Fell Ponies??

[Dux de lux]

And a merry Christmas to you too Amex!

[FellMonster]

I think the problem might be that you have set yourself up to be different but havent really said exactly what you stand for; so you have some members who are wanting to run in relays and are willing to pay to affiliate to do that and others that arent interested.

Whether you like it or not the fact that you have given your 'club' a name, invited people to join, set up a website, sold vests etc suggests some level of organisation. Its all very well saying you dont want all the bullshit, but one persons bullshit is a necessary evil for other people to get what they want from the sport - some degree of organisation, a sense of belonging, racing as part of a team, organised events with rules etc

Dux de Lux, at the great risk or repeating myself (read the magazine article), I think we have been very clear about what we stand for. We stand for individualism and no pressure. That meant / means that members do as they please..... if they want to meet to train and race together, then great, if they want to never see another Fell pony and just race in the vest (or a homemade version of it-equally great) then great........Im quite sure that our interested parties will form a relay team at some point......those that have no interest will just get on with doing what THEY want to do......

Do you see how life an be so simple?
Here's the extent of our 'organistion':
New pony asks for vest, I order it. End of.
New pony doesn't ask for vest. We say 'Welcome on board, if we can help give us a shout'.

Simple as. No fees, no pressure, just the fun. That's what we said, thats what we ve stuck to.

[Dux de lux]

Good response - sounds a lot like my club. I think the reason for my pondering is that when ponies talk about the nagative side of clubs and fell running - 'bullshit', comitees, pressure, cost.... it just isnt my experience at all. It just makes me think that there must be lots of clubs out there that are very different to the one im in.

Happy running

[Stolly]

Just throwing my 'proud to be a pony' hat in the ring - the club I have been running with two nights a week are a general running club and none of regulars really enter much in the way of fell races. Although I have run in races with their vest, other than in team events the vest hasn't really meant anything to me. Its not like a football team that I support or anything serious like that .

Also on a good day, with a following wind and no beer the night before, I can finish at a time half as long again as the winning runner in a fell race so the only competition I have is me, the elements and maybe a previous pb. The only race I have run in as a pony so far, the tour of Pendle, was great because every now and then (until my wheels fell off) I'd be jockeying for position with a pony or be overtaken by one and even at this early stage it felt like I belonged

[FellMonster]

Cool, I'd meant to be at Pendle myself til injury took a hold.


Dux de Lux, sounds like your club has got a good balance. The article was never intended to be a dig at every club or at a specific club. It was a broad reflection of my experience in the number of clubs I ve been a member of.

[Amex]

And a merry Christmas to you too Amex!

Please Dux de lux:
I honestly meant it i do wish you a very peaceful crimbo, and hope you get all you wish for, i really could not be arsed to discuss all the pro's and con's about Clubs, it was not a go at what you stand for or believe in.
Like the vast majority in this sport we have to beat ourselves before others, and as stolly says "it felt like i belonged" could be a mission statement.
If you ever see me at a race and to be fair i am hard to miss, come shake my hand and lets drink to each others health!

[JohnK]

I think this question fits here.

Why is it that when folk decide to be an individual and move out of the mould, they then spend there life justifying themselves to others?

[FellMonster]

someone asked a question, so I felt obliged to answer.....I dont see it as a case of having to justify myself or the ponies.....more explanation/ than justification in my eyes.....I think we're a pretty straight forward bunch and I think we jokingly (mostly jokingly) use the term 'radicals' for the banter...... Its hardly a revolutionary idea by any means, and as they say,

there's nothing new under the sun.


Amex, perhaps you could drink to my health also sir.

[JohnK]

To heavy for me im out of here

[stevefoster]

Remember one thing, we are all on this forum because we like to run on the fells. That means we all have something in common. That means we can all get on with each other despite other differences in our lifestyles, its not heavy, its easy with a bit of effort. I personally respect and admire every man, jack of you and will drink to all your healths, but not tonight as i'm working. Whose round is it anyway?