Team selection is complete! Even though each club is provisionally allowed enter just two teams, our third team has been accepted because not all clubs took up their two options. This is how the teams shape up:
Finn Nadine, Marina, Anne, Tommy
Swilly Tanya, Damien (on Millie), Libby, Cormac
Lennon Geraldine, Damien (on Armstrong), Francis, Erica
The qualifier takes place on Sunday 1 May in Claremorris. Training with Kelda continues this evening, Thursday, at Cyril’s arena in Milford.
Badminton gets off to its 2011 start tomorrow and there’s no shortage of Irish interest with nine competitors flying the flag. See the full details on the Horse Sport Ireland website.
Course building training with Charles Maudlin takes place this Friday evening at Killult, Falcarragh, at 7pm. Further training will be on Monday 6 June with Tony Ennis. The final training session and exam will be in August.
For further information or to book your place, contact Orla on 087 643 2458.
Equestrian Photographic Services, official photographers at Flowerhill, now have their collection on line: Equestrian Photographic Services.
Strule Valley RC are planning an Easter Monday ride-out at the Baronscourt Estate in County Tyrone. Full details in their flyer:
SVRC Easter Hack at Baronscourt
While the main focus of member activity at the weekend was Flowerhill, Damien and Nadine plied their trade at Cloncaw Equestrian Centre’s cross country event in Glaslough, Monaghan. Enjoying beautiful weather, they were delighted with their clear round in the Novice Pairs. Old hand Molly lead the way at the outset but novice Millie took over about half way and didn’t bat an eyelid as she travelled in front for the remainder of the course. Riders and horses were delighted with themselves and they collected blue rosettes for their efforts. Well done, all four of you.
Full winning results from yesterday’s AIRC National Hunter Trial Championships are now on line at the AIRC website. The complete competitors’ finishing list will probably be published shortly.
Well done everybody, particularly to Anne and Marina, and to Geraldine as well who, as our youngest member competing at her first ever riding club hunter trial, rode a brilliant clear round on Cool in the Advanced Intermediate class.
Great weather, great riding, great fun and great results – everything came together for us this year at Flowerhill. After a ribbonless trip to the Galway venue in 2010, the club covered itself in glory in 2011. Anne Chambers on Molly had a magnificent win in the Advanced Primary Championship while, on her fourth trip to Flowerhill, Marina and the veteran Teldel took second place in the Intermediate Championship. Marina was a single second slower than the optimum time. The winner was a single second faster than it and thus, under riding club rules, took the higher placing.
A cloud settled gloomily over the Intermediate class when it transpired that Connor Gallagher of the Gaeltachts had come home clear on exactly the optimum time only to find that a careless fence judge had marked down a penalty on the score sheet. His objection was barely considered and he finished ignominiously down the field instead of in the centre of the limelight. Our hearts go out to you Connor. And the composure which he and his father Neil showed in the face of this injustice was admirable.
It was a brilliant weekend. Glancing back at the place one last time as the lorry pulled out the gate for the long road home, Erica summed it all up: “I can’t wait to come back next year”. Amen to that.
Photos in the Gallery. Check out the Donegal Gaeltacht’s report and photos too on their website.
Pictured below: Anne, our Advanced Primary champion, and Marina, in the Intermediate ribbons.
Whatever gods are on our side, we thank you. Who could wish for a finer forecast for a weekend of equestrian activity? Tonight’s Friday evening flatwork lessons with Patricia Warren were graced with the kind of weather most non-locals don’t believe we experience in Donegal. Patricia will have had a short night’s sleep after she hurried home from Cyril’s to prepare the yard at Killult for her absence at Flowerhill.
The hallmark Killult lorry will pull in at Flowerhill around 6.30pm, as it has done for the last number of years. By then Rachel, Libby and Erica — joined by the third Carton sister, Ross House RC’s Kate Carton — will be firmly entrenched at the front of the carparking area and their horses will have enjoyed an energetic leg-stretch around the non-competition areas of the extensive Flowerhill estate. Camp stoves will be running at full throttle as Mick and Leo with Marina and Geraldine screech into the scene shortly before dusk falls over the campsite. Anne and Keary will have arrived at a respectable time in between the firsts and the lasts.
Meanwhile, back in Milford, Damien and Nadine will be enjoying a night in their own bed, sure in the knowledge that they’re going to have a great day out at the Cloncaw cross country trial at Glaslough in Monaghan. Martina will be planning her day’s activity with Smuggler, and countless other club members will continue their lives blissfully unaware of the unique experience they’re bypassing at Flowerhill.
And at the end of the day, those self same members will be happily asleep in their beds, their horses resting in their stables, while the Flowerhill warriors travel the long road home. Horses for courses. The great thing about the riding club is that there’s something for everyone.
Best of luck everybody. Enjoy yourselves and come home safely — everything else is a bonus.
Doolin Star, who has been seen on many occasions with both Libby and Rachel at riding club, is reluctantly for sale. Doolin is a 5 year old, 13.2hh (approx) connemara gelding by ‘Oisin’ (see full breeding on All Breed Pedigree). He has had one season’s hunting with the Donegal Harriers and has done everything from pony club rallies through dressage, show jumping, mounted games and polocrosse to pony racing and TREC.
Doolin is very good natured and willing, though he does occasionally see bogey men that the rider can’t see. He has never bucked, bitten, kicked etc. He’s good in traffic, to load, travel, clip, shoe and to handle. His jumping shows good promise, though he needs more experience with spooky fillers etc.
He would make a brilliant second pony for any child wanting to get out and have fun. Contact Rachel on 086 161 7087.
Letterkenny Riding Club