No rotten fruit thrown at very enjoyable AGM

No rotten fruit was thrown, no insults were hurled, no complaints were lodged. Another year of club business was successfully wound up last night at a very good humoured and enjoyable AGM. The spirit of the meeting reflected a deeply rooted confidence in the club and universal approval of the way things continue to run. Chairman Francis kept his report characteristically concise but drew special attention to the enjoyment brought by our participation in three team events this year. All of them, but in particular the Northwest Team Challenge at our own autumn show, contributed greatly to the strengthening of club spirit and atmosphere.

Treasurer Sharon Lee reported on our reassuringly healthy financial standing and everybody agreed that surplus funds should be spent developing club resources rather than allowing them to languish in a bank account.

The election of officers for 2011 saw most roles maintained by their 2010 occupants, with just a couple of significant changes. Francis remains as Chairman but also steps in as Chief Safety Coordinator with all the 2010 safety officers as his team of assistants. Sharon Lee continues as Treasurer while Orla takes over from Libby as Secretary. Instead of an Assistant Secretary, this year we will have Martina as Show Secretary, with responsibility for the official paperwork after each event we run. Sharon Lee has undertaken PRO duties. Libby is the new grading officer with Rachel as assistant grading officer. The full list can be seen on the The Club page of the website.

The club’s 2010 Awards were the final item on the agenda and the new system of nominating candidates was a great success. Damien read out many of the comments which were made about those who were in the running for the awards and this provided a very fitting acknowledgement and appreciation of the contribution of many members. We’ll put the comments on the website shortly. On the night it was Libby who was named 2010 Club Member of the Year. (And she’s exceedingly touched by the award and very grateful.) In the four-legged department, several horses received glowing tributes but it was Paddy’s Lizzie who was ultimately crowned 2010 Club Horse of the Year.

Pictured below: Club Chairman Francis presents the 2010 awards for Club Member of the Year and Club Horse of the Year to Libby and (Paddy on behalf of) Lizzie.

Hectic weekend in a nutshell

This weekend must surely be a record for club activities with action on four consecutive days concluding this evening with our AGM in Tír na Og.

Valerie taught two lessons on Friday evening at Templemore. The first was a sedate affair with four earnest pupils on well behaved mounts. The second was a cavalry charge with nine exceedingly fresh horses ridden by a colourful bunch of riders. Valerie controlled things admirably having got off to a worried start. We probably didn’t learn as much as we might have on a properly populated lesson but it was nevertheless a lot of fun.

Erica’s working hunter clinic with Toni Donnelly was a great success at Cyril’s on Saturday with two riding club sessions followed by pony club time. Toni took riders through the jumping element of the competition before proceeding to demonstrate the showing part in great detail. Participants stripped down their horses and were shown how to properly present them to the judge.

While the hunting brigade were out in force at Herbie Lusby’s meet in Porthall on Sunday, eight members travelled to Keash Equestrian Centre in Ballymote for the final of the Western Region’s show jumping league. It was a wonderful venue and there was an excellent turn-out from all over the region. Donegal was very well represented with plenty of members from all three clubs competing. We had no big wins but Nadine’s consistency was highlighted once again when she and Molly took fifth in both the morning(!!) class and the afternoon(!!!!) final at Advanced Intermediate level. Orla had a great day finishing both 2nd and 5th on Lady and Sonny respectively in the morning class and she rode HC with great credit in the afternoon final. Armstrong and Libby were just pipped to the post in a great jump off for the morning’s 29-entry Intermediate class.

The journey home through thick fog and frosty roads was a long one but the day had been well worthwhile. Not very surprisingly, it seems as if the new policy of holding regional qualifiers and league finals at a mid-point in the region is a great success.

Photos from recent show jumping and hunting action

Photographic evidence of our recent expedition to Ecclesville is now up on the Prime Photography website. There was also a full report in Farm Week last week with a lovely photo of Tanya on Jack.

Perfect weather for hunting has resulted in some beautiful photographs from the Donegal Harriers meet at Porthall on Emerald Guitars’ Flickr site. Spot Leo and Grace in fine form!

Dates for your 2011 diary

AIRC HQ have just published the dates for next year’s national championships:

Sunday 17 April – Hunter Trials Championships
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 June – Riding Clubs Festival
Sunday 17 July – Show Jumping Championships
Sunday 7 August – Team Show Jumping Championship Final
Sunday 14 August – Dressage Championships
Sunday 21 September – Masters Series Final
Sunday 11 September – Horse Trials Championships

The venues won’t be published until the new year but hopefully Flowerhill will remain Flowerhill. Read the full news item on the AIRC website.

Clinic with Toni Donnelly at Cyril’s, Saturday 13 November

Erica has successfully arranged a clinic on Working Hunters with expert Toni Donnelly for this coming Saturday at Cyril’s arena in Milford. The session is being divided between the riding club and the pony club and there are some final spots which need to be filled. If you’re interested in participating in the clinic (or in arranging a straightforward jumping or flatwork lesson with Toni), contact Erica on 083 370 9333 as quickly as possible.

Further information on Working Hunter clinics with Toni Donnelly.

Pictured below: Toni Donnelly in competitive action.

Tried & Tested products coming soon

Alice McGinley of Ireland’s Horse & Pony has revealed what product each club is being asked to test for their forthcoming feature:

Mackey Ireland Hawthorn Boot & Turnout Rug | Cheval Riding Club
Bucas (Shamrock Power – multi-purpose cooler/under rug/stable rug) |
Letterkenny Riding Club
Bucas (Max Saddle pad – anti bacterial wicking saddle pad)
Tara Hill Riding Club
Darragh Equestrian Solutions (MacWet Performance Gloves)
Long Acre Riding Club
Darragh Equestrian Solutions (William Funnell Breeches for Men & Bisbane Jodhpurs for Kids) | Mo Chara Riding Club
Back on Track (Knee Brace & Fleece Bandages) | Corrib Riding Club
Back on Track (Back Brace & Royal Quick wrap) | Ashwood Riding Club

Samples are due any day now. With luck they’ll arrive before our AGM on Monday and we can decide at that point how to distribute them (if they can be pried from the secretary’s claws).