It’s official
Our annual North West Riding Clubs autumn league is officially launched. With just eleven days to fine tune your showjumping skills (or at the very least to dust off your memory of what showjumping is) I’m sure the excitement will be building. Details are available on the promotional poster below.
The day before the first leg of the league is the Donegal Harriers pre-season charity rideout at Herby Lusby’s lovely Porthall. Proceeds are in aid of the Irish Injured Jockeys fund, which Marina Hamilton has been working tirelessly for. In her own words, Marina says “I want to make a difference. I’m inspired by the work of the Irish Injured Jockeys and wanted to support them by raising money as part of my participation in The Corinthian Challenge”.
Adults €25. U18s €15.
Food will be served afterwards in “Maggies”. All jumps are optional and everyone is welcome to come along. Take part in a leisurely ride, meet a few of the hounds & help raise funds for a worthwhile cause. The rideout starts at 12.00 midday.
2-Phase league results and life moving forward…
Many thanks to Liz et al for the top class score keeping over the past league. The final results are as follows
Moving on into the autumn we have a few good events to look forward to. On the 20th of October the Donegal Harriers are running a ride out from Maggie’s Bar, Porthall/St. Johnston area, in aid of Marina’s Corinthian challenge. All proceeds from the race season go to the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund and, as a mother of two jockeys, I can assure you it is a very worthy cause. There will be optional jumps on the day and it should be very sociable.
Sunday 21st October sees the start of the North West Riding Clubs autumn showjumping league at Templemore Equestrian Centre. This league is our last chance to turn out in force and whip the other club’s asses so let’s see some concerted effort….which will be amply rewarded at the annual dinner dance at the Villa Rose hotel, Ballybofey, on Dec 1st.
Tir Conail champions as curtain comes down on 2-phase
Blustery weather and cold showers couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm evident at Gordon’s Bay as riders squared up to Liz and Ryan’s testing course at the final of the 2018 North West Riding Clubs 2-phase and dressage league.
The dressage arena, set out in their spacious sand arena, was tough to ride good tests in as riders were constantly distracted by the stunning views, but some top class performances were produced. Notable from our own club was Francis and Bonzo, who produced an outstanding performance to win the highly competitive intermediate section on the day. This pair has made great progress over the past year and are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Also showing good improvement since the Lenamore outing were Suzanne and Jack, who were just put of the ribbons and would have benefited from a fourth leg in the league. Louise and her trusty steed Bob were in great form, given that Louise hadn’t sat on him for five weeks, and rode a test befitting of the sixth place rosette on the day. Rachel and Merlin were beaten into second place on the day by Courtney and Gortahork Brid. This pair were superb throughout the league and deservedly won the overall advanced intermediate title.
The cross country proved challenging on the day, as befits a league final, and our club was lightly represented on the field. Cliff and Shyla were unable to make the date, and unfortunately missed a chance to bag some loot, but Francis and Leo took to the battlefield to fly the black and Amber flag in his stead. Unfortunately their mounts just weren’t ‘feeling it’ on the day and they both fell prey to the tricky obstacles.
Results of the third and final leg of the league are shown below
Tir Conail came out victorious as the overall league-topping club, which was well deserved given the massive turn out from this vibrant and active club.
Full league results will be published very soon but in the mean time enjoy the following albums.
2-Phase league comes down to the wire
This Sunday brings us to Liz and Ryan’s Gordons Bay for the final leg of the North West Riding Clubs 2-phase and dressage leagues. With hot weather and hard ground causing the postponement of the second leg from July (who would have ever thought I’d have to put that sentence in a website post!) we enjoyed a badly needed return to the competitive field at Lenamore on the 16th of September. Our own club ran the event in conjunction with Inishowen and I have to say that it seemed to run like clockwork. The weather played ball and, with Mona supplying sustenance in the form of some superb cake, riders enjoyed a great day. Our club had a fairly small mounted turnout on the day but those of us who were there certainly enjoyed ourselves. Results are below…
The fun kicks off at 11.00 this Sunday, with Bruce Vial taking to the dressage arena first. The cross country begins at 2.30 and promises to provide a fitting finale to this fun league. If you haven’t taken the plunge to compete do try to come for the social outing and to cheer everybody on.
Talking of taking the plunge…welcome to our most recent recruits who are returning to the fold. Lorna, Hilary and Kerrie are all past members who have taken the opportunity to rejoin in time for a winter of fun and games. Hopefully they’ll get as much fun from the club as everyone else who turns out to the many events organised.
Get booted and suited. The season is kicking off.
At a very productive meeting of the North West riding clubs the dates and format of the Autumn league were nailed down, as well as the (almost certain) date for our annual awards night and dinner dance.
The autumn league will consist of just three legs, so no chance of it getting stale this year, with the points from all three legs counting in the final reckoning. The final will not have double points, meaning that anyone who can’t make the final for any reason is still in with the same chance as those who miss one of the first two legs. Obviously the aim of the game is not to miss a leg at all but life does have a tendency to get in the way at times. There will be rosettes presented for first to third at each leg, with the rosettes and prizes for the overall league placings being presented at our dinner dance. The first leg will be in Templemore on the 21st Oct, followed by the second leg in Twin Towns Equestrian Centre on the 11th Nov and returning to Templemore for the final leg on the 25th Nov.
Strip off your boots and get on your suits for the 1st Dec. Mona, ably assisted by Liz, Hazel and Louise, are undertaking to organise the event and details will follow shortly.
Plans afoot
The next inter-club meeting for the north west riding clubs is on Monday 3rd September in the Glencar Inn, at 8pm. All club members are not only welcome but actively encouraged to attend the meeting and put forward suggestions for activities over the coming winter season. With the seasonal autumn league up for discussion, as well as other sociable outings such as the annual dinner dance, it will be an entertaining gathering. If you cant make the meeting on Monday do try to get in touch with some of our club members who will be going and give them your input. All thoughts and opinions will be taken on board.
As you will have seen from Hazel’s texts we have the next leg of the 2-phase league to organise on the 16th September. With very few remaining opportunities for getting outdoor competition over the rest of the year I hope you’ll all support this event. As always we need asses in saddles as well as hands on deck!
If you haven’t enough in the club calender to keep you busy you might like to stretch your legs at some of the upcoming events at Eglinton…
For the dressage divas
We don’t get many chances to compete remotely locally in dressage so it’s great to see North Coast Riding Club running dressage competition in Eglinton. Get the contact information st this link
Letterkenny Riding Club 