SOP AGM.

[Ley253]

Looks like a case of watch this space then, I sincerely hope they do well but it all seems far to political for me at this stage judging by what a lot of people have said

To be honest, whatever sporting organisation or club you join, the answer to your original question would be "not very much".The SOP does give you opportunities, they organise Judges seminars which provide judges for all classes, not just world style, vintage qualifiers run by local societies, but the SOP recruits these to do this, they scour the country to find sites for, and then run the national, which has I believe changed dramatically in the vintage/classic arrangements and as a member, should you go to the national as a spectator, admission is free.
Let us look at the good things for a change, an obscure, country sporting event was turned into a major international success, much to the surprise of many on here, and I hold my hand up as one of those who expected an expensive failure.

 

[Dealer]

Yep that's about right

I have stated above why I am not a member. If stating that an organisation does not cater for a large part of the sport is moaning and attempts to suggest what could is needed to make it more inclusive is again liable anti sop then things won't change soon.

As a classic ploughman can you tell me what sop has to offer me?


Why should I pay to something for little back and little regard to me as a member.

It seams to me if you disagree or have a different opinion then you are branded a out cast.

Not looking for anything on a plate but the society should not pretend to be something for everything when it's clearly not at present.

I would ask 1 question. How big a percentage of the total ploughman in the country are not members.
If it's more than 50% then something is wrong.

So if pointing out shortcomings is moaning then guilty as charged

 

[Ley253]

Yep that's about right

I have stated above why I am not a member. If stating that an organisation does not cater for a large part of the sport is moaning and attempts to suggest what could is needed to make it more inclusive is again liable anti sop then things won't change soon.

As a classic ploughman can you tell me what sop has to offer me?


Why should I pay to something for little back and little regard to me as a member.

It seams to me if you disagree or have a different opinion then you are branded a out cast.

Not looking for anything on a plate but the society should not pretend to be something for everything when it's clearly not at present.

I would ask 1 question. How big a percentage of the total ploughman in the country are not members.
If it's more than 50% then something is wrong.

So if pointing out shortcomings is moaning then guilty as charged

Right then. What should the SOP be doing for your class?

 

[Dealer]

Give it the same recognition that the other classes get.

Why was there no world championship for classic but was for vintage and world style. At York

How can it lobby for it to be included at other world's if it can't be arsed to hold it on its own turf.

 

[ploughman61]

Give it the same recognition that the other classes get.

Why was there no world championship for classic but was for vintage and world style. At York

How can it lobby for it to be included at other world's if it can't be arsed to hold it on its own turf.

Problem you've got is outside the UK their is no call for a classic class, as Roy Stokes said, the hardest part was winning the British to qualify for the Europeans

 

[Ley253]

Could it be that classic is not yet as popular as the other classes, in other countries at least. A world championship would look a bit silly with only the home nations, plus Ireland competing. Lobbying for inclusion in future events is one way of bringing it to other national organises attention.

 

[Dealer]

Yes I did attend York on the Friday to watch the classic uk match

Charge for entry was £12 I think so paying £30 to join a get in free does not make sense even if I went for 2 days.

 

[Dealer]

Could it be that classic is not yet as popular as the other classes, in other countries at least. A world championship would look a bit silly with only the home nations, plus Ireland competing. Lobbying for inclusion in future events is one way of bringing it to other national organises attention.

Poor excuse. It's probably the second largest class in England now. Behind vintage.

Many matches don't even have a world style class due to lack of competitors so sop is failing to encourage enough new entrants to it flagship class...

We have Europeans for classic so it is flagged outside the UK
including it at York would have given the class a showcase to encourage other countries to introduce it.

 

[Ley253]

So, does that mean that , (1) the admission was too low, or (2) that £6 was more than you would like to pay towards the running of your class championship?

 

[Ley253]

Poor excuse. It's probably the second largest class in England now. Behind vintage.

Many matches don't even have a world style class due to lack of competitors so sop is failing to encourage enough new entrants to it flagship class...

We have Europeans for classic so it is flagged outside the UK
including it at York would have given the class a showcase to encourage other countries to introduce it.

At the risk of upsetting many, I would point out, the europe is not the world! And many classic competitors are ex world style men, can we have them back please!

 

[Dealer]

I paid along with all the other qualifiers competitors for the staging of the 20 or so in the final at york.

What I was high lighting was that one of the few benefits of joining is not that much of a benefit really.

 

[Dealer]

At the risk of upsetting many, I would point out, the europe is not the world! And many classic competitors are ex world style men, can we have them back please!

Probably not due to the cost of competing in that class

Fancy ploughs bigger Tractors and trucks to lug stuff around

 

[Dealer]

At the risk of upsetting many, I would point out, the europe is not the world! And many classic competitors are ex world style men, can we have them back please!

Is this the real reason that classic is held back?

 

[Ley253]

I paid along with all the other qualifiers competitors for the staging of the 20 or so in the final at york.

What I was high lighting was that one of the few benefits of joining is not that much of a benefit really.

As I said, there is very little gain that can be made personal, in any club or society. Opportunities for all however are available, even for those who dont contribute! Judges, score sheets, scoring systems, a standard method of organisation, plot sizes etc. There is of course more that can be done, and I know that there are ides in the pipeline, but like Rome the Sop cannot be (re)built in a day!

 

[Ley253]

Probably not due to the cost of competing in that class

Fancy ploughs bigger Tractors and trucks to lug stuff around

So true. And really should have been stepped on hard, when the large tractors came into use.My plough is far from fancy, and the tractor is, by todays standards. puny, but I still finish my plot, and the work is respectable, and with a better man using it, the kit would be competitive. It all travels on a 7.5 tone truck.

 

[Dealer]

Yes I am very familiar with you set up and your work is respectable but

In reality your co competitors have more modern larger outfits that give them a head start and those extra points stand out at the end.

For new entrants to be able to compete is massive compared to classic class

Why was the cost not controlled? Because it suited those in power because they could afford the better kit so I gave them an advantage.

 

[Ley253]

I dont think the large tractors are that much of an advantage, Davids tractor is quite small, its the FWD which helps, his plough is also quite simple, and thats the way to go I believe. Mark has most of a plough for sale which has every adjustment poss, and all powered operated, it was used by a top man. He couldnt win with it, the boards are missing, and the man is using his old plough, and is back to his willing ways.
One thing which is holding people back is the driving licence rules, you need a test pass for any truck now, and that is an extra expense, which is hard to justify, though you can put a world style plough behind a 35, and use a LandRover and trailer. Mind you, that would be three times the cost of my old lorry! The owner of a top line classic plough in your area , mentioned that a price above £8000, would be needed to tempt him to sell, thats two world style ploughs from Mark! That is a special plough, but, so are most world style outfits.

 

[arcobob]

Right then. What should the SOP be doing for your class?

All classes embraced by the SOP, whose participants pay the same subs, should receive the same benefits and recognition, the same quality of land to plough and carry equal weight in decision making. This has definitely not been the case in the past and is very unlikely to be the case in the future. Fair democratic process is required before these issues can be addressed.

 

[Cordiale]

So what is the answer? Do the classic and vintage form their own national body and promote their own agenda?Leaving the SOP to get on with it's primary aim of selecting the competitors for the world match.

Remember the old adage United we stand, divided we fall!

 

[arcobob]

So what is the answer? Do the classic and vintage form their own national body and promote their own agenda?Leaving the SOP to get on with it's primary aim of selecting the competitors for the world match.

Remember the old adage United we stand, divided we fall!

At the moment it appears that the decisions are and have been made by World Match enthusiasts and participants who are very much in the minority to further their needs. The remainder are a convenient income source and play second fiddle but pay the same in contributions.
It is all very well saying that the Society was evolved from vintage ploughing and that the present World Style participants were once vintage ploughmen but through undemocratic process they have hijacked the club. I have seen how this is difficult to challenge or change , witness past events and proposals that have been manipulated by proxy voting. Make no mistake, this organisation is still in the control of a family autocracy and a close knit circle of friends and beneficeries who will put their needs first and do as suits them best. Everything else is secondary until the constitutional rights of all the members are put on a fair and democratic footing.