Our club AGM, held in it’s regular haunt of Tir Na nOg, was very well attended by club members old and new. Outgoing chairperson Marina gave an excellent round-up of the activities which our club members both organised and attended over the past year. Considering the slow start our club had, with some of the club stalwarts out of action for various reasons, it turned into quite a busy year. High points of the mounted year were, as usual, the social get togethers involving our four legged friends….these included a most memorable inter-club rideout in the bluestack mountains, the annual club camping trip to Carrickfinn (realistically it is glamping as gone are the days of huddling in soggy tents), and of course the famous Francis and Maura treasure hunt. For once we didn’t have a single entrant in the National Hunter Trial Championships (well it is only sporting to give the other clubs a chance occasionally) and most of us limited our competitions to local events, including a most enjoyable Audrey Jacob Team Challenge and a successful Derby Show.

There was plenty of discussion about what we would like to be doing in the coming year, with a general agreement that we want more educational gatherings, whether mounted or seated on a more stable base. The importance of helping each other out, especially when it comes to guiding newer members in the right direction, was stressed and it was agreed that Marina would act as a sort of mentor for members who feel they need a bit of help or advice in any aspect of club life, whether it is the correct attire for a dressage competition or an explanation of the jumping grades.

There was some great banter as the outgoing officers stood down and the time came for fresh blood to step up to the mark. Happily there was no shortage of people willing to help out and in no time at all the new officers were proposed and seconded. They are as follows

Chairperson: Rachel Carton

Vice Chairperson: Marina Hamilton

Secretary: Erica Robb

Vice Secretary: Vera Keating

Treasurer: Cormac McCormac

Show Secretary: Erica Robb

Grading Officer: Francis McNicholl

Equipment Officers: Damian Gallagher and Francis McNicholl

Public Relations – website and Facebook administrators: Rachel Carton and Erica Robb

Health and Safety: Jenny Coe

Child Protection: Lorna McCrudden, Jenny Coe, Cormac McCormac

Prize Buyer: Suzanne Deeney-Wylie

Club Gear: Jenny Coe

Team Selectors: Francis McNicholl and Vera Keating

Having divvied up the minor roles the important job of announcing club member and club horse of the year was the next order of business. There were a number of nominations for each position, all with very valid reasons given, and the end results were popular. Congratulations to Francis on getting club member of the year, while Shyla, aka Sally Clover Supreme, was the worthy winner of club horse of the year. Both man and beast epitomise what riding club is all about. The evening was rounded off with succulent pizzas and well earned pints.

 

There aren’t many club AGM’s that could be described as one of the good social nights of the year, but the Letterkenny Riding Club AGM is certainly one of them. Come along to Tir Na nOg this evening at 8pm to enjoy an evening of banter and shenanigans as we look back over the year that was and look forward to the next year in the life of a great club. As with all clubs we are only as good as our members and rely on everyone taking an active part in deciding what we do and where we do it. If there are any ideas you have for club activities…ride outs, picnics, clinics, camps, trips away, talks and demos…bring them to the meeting and we can look forward to a fun and varied 2020. Presentation of the Club Member of the year and the Club Horse of the year will take place tonight also.

The second leg of the North West Riding Clubs autumn league took place in Templemore yesterday and enjoyed one of those beautiful autumnal days that make this my favourite season. With our own club running this leg of the league it was a case of every available hand on deck to help out and the resulting show seems to have been a great success. At the first leg of the league we had the chance to welcome back members who had been busy at other things for a while, and at the second leg we watched as members came to grips with new challenges as they upgraded. Cliff is now putting it up to the advanced intermediate riders, with Shadow and Shyla whizzing him around the 1.0m course with ease. Many thanks to everyone who helped run the show and make it the great day it was.

Don’t forget that there is no league jumping next weekend as the third leg, being run by Stracomer Riding Club, will be held in Greenacres Equestrian Centre on the 17th of November. Results and some photos from yesterday are below.

Congratulations to all our members who took part in the first leg of the autumn league, particularly those who dressed up for the ‘My Lovely Horse Rescue’ fund raising fancy dress parade.  It was great to see the return of Cormac, who made his comeback after being out of the saddle for a while (which perhaps explains his riding attire?!), Anne and Jade. Well done to Jayne and Jade on their 1st places and to Marina, Anne and Cormac who were placed on the top 6. The results from week 1 of the league are shown below.

Next week is our turn to run the show so it is important that all members make themselves available to help man the various stations. Seamus course-builds for us next week so we’re guaranteed a good challenge on the day.

results-week-1-27.10.19

For anyone who like myself (working) or Damian (running the Dublin city marathon) was unable to make it to the league you can get a flavour of the day from the following photos.

Donegal Gaeltacht’s showing and dressage show at Greenacres Equestrian was blessed with a beautiful autumn day. Whilst numbers at the show were down a bit on what would have been hoped for, turn-out was definitely up…there were some superb looking combinations. Congratulations to our own competitors, especially Marina and her gorgeous Six Silver Lane. He is looking a picture and is obviously enjoying life in the northern part of the country. Results, and some photos of our riders, are given below.

For anyone who would like to improve their flatwork there is a non-airc flatwork clinic coming up in Greenacres. This is being run by Mary Devine and is open to everyone. Contact Mary directly on 086 3197696.

 

The closing of entries for the Donegal Gaeltacht’s show in Greenacres has been extended to 6pm this evening (Wednesday 9th). What better reason to polish up your boots, shine your horse and prettify yourself? Top marks to our neighbors for running showing classes.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/showjumping-and-dressage-demo-with-peter-smyth-yvette-truesdale-tickets-74338276787?fbclid=IwAR2bAM6nv8sMJQERctBF-KW54kN-4ORQLrX8gNiAK9V4vzIlbYGdz9kTK9U

 

What more glorious way is there to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon than hunting elusive treasure in the hills of Donegal? One of the annual highlights for Letterkenny Riding Club members is without doubt Francis and Maura’s treasure hunt, with its extremely cryptic clues and breathtaking backdrop followed by top class refreshment on return to chez McNicholl. The 2019 event certainly did not disappoint.