NATIONAL NOVICE COMPS !!!!!!!!!!

[GrahamDale]

Thought it should have its own thread.
ok weve got the basic idea and the regional split so maybe now the promoters such as phil or bob could give us thier interpretation of novice/intermediate and if we keep on it could actually come to something

[Bob Daglish]

In most sports a novice is a first time competitor, but strongman is not as easy as that. So my novice would be a competitors first 2 or 3 years of comps, if there have not won an OPEN comp with a strong field of competitors. for example Mark Lawson, Billy Little, or not novice standard there in between novice and BSM.

As for the weight class how about over 11o kilos and under 110 kilos, I would be happy to try is a one of the shows i do next year

But i think it time for people who put these comps or shows on to sit around a table and walk the walk not talk the walk. I am willing how about the rest of you together we can all make this sport better

[Colin]

Personally I'd be a bit stricter on what constitutes a "novice".

I think a novice should be someone who has:

Not placed top 3 in more than 1 contest.
Not competed in an "Open".

I think the only exceptions to this should be in the case of someone who has taken some time out of the sport and has not competed for a year or two.

This lets first timers and true novices get a fair crack at the whip as it forces guys to move on to the open contests.

Next year I'm planning on promoting the White Cliffs Strongman Challenge along these lines. I want to give novices a chance to get into the sport without them having to go up against people that have been around for a few years.

[Tom viking power]

Well if we can find some more promoters to cover the different regions we are on the way.

We then can define the entry criteria. As this will be a novice / intermediate series of comps leading to a national final we need a good standard.
My view: No one who as entered an open comp, Max comp experience of say x shows (discuss) As this is aimed at finding a national 'novice' champion we can not say anyone who as ever won a novice comp is not eligible.
Anyway thats a start.

[Tom viking power]

Colin would you be prepared to work as one of the promoters for the southern comp, Perhaps working with phil, Mick and John

I'll help in anyway i can

[Colin]

I was more talking about "generally" than about this tournment in particular.

I just think a novice show should be about getting some experience and "learning the ropes". Once you have done a couple you need to move on and do the open shows.

I'm worried that if we are not careful people who should be progressing will be hanging around in the novice ranks for ages picking up trophies and denying opportunites for newer guys to come through. It is possible that setting up a national novice comp could make staying a novice for another year more attractive to guys who really should move on.

[Colin]

I think that Allhallows novices would probably be the best show for the southern qualifier. It is the largest, and the longest established novice show in the south as far as I know.

If people wanted to use my White Cliffs novice show as a qualifier though I would have no objections.

I will of course help anyone in any way I can with this.

[tom viking power]

Yea good point col, We could do with a definition of novice, Perhaps we even need an intermediate catergory thus
novice is say: no more than three shows, No win in a novice show. Never entered an open of intermediate comp.

Intermediate: Never entered an open comp, No more than two top three finishes in an intermediate level comp.

Just a couple of possible definitions to discuss.
I feel this comp though would be novice / intermediate level

[ken]

(imo)allhallows novice,i was looking at jay or paul winning the show and a first timer won it,terry holland.i know we need rules,but this guy now can't do any more novice shows. he put on a great performance last sunday in the open,but wasn't ready for that class.i hope its made him more determined to to train heavier and harder,not go the other way.the probability of this happening must be rare,but i do fill sorry for the guy

[Big lennie]

This is my second year as a novice. First year didnt even count. This in my mind is my learning year .I hope that next year I will start to move up the novice ladder but by then I well have done 6 shows (so will i still be a novice) coz im not ready for open shows not by a long way .

What is classed as (novice)
I spoke with colin and said there should be 8 events which 5 can be chosen for a show . Then have a final with all 8 events maybe over two days .
This way we can have the best of all



ie these not one person good at all events is there (or is there)

I see that people are getting more in to the idea of north and south (regions) great I say lets do it hopfuly by next year
its just a thought

[Tom viking power]

Col if we are to do a national comp with regional qualifiers we can't use allhallows or your comp. If we were to do this then only southern entrants could take part in allhallows. Allhallows is a great comp with entrants from all over the uk.

I like the idea of 5 out of 8 events in the heats though. I still feel the best format is regional heats with the top three in each heat going to a national final. The comp open to novice and intermediate competitors.

Certainly feel we need this intermediate catergory as it would have covered terry's situation (intermediate as per my definition above)

[Olly Jackson]

I think this is a great idea. We could learn a lot from the US way of doing this. Instead of having open and novice, they have Pro and Am, now that wouldnt work here and the Open/Novice works well so that should stay.

They do have Pro/Am nationals though. To qualify for Am nationals you have to place highly at an Amateur comp. There is no limit to how many comps you can enter to try and qualify and it isnt done regionally. If, lets say the top 3 from each novice comp qualify and the top 3 of a comp have already qualified then the next 3 in that comp qualify.

This way, allhallows, White Cliffs, and any other comp could apply to be qualifiers for nationals. This way your more than likely to get more entries to comps as people enter to 'try' and qualify for nationals. This would surely make the job of promoting much easier and encourage higher participation levels. This also gives us more comps to enter during the year and allows everyone an 'equal' chance of qualifying.

I dont think the regional idea is especially good. It works well at an open level but im not sure it would at a novice level

[Olly Jackson]

Also, where would I qualify? Im gonna be at uni in manchester but im registered living in South East London and will be there in the summrs. These are all things to consider.

Either way, its a cracking idea.

[GrahamDale]

although by eds show i will have competed in 5 shows some novice some open , ihave been competing for a year and i still think i am very much a novice , this is going to be a hard one to define

[chrisjshaw]

I think theres some really good ideas on this thread but its most peoples definition of a novice that i dont agree with. (anyone that has entered an open show)
I did my first show last week for Bob and that was an open show, id never touched any of the equipment beforehand and never done any event training and im nowhere near ready to move up.
I have entered an open show, but you cant deny i am still a complete novice and will consider myself a novice untill im confident enough and have loads of comp experience and get hold of event equipment to train with ive only been liftin weights nearly 9 months.
Its a tough one to define but i hope it gets sorted out and everyones happy with it.