Ridecamp: Re: [RC] completion awards - Moonlight Madness

I truly and tremendously appreciate each and every effort the RM's put out
to put on a ride. It is a hard job and a gamble at times. And I totally
understand why things have changed so much since I used to ride in the 70's
as far as completion awards go. I understand that buckles are expensive and
that a lot of people wouldn't be able to afford the entry fee to a ride if
it had to cover the cost of a silver buckle.

But I have to tell you, I was walking around observing at Forethill Sat. at
the Tevis Cup and I was the only one with a silver belt buckle on that I saw
that wasn't a Tevis and boy, those Tevis buckles were all over the place! I
was approached by an older gentleman who saw my buckle from the Nugget Ride
in N. San Juan 1974 and he exclaimed "You rode that ride? So did I!!!" At
which point we started an hour conversation, relating stories of all the
rides the he had been on and that my dad had been on, too. I only got to
borrow my dad's horse for that one ride (I was the oh-so-valuable crew the
rest of the time) so I only have one buckle. My dad has a whole drawer full.
We had such a wonderful conversation, remembering all the rides and which
ones he and my dad liked the best and I just thought it was so cool. It was
the first time since I enduranced when I was a teenager that I wore that
belt buckle somewhere and someone knew what it was. I would have never
gotten to have that conversation with him had I not had that buckle on.

I'm wondering, what would the general concensus be to a ride offering the
entrance fee they do now, but with an added extra bonus of the entrant
paying to have a buckle or some other type something made as an extra line
on the entry form if they do complete and want something more? I realize
that there would have to be a minimum order on something like that and
obviously it would have to say on the entry fee that there would have to be
enough people who wanted it in order for it to happen.

I have always been so proud of my 37th place finish at the Nugget as a
16-year-old and have worn that buckle for 28 years now. If I am never able
to get another one, at least I will have this one. But it sure would be
great to have something other than a t-shirt 30 years from now if an
opportunity arises for another conversation. I know, you say, "so get off
your butt and do the Tevis!" I think I have a long ways to go, if ever, to
make it to that ride!

:) Jackie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynne Glazer" <lynne@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <wrecksduke@xxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] completion awards - Moonlight Madness


> At 5:05 PM +0000 7/23/02, Ridecamp Guest wrote:
> >Melody Wong wrecksduke@xxxxxxx
> >What's the price/cost difference in a t-shirt with the name of the
> >ride screened on it versus a water bottle with "happy faces" on it?
> >It would have been nicer to get something with the name of the ride on
it.
> >Where was the ride photographer by the way?
> >Melody
>
> Hi, Mel-
>
> You know, sometimes I think we've raised expectations to a pretty
> high level in these parts.
>
> I also like to get a completion award that has the ride's name or
> logo on it.  For good quality screening and if it's a shirt, a good
> quality shirt, I pay $10.  You've gotten used to almost all rides in
> our region offering a high quality completion award.  Not all,
> though.  And a first year ride mgr has to be careful about costs.  I
> lost $1500 the first year putting on Norco.  About $500 the next
> year.  Since then we've done better.  Economized since by cutting out
> rider lunches (while still doing 80+ volunteers'), and because the
> equipment needed to put on the ride had been purchased in the first
> year.
>
> There are some people who put on rides to make money.  Sometimes
> clubs put on rides as fund-raisers.  Some of us put on rides just to
> provide a place for like-minded folks to have fun with their horses,
> where the hosts don't get much party-time in but the others can...
>
> Having a ride photographer is not really a "given", but a "nice to
> have".  We gave away photos free the first year of NRR, and have had
> a pro photographer who has charged for photos since.  I hope people
> appreciate how Terry has managed to give away the photos at her
> rides, with a frame, no less IN ADDITION to a completion award with
> the ride's logo and name on it.
>
> Yeah, she's raised the bar for the rest of us.  ;-)
>
> When I attend a ride, I just want competent vets, well-marked and
> interesting trails which distance doesn't exceed the advertised
> mileage, horse water, and a decent road in and out of the place.  The
> rest is icing on the much-appreciated cake.
>
> Lynne
> Norco Riverdance Ride (PS) 8/31/02
>
>
>
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 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
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