Mizzle

Is there such a word as mizzle? Yes was the answer on Friday evening when five members enjoyed a 2-hour circular ride from Ray across through the hinterland of Rathmullan and back. Soft rain mizzled down on the group but nobody paid much heed. There were two debutants on the expedition – new member Shauna on her grey connemara 4 year-old and veteran member, Orla, who enjoyed her first ever club ride-out on Martina’s Rosa. Nadine and Damien rode their His n’ Hers pair, Molly and Millie, and Libby rode Martina’s Smuggler. He was an excellent ride but needs to practice his tripodding skills as the photos illustrate.

The Aga Khan Trophy of the riding club world

As the equestrian-minded nation focusses this afternoon on the Aga Khan Trophy, finalists for the riding club equivalent on Sunday will be nervously biting their nails. The competition may not take place in the main arena at the RDS but the atmosphere will be almost as tense as nine teams battle it out for the Horseware Team Show Jumping Championship.

Benbulben represents our western region and we wish them the very best of luck. One of the team, Finola Murphy on Kildalton Jessie Delight, is a stalwart supporter of all our Donegal events. Hopefully she’ll be as successful at the RDS as she is when she raids our shows.

We have a lot of club members at the Horse Show this week so we should have no shortage of reports after the big day.

Third leg of Cloncaw 2-Phase league, 15 August

The 3rd leg of the 2 Phase Event League at Cloncaw Equestrian in Glaslough takes place on Sunday 15th August strarting at 11am approx with the Maxi class followed by Midi and Mini. The course will be open for inspection on Saturday 14th after 6pm. Each day is a stand alone competition with €100 per class in prize fund. Competitors who compete on 2 and the final (same rider horse combination) will be eligible for League prizes sponsored by Premier Saddlery Armagh.

Details of the event are posted on www.cloncaw.com and entry forms can be downloaded. Competitors making prepaid entries by Thursday will be entered in the draw for cash prizes. Entry fee Maxi and Midi €25, Mini €20. The final of the League takes place on Sunday 5th September.

Masters Series – Something for everyone at the final, 4 & 5 September

AIRC HQ have reminded us that there will be classes for all levels of riders at next month’s Connolly’s Red Mills Masters Series at Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Co. Westmeath.

Primary, Advanced Primary and Intermediate riders will have two qualifying classes on the Saturday (4th Sept) with the top 5 riders going forward to their respective final on the Sunday (5th Sept). A Mini Grand Prix competition will also take place on Sunday for each of the three grades.

Meanwhile, 50 riders have qualified for the final of the Connolly’s Red Mills Masters Series where there will be over €2,000 worth of training bursaries on offer. Qualified riders will have the choice of three classes to enter including the Welcome Stakes and the Table C on Saturday with a Power & Speed class on Sunday morning to increase their points tally in the series. The feature Grand Prix will follow in the afternoon where only the top 20 riders will challenge for the series title and a €750 training bursary.

Entries for the event close on Sunday 29th August and will only be accepted online by members accessing their membership online account. Further details on the AIRC website.

Another new face for the club

August has brought us another new member, Shauna Gailey. Shauna lives in England but spends as much time as she can at her house in Anney, north of Rathmullan, where she’s a neighbour of Francis and Maura. Shauna is originally from Carrigans and some members will recognise her by her maiden name, Shauna McFarlane. She has a great interest in Connemara ponies and her prefix, Dunmore, is known in breeding circles. We already have one of her ponies in the club – Rachel’s Dunmore Dante.

Pictured below: Dunmore Dante, bred by new member Shauna Gailey, at our camping weekend in Carrickfinn, May 2010.

Ride-out at Ray, Rathmullan, Friday 6 August

Libby will lead a ride-out this Friday evening from Ray football pitch, about 3 miles south of Rathmullan. It’s traditionally the quietest Friday in the calendar with at least half our members either away at the Horse Show in the RDS or on holidays. Last year Damien and Libby hacked as a twosome, amending the planned circular route to become a one-way pilgrimmage to Rathmullan. Nadine was there to meet them with Harvey and the trailer. After loading Fenway and Molly the travellers settled back with fish and chips to watch a bit of seaside activity before heading home.

This year there’s already one person planning to do the ride so last year’s attendance record will at least be matched! The route is along lanes and tiny tarred roads with lovely views of Lough Swilly. It will take about two hours.

Further information from Libby on 086 830 1392.

Back on board

Here’s the evidence: Sharon on Ozzie, getting fit together (while Pippa snoozes unphotographed in the background). Sharon started riding again a week ago and hopes to make her riding club reappearance in time for our flatwork lessons later in August.

First reports from Sunday’s beach show

As predicted, there wasn’t a massive turn out from our club at the beach show in Falcarragh on Sunday. Five mounted soldiers flew the flag — Cyril, Catherine, Orla, Tanya and Martina. Plenty of ribbons came home with them and full results will be available later. Orla was very impressed with the feedback from the showing judge, Kevin McGuinness, who gave all competitors invaluable advice on how best to exploit their mounts for the show ring.

Pictured below: Martina and Smuggler with showing judge, Kevin McGuinness. Check the Gallery for more images.