With the ground frozen hard outside, and the sun still rising late and disappearing all too early, it’s good to know that the stirrings of life are very evident in our club. Despite the financial pressures (not to mention pressure on belts and waistlines) that the Christmas holiday season bring to so many of us, we have a very healthy number of renewals already, and club talk is very enthusiastic about the year ahead. And why wouldn’t it be when we have so much to look forward to?!
The North West Spring League, run by the five clubs in the Donegal district, is due to start on February 15th at Greenacres Stud and Equestrian Centre near Convoy. This year’s league will incorporate the following rule changes from the previous leagues run:
Firstly, the need to compete at the final leg, in order to be eligible for league prizes, has been done away with. To be in the running for prizes a horse and rider combination must compete at three of the five legs. Your best three scores from the league will be addded together to give your overall score. BUT (and take note!) double points will still be awarded at the last leg, so you would need to be in a pretty unassailable lead to chance missing it. Also remember that for the NWSL the prize giving takes place at the final leg, so do be sure to attend.
Secondly, no classes will be combined. In previous years the higher level dressage classes would have been combined due to small numbers of entries, but this year each class will have it’s own prize pool, meaning that even if you are the only competitor at a certain grade you will receive first prize (assuming you have taken part in three of the legs at that grade). Likewise the higher grades of showjumping are now stand alone classes. WARNING (for those thinking of jumping a height above their grade) remember that under AIRC rules if a rider competes five times in a year at a level above their current grade they must upgrade, regardless of their results at the higher level. Whether this refers to a calendar year or a rolling year is unclear, but it’s safer to assume it refers to a rolling year.
So the league is now even more inviting than ever and, as always, offers great value for money and a super opportunity to get out and meet up with the good folk that make up the Donegal district.
With the spring league behind us we’ll have LOADS to look forward to with our horses and club members. Check out our Calendar, on the “What We Do” page, and start planning your campaign for 2026. There are already dates for events running right into November.
Letterkenny Riding Club 