Author Archives: 2011

Northern Ireland Show Jumping Championships, Eglinton **with schedule

At our last club meeting Cormac made the excellent point that we have some first rate show jumping on our doorstep next weekend. The Northern Ireland Show Jumping Championships take place this week at Eglinton and are well worth a visit, particularly at the weekend. Saturday evening’s spectator highlight is the Masters Championship with aContinue reading “Northern Ireland Show Jumping Championships, Eglinton **with schedule”

Warm-up opportunity as hunting season beckons

How time flies! Hunting season kicks off in the not-too-distant future and this Saturday, 6 October, presents a great opportunity to have a good cross-country warm-up at Robert Smith’s Ballylennon farm. The event is open to all — you don’t have to be a member of the Donegal Harriers. Called a “warm-up hunt”, it willContinue reading “Warm-up opportunity as hunting season beckons”

Pupils benefit from super tuition on Friday evening

Richard Smyth’s jumping lessons on Friday evening proved a great success with seven riders making the journey to Mulvin Stables at Victoria Bridge. Nadine, Tanya, Marina and Enda rode at 7pm while Denis, Anne and Keary took the 8pm slot. Every instructor has his or her own particular style and the emphasis in Richard’s class wasContinue reading “Pupils benefit from super tuition on Friday evening”

Donegal Trec activities increase over the coming months

If you fancy trying out the equestrian sport of Trec, you’ll be glad to hear that Donegal TREC will hold a TREC skills training league over the autumn and winter months. The aim of the league is to give riders an opportunity to build their TREC skills or to try the sport for the firstContinue reading “Donegal Trec activities increase over the coming months”

Donegal Clubs meeting makes progress on all fronts

Tuesday evening’s meeting of the three Donegal clubs was a productive and pleasant affair. Plans are now firmly in place for the 3-leg Autumn Mini-League which will run in the same format as the North West League, albeit with double points for the final. That should spice things up somewhat and we’ll use the autumnContinue reading “Donegal Clubs meeting makes progress on all fronts”

Gradual build-up to autumn mini-league begins this week

With under six weeks to the beginning of our new Autumn Mini-League, it’s time to work on both organisation and equitation to ensure that the event is a success. Tuesday evening sees another meeting of the Donegal Division, the collaboration between the three Donegal AIRC clubs. Several of our club members have committed themselves toContinue reading “Gradual build-up to autumn mini-league begins this week”

Friday activities fall by the wayside once again

The keystone of club life, our Friday evening activities, are falling by the wayside with disappointing regularity this season. Once again, this week’s lesson has been cancelled due to lack of support. There are a number of contributing factors but two of them — money and travel — are the main culprits. Things would beContinue reading “Friday activities fall by the wayside once again”

Geraldine steps into instructors boots as Richard Smyth’s lessons are postponed for a week

In a change of plan, Richard Smyth’s jumping lessons will kick off a week later than originally scheduled on Friday of next week, 28 September. This week, in his place, we’ll be instructed for the first time by our very own newly-qualified Geraldine Porter. The lessons will take place at Miranda Doherty’s arena near Strabane.Continue reading “Geraldine steps into instructors boots as Richard Smyth’s lessons are postponed for a week”

Jumping lessons with Richard Smyth

Next weeks sees the beginning of a short series of Friday evening jumping lessons with Richard Smyth at his yard at Victoria Bridge, between Strabane and Newtownstewart. Richard needs no introduction and this is a great opportunity to train with an accomplished show jumper with a great reputation as a teacher. Denis is arranging theContinue reading “Jumping lessons with Richard Smyth”