It had always been my intention not to run The British Novice Championships this year til after The BAF British Nationals.
Largely due to the fact that I believe that due to the spread of experience across the current crop of emerging UK athletes, there had been a serious blurring of the boundaries between Pro and Novice with guys like Charlie Twigg and Matt Preston showing up to pull at last years event.
I'd then actually intended to put something together potentially in the second week in November ie. Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th as per the calendar, as that is the only viable date available and I had been approaching venues with this date in mind, until I read on here that Nick had an event scheduled for the week of November the 27th.
I had then not wanted too (and I still don't want to create a clash with Nick's ROSSENDALE RAMPAGE event)
Plus around the same time as I was ready to secure the venue and I am going to be brutally honest here, my own personal motivation to promote ANY type of B.A.F. event was pretty much floored, due to the comments of a couple of individuals on this forum and I did / have SERIOUSLY started to question who's fool am I and have considered just walking away from the whole BAF Amateur Armwrestling scene, letting the lads that believe they can do much better have a crack.
For me these guys (the ones who are most vocal) are as yet unproven and I would advise them to initially gather their own experience in ACTUALLY running events themselves over a year of two and get some wool on their backs in that area. There must be a realization that otherwise they could actually do far more harm than good as the BAF chocolate isn't as tasty as it looks when its in the wrapper. I have actively encouraged the regional shows and the practical experience that they would afford. I have also watched intently for the number of individual responses from active UK Armwrestlers on this forum compared to those with whom I have already spoken or from whom I have received personal correspondence. There has been only a handful of those at best.
Since the questions were raised on this forum I've received a great deal of support from people (REAL ARMWRESTLERS) who do seem to have some idea of what I try to do and that made me pause and re assess matters.
At the moment I don't fully understand my own views, I do know that I don't want to do a job that people don't want me to do !
definately not ! but from what I can see, read, there actually only appears to be only a tiny handful of guys who claim to be unhappy with the manner in which the BAF is progressing, two of whom by their own admission are totally inexperienced non Armwrestlers and who's primary motivations for complaining were actually unjustified and totally unsubstantiated.
So I really don't know where things stand with the British Novice Event at the moment, as I've actively backed away from my efforts to secure a venue for the 13th or 14th of November.
Its really up in the air at the moment for me, my motivation has definately been given a Bullet.
I'd be Happy to run the event on that weekend for the lads like Daz, Stephen and Leo, Al and all the Panthers Lads (who I remain very motivated about) IF you guys want me to then I will do so !? BUT I don't want to cut across Nick Hall's event as that is pointless and totally counter productive.
I'd like to initially get a feel for how many Guys would have the intension of pulling that weekend ? and who they are exactly so that I could identify the extent of a clash with lads potentially pulling at Nick's show.
If there is no issue then we can look at the 13th or 14th of November
Regards
Neil
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