2008 : 3:53:28 PM
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Too far for me to take my youngster cheaply too. Hoplands is a good alternative fab venue - I have mentioned it to a committee member for the future... I guess we will see what the turnout is at The Hand  |
       
www.cakeshorsewear.com
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suneagle
Gold Member
England
727 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2008 : 9:53:57 PM
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im only in honiton nr exeter and i am going but it isnt that far for me... wouldnt have dreamt of going to a wessex show before...
the hand is a gorgeous place i showed there last year and the indoor shcool has been so well done that you dont sink at all and its easy to run on. got 4 shows there this year and i cant wait... :D |
clare xxxx |
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egyptianstallion
Gold Member
England
762 Posts |
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
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rafabreeze
Gold Member
757 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 8:14:47 PM
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| Hi everyone, I went to The Hands today and have to say the venue is amazing! What a lovely place and the facilities are fantastic. I havent really been to an arab show for quite a few years so not sure what is and what isnt a good turn out. I watched the yearling pure bred in-hand, there were 7 entered and im trying to think now at least 5 of those were forward. The 2yr old and 3yr old colts / geldings was a good class, with 9 entered, one colt got loose and created quite a bit of havoc before eventually being caught, makes you realise how dangerous it can be when colts/stallions get loose. 2 colts were 1st and 2nd (sorry I didnt have a pen so not sure of names, then 2 geldings were 3rd and 4th, the 3rd gelding was called TES Elouff (Im obvioussly interested in geldings mainly as i own 3). The next class I watched was the stallion class, there were 8 entered, there was even a stallion owned by HRH Prince of Wales, called Goudah- I do have the result of this class, first was FFoenix (Ffatal Attraction / Alysis) 2nd was Dahzik (Az Sadik / Dahmask) and 3rd was Goudah (Gafallah/Ramiah). I groomed for my frien in the Novice Pure Bred Ridden, there were 11 in this class, but sorry I cant tell you who won, but my friend came 4th with her mare Scherzo Bint Akhira. They had a stallion parade before the ridden classes which although was interesting - I think went on a long time and the ridden classes didnt start til after 2pm. SO after my friends class we went home. I had been there since 8:15am, which meant getting out of bed at 5:30am, and I think hubby has had enough haha. The show was very well organised and I think the Hand Equestrian centre is a great place to host a show, not sure a lot of the Wessex Group were pleased with where the show was held but you cant fault the venue. - Georgina |
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jackie k
Gold Member
Wales
889 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 8:27:05 PM
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Hi All
Just got back from the Wessex Spring show after spectating and I must say how impressed I was with the Hand Equestrian Centre. The arena, stables etc. are really nice. It is clean, tidy and the food was very good and big portions.
I am really looking forward to the Egyptian Event/UK Gold show being there later in the year.
As for the distance - we travelled from Wales and it would take us about 2.1/2 hours in lorry, but the access is great, straight off the motorway - easy journey for the horses.
I understand that people do not want to travel to their local group shows, but I am afraid those who didnt go have missed a very good venue and day.
Congratulations Wessex Group on a good show.
Jackie |
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weirton
Gold Member
873 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 8:43:41 PM
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I would just like to say thank you to Felicity, Pia and the rest of the Wessex committee for taking the risk and using The Hand for their Spring Show. Everyone I spoke to said they enjoyed the day and the atmosphere and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the horses and the large number of boxes in the lorry park.
On behalf of the Monmouth group I would like to say it was a pleasure to work with Felicity and her team, helping to raise revenue to help fund the show. Perhaps groups working together is the way forward in these difficult times.
Those who didn't come missed a great day and should try to make it next time. |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 9:14:08 PM
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I will second that, what a brilliant day and fantastic venue, lovely horses.tremendous.
Thank you
Paula. |
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Cakes
Silver Member
United Kingdom
341 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 10:19:20 PM
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| I went as a spectator in the end - it did take us flippin ages to get there in a car (particularly as part of the A36 was closed) so glad I didn't go as an exhibitor. Had a nice day though, the classes were decent sizes and it was a lovely place. Like others have said re the stables etc it was very clean and the atmosphere was nice - calm and relaxing for the horses. |
www.cakeshorsewear.com
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lisa b
Gold Member
795 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2008 : 10:45:38 PM
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| any results anyone?? we were going but i got tonsilitus... boo hoo.xx |
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pathannay
Gold Member
United Kingdom
938 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2008 : 09:02:24 AM
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Hi, drove down to watch yesterday - ironically I used to live ten minutes away from the Hand but they never had an arab show there then!!! Typical! I cannot believe how much the venue has changed over the past year - I think it is probably the best I have ever seen now. I was chating to Nick Davis (the owner) in the afternoon and he was telling me that by the time the Egyptian Event happens in september there will be a new Restaurant which will run the complete side of the indoor arena (the opposite side to the viewing area and bar) which will have glass looking on to the indoor arena one side and the outdoor arena the other side! I know he has personally spent millions on the refurbishment of the site with the aim of being chosen as one of the training centres for the 2012 Olympics - and I am pleased to say that he has been chosen to be one!
When I said that the show in September is a two day show and alot of people will be stabling the friday and Saturday nights he said that he would arrange a party in the bar for us!!! Can't wait!
Afraid I cannot give any results for the Wessex show other than Jane Holloway's two year old filly Pandorah (Sp?) won her class and went on to be Supreme Champion - expertly shown by her daughter Amanda!! Well done both of you - the filly looked amazing!
Pat |
www.azizaarabians.co.uk |
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