Ridecamp: [RC] Norco Riverdance (PS) notes (sorry, long)

1) We are taking next summer off, and the ride will not be offered, 
allowing vets and the 80-90 volunteers to enjoy a whole Labor Day 
weekend for once. ;-)

2) After much rollicking discussion with ride managers and riders 
from other regions, this year we will be awarding Limited Distance 
Best Condition per the AERC rules, which considers only the top ten 
finishers and considers time and weight factors, on the regular BC 
worksheet.  This choice has been made so that riders can compete for 
national LD BC awards.

<soapbox mode on> We will, however, continue to consider the whole 
field for awards based on the vet score portion of the BC worksheet, 
down to 5 places.  We will come up with some name for these, like 
High Vet Score awards--doesn't have the same ring as "Best 
Condition", but meaningful nonetheless.

AERC choosing to treat LD as a training distance by not printing 
results with times or even necessarily finish order in Endurance 
News--yet awarding BC using the same criteria that the 50s and above 
employ--is a dichotomy that I personally do not support.  It's either 
a race or it's not.  I have preferred the original intent that LD is 
not a race, but I hope that AERC will reconcile this one way or 
another someday soon.  In the meantime I will not penalize PS riders 
who wish to be listed in EN if they win BC by these rules, and wish 
to compete for national recognition.

We will continue to offer an LD first place award of an entry to a 
future NRR 50 for the first LD finisher, per Angie's grand suggestion 
some years ago.  We call it the "Hot Shoes" award.  <g>  We've always 
given the same completion award for both distances, no discrimination 
here!  <stepping off soapbox>

3) We have openings for drag riders (who will only have to pull 
ribbons on a small section of repeat trail), free entry.

4) We will be using the PR box concept, as used in the Southeast, and 
Canada, among other places.   This is not the FEI version--but riders 
will need to determine whether their horse is down before entering 
the box.  The timer is stationed at the entrance and takes the 
numbers as people enter and writes the horse's number and time down. 
When they are verified as being down, the PR person will call out 
"time on number X" and the timer gives them the time. If they are not 
down they go back out to the end of the line.  We will have a few 
people to do courtesy checks outside/before the box.  It's ok to 
bring feed into the box.  It's ok to exit after the box and not go 
directly to the vets.

We'll go over it in detail at the ride meeting and this info will be 
in rider packets.  The reason for this is added precision for riders 
whose horses are at criteria, no waiting for PR people caught up 
doing courtesy checks.

5) Entry forms are online at http://www.lynnesite.com/nrrforms.html 
including the IAHA Regional Championship ones.

6) This ride does not have limited entries, however, pre-entry is 
required to ensure enough vet staff and supplies.  Checks will not be 
cashed until the week of the ride, to facilitate withdrawal of entry 
if needed.

Lynne
NRR 8/31

p.s. Thanks to Steph and Connie for the great ride mgmt articles in 
this month's EN.

I started a little e-list today where anyone interested can discuss 
whether a regional organization would be useful here for rider & RM 
education, preservation of places to ride, share ride mgmt resources 
like equipment, allow regional recognition/awards in areas AERC 
doesn't recognize, etc.  To subscribe, send e-mail to 
wowe-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxx

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