Just because someone likes to get awards for their completion/top
ten/BC/top vet score/turtle doesn’t mean they haven’t contributed
to endurance riding by helping at rides. I am with Angie on this one; I
enjoy a fun or useful completion award or top ten award and I cherish the BC’s
that I have gotten. I really appreciate ride managers who get creative
with their awards – we have several in the NW.
And I am NOT ASHAMED and I HAVE helped mark many a trail, Pulsed
at pre-ride and during the ride, been a vet scribe, done the awards for a
ride, helped run the finish line at a multiday ride, helped at the check in
table at rides, helped set-up camps and helped take down camps, help at our
regional convention, served as a board member in our regional association, and
I ALWAYS thank the ride manager and I ALWAYS post to our regional board another
big public thank you.
Having a tangible item to remember a ride is nice and can
bring back smiles years later. I am personally not crazy about t-shirts
but I do like other useful items, especially when the ride logo is on them.
The best award I ever got was an embroidered blanket for BC. I
wouldn’t let an award determine whether I was going to a ride or not but
fun completions awards are a nice surprise.
I don’t think we need to lambast people because they
enjoy an nice award…most competitive events give out awards as part of
the event.
