Scotia Challenge Series
Last Updated Tuesday 24th February 2009
SCOTIA WINCH CHALLENGE SERIES.
Official announcement of the cancellation of the 2 remaining Rounds Scheduled for April & May.It is with considerable sadness that the Scotia Winch Challenge Club regret to announce the cancellation of the two final rounds in this four round series.
We have thought long & hard about the situation and come to the conclusion that the series is not attracting the level of novices anticipated. Why? We have no idea, as the original concept was widely acknowledged as something much needed within Scotland by all the groups we consulted.
For the February event we found ourselves with an unexpected high number of experienced winch challenge vehicles and competitors, travelling from much further afield. Even so the entry field was only 18.
So we attempted to rectify the situation for the March event, by increasing the numbers of easier sections and excluding beginners from the potentially damaging wooded sections of the site. Despite this we failed to reach the minimum number of entrants, running the event for only 13 vehicles, with only 5 true novices. Now we did make it clear from the outset that an experienced entrant could not, and should not be allowed to win a novice event, however, when 2/3 of the field are in this class it seems unfair to penalize them in such a way.
A decision had to be taken – do we continue with this Series and change direction from our original ideas or do we stick to the original concept, admit we got it wrong and cancel the remaining two rounds due to lack of interest.
We have decided to cancel.
The majority of potential, true “novice” entrants, we believe, feel we have either the level, location, duration, frequency, price or something else wrong that excludes them from entering this sort of event. It was never our intention in running a mini-Tay type event; however we see this as the only way that this series can survive and, we don’t wish to follow this path.
This seems the perfect time to announce our decision, if there is one, as we have only two paid entrants for April and one for May. This will cause the least inconvenience for those involved and allow those who were going to enter to make alternative plans.
Andrew Thomlinson,
Chairman, Scotia Winch Challenge Club. 15th March 2009.