Piggy March and Brookfield Future News, Open Novice winners at Oasby (1) 2022
Updated 10th February 2023
No ballot system breaks British Eventing entry records
BEDE Events’ new non-ballot process initiated for Oasby (1) has broken previous British Eventing records for the total number of entries received in one day
The entry system opened, after a short delay, for full members, on Wednesday, February 8th at midday, and entries were accepted in the order in which they arrived – each class closing when it’s reached 90% capacity. Waitlists will be opened in due course and the remaining entries will be allocated from the waitlist.
Queries were raised over the timing of the entries window opening, with some querying whether the midday window favoured professional riders.
“We had a big discussion in the office and thought the midday would be suitable for everybody, as hopefully you could schedule a lunch break if you’re working or if you’re riding you could finish your horses for a short break” commented Stuart Buntine of BEDE Events adding “if competitors have suggestions for a different time, please do contact us with suggestions.”
“We aways knew entries would come in quickly, we just never imagined that quickly. It is humbling to have that many of entries that quickly. Apologies to those who missed out, but if we hadn’t run this system, I’m sure we would have had 1,400 or 1,500 entries and then we would have had to ballot 4 or 500 people. I think, hopefully, it is better to know within 24-hours of entering whether you have a run or not, rather than finding 3-weeks before an event that you were balloted out.”
“It was slightly mayhem yesterday but, someone said last night ‘they never knew Oasby would be more popular than Beyonce tickets’, now we know what Glastonbury feel like!”
No Ballot for BEDE Events at Oasby (1)
BEDE Events will run their first British Eventing fixture at Oasby (1) 2023 with no ballot system, instead accepting entries in the order in which they are received, and waiving substitution fees for multi-horse entries
BEDE, which runs popular events including the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby, the first British CCI4* of the season, Osberton International Horse Trials, and a roster of national events, will use the new entry policy for its first event of the year at Oasby (1)
Held from March 9th – 12th in Lincolnshire, Oasby is one of the best-attended early-season fixtures, and will serve as a trial run for the new system
“Oasby is an event that has always been keen to try new ideas and initiatives, whilst also staying true to its key role of being an early season event that is used by riders to get horses out competing at the start of the season on good going. As the only British Eventing fixture running on this weekend (9th – 12th March) we can foresee a significant entry to an already busy fixture, and would therefore urge riders to enter as soon as entries open” says BEDE Events’ Stuart Buntine
“By operating this system, we hope that everybody will have an equal chance of competing at our events. As with any new system there will be some lessons to learn, however we hope that this will enable riders to confidently enter early to ensure they get a run. We aim to be as flexible as possible, and will endeavour to work with riders to ensure we develop a fair and easy system.
For organisers, receiving the entries as early as possible will greatly assist with our financial planning and should reduce the risks of events cancelling, due to lack of financial viability, at the last minute.”
The entry system will open, for full members, on Wednesday, February 8th at midday, and entries will be accepted in the order in which they arrive. Each class will close when it’s reached 90% capacity with the remaining 10% being taken from the waitlist, rather than relying on a lottery system or ballot stickers.
Should space allow, entries will open for PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go British Eventing’s new version of a day ticket) members, on Wednesday 15th February, at midday. In the event of a shortfall of entries, the system will remain open beyond the closing date, though a late entry surcharge will be applied from 23rd February
There are benefits for multi-horse entries too as Oasby has long been the season-opening event of choice for many of Britain’s professional event riders, who often have a number of horses to take into consideration at every event.
In an effort to accommodate theses specific needs, BEDE will waive the substitution fee for horses, allowing riders to confidently enter up to five horses per day for the event and swap their intended mounts at a later date without incurring a financial penalty.
Further information can be found via BEDE Events website
Oliver Townend rides Cooley Rosalent at Oasby (1) Horse Trials 2022
