Category Archives: 1

For those who recognise the benefits of good quality coaching, not to mention the benefit of meeting up with like minded people for a good natter, there are a number of training days and clinics in the coming weeks. The next one in our general area is on March 22nd and is being run by Benbulben riding club at Tubberbride Equestrian Centre. It is open to all AIRC members and will cater for all levels of rider. Interestingly it includes the chance to receive coaching in the art of Working Hunter showing.

The training clinic being run by Tirconaill Riding Club at Greenacres on the 19th of April is almost fully booked. The format for the clinic is a 1 hour lesson in flatwork with Mark Robinson and a 1 hr showjumping lesson with Mandi King. We already have six riders booked in so it should prove to be a good sociable outing as well as being beneficial. If anyone else feels they would like to take part then please contact Erica immediately to see if there are any additional places available.

Did you ever hanker for the opportunity to represent your country at an international competition? Well now might be your chance!

Clubs, affiliated to the Association of Irish Riding Clubs, can now apply to represent Ireland in a World Club Team Show Jumping Tournament at the Generali Open de France, one of the biggest equestrian events in the world, in July. This meeting takes place every summer at the Parc Equestre Federal, 41600 Lamotte Beuvron, France from 22nd to 24th July 2020. Lamotte Beuvron is in the Loire Valley, about 140kms south of Paris.

The main purpose of this tournament is to create a friendly event in which all members will meet riders from around the world and share their equestrian culture. Each team of 3 or 4 riders compete in two show jumping rounds and a final. The competition will be run over two days: 2 rounds and a final. The final is reserved for the five best teams after the first two rounds. Each rider has to participate with the same horse throughout the competition.

Team members may hire horses for this event due to the distance and cost of transportation, but it is possible to bring your own.

The Association of Irish Riding Clubs is seeking expressions of interest from interested clubs in representing the Association and Ireland at this tournament. Teams members must be of intermediate and/or advanced intermediate level in show jumping. Interested clubs must return their expression of interest to National Office by Friday 13th March 2020.

Despite the small matter of earning a crust keeping me away from last nights inter-club meeting I was brought up to speed with a rapid report from Marina. The league will continue as originally planned, with the two lost legs being just that…lost. Finding alternative dates to reschedule was proving impossible and the decision was made to run the remaining three legs and leave it at that.

Inishowen confirmed the date of their show to be Sunday May 3rd and the venue to be Eglinton. This show will also host the qualifiers for the National Dressage Championships, which are to be held in Mullingar on Sunday 16th of August.

A nice addition to the local calendar is the promise of a cross-jump competition at Gordon’s Bay on Sunday 14th of June. This is not an AIRC affiliated event and is therefore open to all riders. Details on the flyer.

Remember our own outing this Friday. Vera has organised the second of a series of lessons with Mary Devine at Twin Towns Equestrian Centre, Ballybofey. Contact Vera on 087-2325632 to book a place.

Don’t forget the inter-club meeting this evening. Its in the Glencar Inn at 8pm and all are very welcome. Obviously the decimation of the spring league by recent storms, will be high on the agenda, with the hope that additional dates can be found to compensate for the losses. Given the dearth of inter-club outings so far this season it is great to have a meeting as an excuse to meet up with everyone and have a natter if nothing else! See you there.

Not to be outdone by a woman, Dennis has produced enough wind and rain to put paid to the second leg of the North West Riding Clubs spring league. The next leg of the league is scheduled for Sunday 1st of March but before that is the next inter-club meeting on Monday 17th February in the Glencar Inn, so maybe we will discover plans afoot for replacing a leg or two.

With spring progressing at a rapid rate (honestly…just look at all the little buds on the bushes!) we are looking at a rapidly approaching hunter trial championships at Flowerhill and the associated need for cross-country training. Obviously the opportunities for getting out cross-country are limited, given the rather challenging weather and ground conditions, but Erica and her trusty elves are industriously searching for suitable options and there are potential plans afoot. Watch this space.

In the meantime don’t lose touch with the good folks in your local riding clubs. Why not come along for the inter-club meeting on Monday evening at the Glencar Inn at 8pm.

Apparently storms are like buses…..none for ages and then two come bumper to bumper. Having lost the first leg of our spring league to the ravages of Ciara we are now having to cross all fingers and toes in the hope that Dennis wont put paid to the second leg. Scheduled to be held this Sunday, 16th Feb, in Greenacres Equestrian Centre, and being run by Tirconail RC, this show will hopefully kick off the 2020 season in style.

Looking further down the calendar we now have a non-AIRC hunter trial to look forward to at Gordon’s Bay. Details on the flyer.

Tomorrow’s first leg of the North West Riding Clubs spring show-jumping league has been cancelled for safety reasons. Details on how scoring for the league will be affected will be posted in due course.

The third one’s the charm, so they say, and so it is with a date for our Audrey Jacob Team Challenge. It is now confirmed for Sunday May 24th in Eglinton. Even more time to perfect your moves.

If it looks like heaven and sounds like heaven it probably is heaven. I feel a little escapism coming on.

This coming Sunday sees the start of the north west riding clubs spring show-jumping league. The first leg of the league is in Templemore Equestrian Centre in Muff and promises to kick off the competitive year in great style. Inishowen riding club is running the first leg and the action kicks off at 11.00, with entries being accepted from 10.30.

Classes will run in ascending order, starting with crosspoles and finishing with the advanced-open class at 1.20m. There will be a training class at each height following the graded class…for example there will be an 80cm training class after the advanced-primary class finishes. The training classes are open to all grades of rider at or below the height i.e an advanced-open rider may ride a 70cm training class but an advanced-primary rider may not ride a 1.0m training class. Your €15 entry fee allows you to jump in as many training rounds as you wish, as well as competing in your graded class, making the riding club leagues an excellent and affordable way to bring on young or novice horses.

As always, the social aspect of riding club is all-important, with the canteen open to supply hot cuppas and good grub for refuelling while you dissect the days classes and cheer on fellow club mates. Even if you are not competing its worth coming along for a couple of hours to meet everyone, share the craic and practice cheering. See you there.