AN AERC NATIONAL "ONE-DAY" CHAMPIONSHIP

[mbp@holly.colostate.edu (Brad Patterson)]

AN AERC NATIONAL "ONE-DAY" CHAMPIONSHIP

WHY?  In the seven years of my relatively limited endurance career, I am
constantly asked by and hear consistent discussion between AERC members and
both the riding and non-riding public as to which horse & rider team is the
"best" in the sport.  I also want to know!  Living vicariously or not,
people identify with a champion.  Whether it be the Triple Crown, Pro Rodeo
or the Super Bowl, in any given year we know who the best was in our nation
because they excelled through an organized, as-equitable-as-possible system
of competition.  We have a National Mileage and Best Condition Champions,
and we have North American, Pan-American and World Champions.  Why don't
we, the AERC, have a National Champion?
        The following proposed National Championship system will identify,
in one head-to-head competition, a 50 mile and 100 mile American Endurance
Ride Conference National Champion that will complement the existing
National Mileage and Best Condition Championships; and it will also serve
to promote general member interest in and accessibility to high-caliber
competition.
        The current National Series Championship system is not working and
is essentially meaningless.  The AERC Board of Directors has expressed past
interest in producing an event that wholly belongs to AERC (the Classic),
and there is no current ride that has both the high level of competition
desired to produce a national champion and a qualifying system that truly
represents the entire Conference.
        Both 50 and 100 mile distance National Championships should be
conducted to most fairly represent the preferred riding distances of the
membership; there is no reason to only have a 100 mile champion.  Look at
the ride calendar:  Our sport is no longer only 100 mile rides, but is
actually far from it!

HOW?  While it is granted that no system will ever be perfect, the
following system utilizes existing AERC program components while addressing
stated concerns including scheduling, past "trailer race" traveling
problems, regional equability, and membership accessibility.
        Yes, in any sport, on any given day, anybody might win . . . there
is nothing wrong with this reality!  To be as fair as possible to the
membership of the various regions, with their respective elevations,
temperatures and humidities, a National Championship ride would have to be
rotated between regions.  This proposed system would only require horse and
rider teams to travel one time both in and outside of their regions, thus
eliminating the "trailer race" issue.  Given that teams would only have to
compete in one Regional Championship, scheduling conflicts would be
minimized for both the Regional Directors and AERC Competitions Committee
(all regional rides could be held on the same day without conflict, though
this would be both unnecessary and probably undesirable).

SCHEDULE:  Between December 1st and June 30th of each year, each region
would conduct a Regional Championship ride (in place of the current
National Series Championship).  The National Championship Ride would be
held between mid-July and mid-August, allowing participating teams rest
time after the Regional Championship and before the International
Competitions usually held in September.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RIDES:  Existing, established rides with proven
courses and experienced ride management would be encouraged to nominate
their ride for selection by the two regional directors by the mid-year
Board of Directors meeting prior to the upcoming ride season.  The Regional
Championship rides would be rotated between existing regional rides.  The
Regional Championship rides would be run as divisions of the existing ride,
thus encouraging potential ride managers to put on such a ride even if
faced with a limited turnout of qualified teams.
        Long-standing, nationally known rides such as the Tevis, Old
Dominion, or Big Horn would be excellent choices for Regional Championship
rides; the AERC Board of Directors might want to consider re-sanctioning
the Race of Champions with a name change that is less conflicting.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RIDE:  Existing, established rides with proven
courses and experienced ride management would be encouraged to nominate
their ride for selection by the AERC Competitions Committee and approval by
the AERC Board of Directors at the mid-year meeting prior to the upcoming
ride season.  At the National Championship Ride, there would not be open
divisions; only qualified teams would compete.  With a potential field of
180 riders (90 in each distance), ride managers would be encouraged to
nominate to host this ride.  The National Championship rides would be
rotated every year between regions.

HORSE & RIDER TEAM QUALIFICATIONS:  The qualifications for the Regional
Championship rides would be minimal enough to encourage maximum
participation, but stringent enough to discourage teams with insufficient
experience.  To qualify for the Regional Championship 50 mile ride, teams
will have to have successfully completed 300 career miles of endurance
distance competition together, including at least one top ten placement in
a 50 mile ride with at least ten starting teams.  To qualify for the
Regional Championship 100 mile ride, teams will have to have successfully
completed 300 miles of career competition in 100 mile rides together,
including at least one top ten placement.
        Teams may compete in any Regional Championship ride of their
choice.  Riders would be responsible for providing their team AERC career
ride record to the Regional Championship ride management in advance of the
ride to verify eligibility.
        To qualify for the National Championship Ride, teams will have to
have placed in the top ten of their Regional Championship Ride of the same
year.

RULES:  All rides would be governed by AERC Rules & Regulations.
International (FEI, others) rules could also be adopted at the discretion
of the AERC Board of Directors.  Both Regional and National Championship
rides would be required to have a steward present from the AERC approved
stewards list.

AWARDS:  AERC would provide awards (First through Tenth Places and Best
Condition) for the applicable division of the Regional Championship rides.
AERC would provide awards (First though Tenth Places, Best Condition, and
Completions) for the National Championship rides.
        Regional Team and/or weight division awards could also be included
at the discretion of the AERC Board of Directors.

FUNDING:  For the Regional Championship rides, participating riders in the
Championship division would pay a modest fee to cover awards (somewhere
between $15 to $25) in addition to the regular ride entry fee.  For the
National Championship, the entry fee would be competitive with existing
rides of similar stature; proceeds would be split between AERC ( to cover
advertising, awards, stewards, related office expenses, and any other
expenses as defined in advance) and ride management in a percentage
agreement to be determined by the AERC Board of Directors.

WHO WOULD THIS BENEFIT?  As a rider, the qualifications to enter the
Regional Championship rides are reasonable, and you would use your team
career record, thus not requiring an undue amount of financial or physical
stress during the current ride year.  Plus you can now answer those
questions of who the 50 or 100 mile AERC National Champion is.
        As a Regional Director, nothing more would be required than what is
already being done for the National Championship Series system, and this
system might further healthy competition and unity within your region,
where riders will have an incentive to mutually attend a ride in their
region.
        As an AERC Board member, you will have a National Championship
system that benefits the membership and a successful National Championship
Ride that AERC can claim proud ownership of!


Therefore, I respectfully submit this proposal to the AERC Competitions
Committee for their consideration, approval and implementation for the 1999
ride season.

Sincerely & Happitrails!



Brad Patterson,
Mountain Region Director

                                                      1998  ENDURANCE CALENDAR

* April 11:  BOXELDER TRAILS 30/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride (Wellington, CO)
* April 25-26:  PAWNEE GRASSLANDS I 25/50/75/100 Elevator/25/50  & 15 mile
        ROOKIE Rides * Mountain Region National Series Championship Ride *
        (Briggsdale,  CO)
* June 20:  BEAVER MEADOWS 25/50/75/100 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
         (Red Feather Lakes, CO)
* July 18:  A MIDSUMMER'S MOONLIGHT RIDE 30/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
        (Wellington, CO)
* August 3-7:  2ND ANNUAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDE 55/55/55/55/30-55 *Pioneer
        Event * (Monday-Friday; Arlington, Centennial and Mountain Home,
Wyoming &
           Gould, Red Feather Lakes, and Stove Prairie, Colorado - Each day
is a seperate
           event, and rig drivers are available - Pre-Registration deadline
is July 1st)
* September 5-7:  HORSETHIEF PASS 25/50/25/50/25/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Rides
        *Pioneer Event* (Walden, CO)
* October 17:  PAWNEE GRASSLANDS II 30/50/75/100 Elevator  & 15 mile ROOKIE
         Ride (Briggsdale,  CO)
* November-December:  Winter rides to be announced.

 ***All Pre-Registration deadlines are nine days (postmarked) before the
ride unless otherwise noted.

                  ***PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T RIDE THE RIDE, VOLUNTEER!***

"There is no better way to see the world than from the back of a horse."

- Teddy Roosevelt

RIDE INFO:
 Email:  mbp@holly.colostate.edu
Mail:  1600 West Plum Street #28-H, Fort Collins, Colorado  80521
Phone/Fax:  970-491-8891