The running order for the show jumping challenge tomorrow has been published and we can see what the opposition looks like. There are two teams each from both the Strule Valley and Seskinore & Ecclesville riding clubs, as well as one team from the Erne Lakeland riding club. The other AIRC club which was invited, Castle Leslie, doesn’t appear on the list.
Best of luck to the teams. Enjoy yourselves.
Benbulben Riding Club have finalised the details of their winter show which comes up soon on Sunday 14 November. The schedule is split into two halves. In the morning, commencing at 10am, there are individual graded classes which serve as the final qualifier for the League Final so, if you’re one show short of the 8 you need to have attended in order to qualify, you can make it up by competing in the morning event. The Final takes place in the afternoon. Non-qualified riders may ride (effectively HC) in the afternoon classes at half the normal entry fee but will not be eligible for prizes.
Jane Conway, Regional Points Officer, has just circulated the up-to-date attendance table so we can confirm everybody’s qualification status. Nadine, Damien, Tanya and Francis are fully qualified. Paddy and Marina will qualify by competing in the morning class at the Benbulben show (or at the Round Tower RC show in Mayo next weekend, if they feel like a jaunt), so we have a remarkably good representation for the Final.
Benbulben RC Winter Show & League Final
Map to Keash EC
Western Region League Attendance
Three club visits to the Jacobs farm in 2010; three days of perfect weather in an idyllic setting with wonderful hospitality. Today’s ride-out saw the area in its autumnal colours with a flat calm Lough Swilly reflecting every tiny detail of the land and sky.
After a great hack everybody was welcomed at the family home where Cecil had been harnessed in the kitchen, supervised by Audrey’s sister Heather. Between them they laid out an unbeatable spread and everybody sat back and dined extravagantly. Meanwhile, Halloween goblins were at work outside the front door and when the fully-fed troops staggered outside to boot and spur themselves for departure, nobody’s footwear seemed to fit quite as well as it had done on arrival. If Detective Carroll hadn’t been tied up with a court case in Dublin, the culprits might have been apprehended. Damien and Tanya are assisting with the investigation…
Pictured below: Setting off. More pictures in the Gallery.
Mick has successfully booked Valerie for jumping lessons on Fridays 5 and 12 November at Templemore. The third lesson which we had hoped to include is still up in the air since Templemore is not available on Friday 19 November.
Book with Mick on his new number, 086 828 2280, at latest by 7pm on Wednesday next so that he has time to arrange the rides.
Pictured below: The inimitable Valerie Craig knocking us into cross country shape in summer 2008. Lessons not to be missed!
Audrey and Tanya will guide a ride-out from their farm in Castleshanaghan starting at 12 noon this Sunday. The route is about an hour and a half long and takes riders along the shores of Lough Swilly and around quiet roads and tracks in this lovely area tucked in north of Letterkenny. With Audrey as director of operations, there’s probably hardly any need to add that refreshments will be served after the ride.
Please let Audrey know on 087 285 3687 if you plan to go along.
Erica is hoping to organise a working hunter clinic with Toni Donnelly, an expert from Enniskillen. The dates under consideration are the 13 and 27 November, subject to the availability of a good venue.
If you think it may be of interest, please contact Erica on 083 370 9333 as quickly as possible so that she can firm up the plans.
It’s time to submit your nominations for the 2010 Club Member and Club Horse of the Year. Below is a form for download in both Word and Pdf format. Members can fill it out electronically in Word and return it to Damien by email. Alternatively, print it out, fill it in by hand and either post it or hand it to Damien. A third option is simply to type an email and include the headings that are in the form.
Email damien-gallagher@hotmail.com
Post 4 Mulroy Court, Milford, County Donegal
The deadline for submission of nominations is Sunday 7 November and the awards will be presented at our AGM on Monday 15 November. Please be sure to send in your nominations. We’d like this to be an all-club selection process and every member’s opinion is appreciated.
If you have any questions, contact Damien on 087 763 1911.
2010 Member+Horse of the Year (pdf)
2010 Member+Horse of the Year (Word)
Pictured below: Nadine receiving the Lagan Trophy for Club Member of the Year in 2008. Suzanne Carroll was the winner in 2009 but Sharon Lee came out second best in an altercation with her camera and the photos of the presentation couldn’t be downloaded!
Highly regarded instructor Donald Kear is giving a clinic at Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre on Saturday 13 November. Full details on the Castle Leslie website.
Marie McCaffrey of the Leitrim Riding Club has been in touch to say that there are still places left on the Equine Training & Learning workshop on 7 November in Drumshanbo. The workshop will be conducted by Orla Doherty MVB MSc MRCVS, Veterinary Behaviourist and Associate Lecturer at UCD and UL.
The workshop is designed to equip the horse owner/rider with a better understanding of how the horse learns, how this knowledge may be used to best advantage in training and riding, how behaviour problems in the ridden and handled horse arise, and how these problems may be resolved. The afternoon practical session, delivered by Orla involves helping riders to train their horses, both in hand and under saddle, using science-based techniques, which eliminate the need for force or punishment, and equip the rider to achieve maximum performance from their horse, while eliminating commonly encountered problem behaviours.
Entries close today for Strule Valley Riding Club’s Team Show Jumping Challenge on Wednesday next, 3 November. Barely recovered from last week’s marathon selection of seven teams, Francis has been at work again and has arrived at the following formula:
Letterkenny Dreamers Keary, Anne, Paddy, Liz
Letterkenny Chancers Leo, Tanya, Erica, Aodhan
Several members have said that they plan to travel to the event to spectate and support the teams. If you feel like joining them, car-pooling is bound to be a good option. The competition begins at 7 pm in Ecclesville.
Letterkenny Riding Club