7 replies to this topic

[Rob Kane]

Please continue the discussion here...

[trial153]

I am not against the association supporting the format. But I am not sure it warrants a consistency award ect. The number of clubs that would be able to hold this type of trial, with a decent amount of packs I feel is limited to a handful of clubs at best. This is about as labor intensive and rabbit intensive as any format, maybe more more so the GDB. You need a lot of rabbits to move though the packs.


I think this brings up a bigger issue ..is the promotion of more trials is better for our association. From traveling around to many clubs this year it is pretty obvious that many clubs are just getting by with rabbits and grounds work. Maybe having one well run trial for the year, and more focused extensive grounds projects will do more to help the clubs. Strong clubs make for a strong association.

[DJC]

I don't think there is enough hunts the justify a consistency award or to have it factor in. I do think it is good for the sport and clubs if they can and want to do one because it pulls in people you don't typically see at a spo trial, and could generate new members and trialers or even people who do trial my find out what a great club you may have and return for other trials.

[trial153]

Dan great point about bringing new people into the fold, we have seen that at New Scotland, some faces that wouldnt normally be at our SPO trials.

What really worries me is the amount of trials that have been are being cancelled, mostly for lack of game. In the past I have seen clubs side downhill very after after a couple years of not having their licensed trial. I wonder if there is some way as an association to help them get back on their feet. Perhaps near by clubs hosting a lic trial for them, and helping out with the trial ect.

[Dan Lang]

...Helping other clubs out...is a good point...Carl brought this up on another post, about changing the shcedule around so that clubs are on the same weekend and oppsite classes. That is somethong to discuss if the clubs are for it.

[DJC]

I'm all for altering schedules to help clubs or even holding a trial for a struggling club every once in a while.
Unfortuantely lack of game is hard to help a club with. Everyone knows the basics, beyond that its on the club members to figure how accomplish what needs to be done.

[Rob Kane]

My thoughts:
One of my clubs is holding a Two Couple Pack next weekend. Our rabbit committee went to one to see how they run, and they weren't impressed at the number of rabbits on the club grounds that were holding the trial...so they guys keep dumping rabbits in (on top of the excellent amount that were in there) as of last night they put 23 rabbits in the past two weeks with more going in over the weekend. If you don't have a game supply then its not going to come off.

Late last year it was brought up about including Large Pack and Gundog Brace in the awards, and shot down...if the association doesn't want to support those two formats, why support an award for this one?

I would suggest forming a Two Couple Pack Association.

[trial153]

Rob Kane, on 28 July 2011 - 07:51 AM, said:

I would suggest forming a Two Couple Pack Association.

That is a good point. Sometimes I think we as an association / federation are better off sticking to what works for us. SPO was started to get away from perceived negatives that came along from other formats. We should stay with what we started with...SPO and build up from there.