Today saw another cold one but us horsey people are hardy beings so a wee bit of a chill factor did not stop the Donegal riding clubs from having a successful 2nd leg of the league. Well done to Inishowen who ran a smooth and seamless show.

Thanks again to Trish Warren who once more split herself between judging and course building, creating another great course with just a little more challenge than last week keeping horse and riders on their toes and hooves.

Well done to all our members who took part today, there was great team support with numerous shouts of encouragement from the sidelines!

A special mention goes to our club winners of the day. Congratulations to Liz  who took first place in the advanced primary, to Cliff who once more took the first place in the intermediate class and Claire Cuffe who came second in the advanced intermediate class. Also well done to Pauric and Blackie who got through to the jump off with a brilliant first round.

Results are in and further congratulations goes to Hannah who came in fourth and new comer Kerri Ann who came sixth in the advanced primary class. Rachel pulled off a sixth place in the intermediate class and really should of got extra points for the vocal encouragement she gave her steed Merlin at each of the jumps.  In the advanced intermediate class Ann got fourth place and Nadine fifth. Well done guys. Points table is on face book sorry slight technical hitch that is I haven’t quite been able to create link yet. Work in progress 😀

Every one gets a lie in next week, which I’m sure Trish will be grateful for. See you all on the 26th February.

Letterkenny riding club got off to a flying start on Sunday on the first leg of the league. There was a great turn out from the four clubs despite the cold and foggy start to the day and Patricia Warren built a great course that eased everyone back gently into show jumping.

It was great to see returning riders giving the cross poles and 6ocm a whirl and the primary riders taking up the challenge.

The first battle began with the advanced primary class where 10 riders had to get to grips with the newly introduced time faults for anyone ever the optimum time. New member Kerry-Anne under the watchful eye of big sister Shauna gave the course a good go and we look forward to seeing her again next week and it was welcome back to Miriam. There were some great double clear rounds that fell foul to time faults but Congratulations to Ryan and Bud for their great win and well done to Liz Cuffe for her well deserved 4th place for our own club!

Intermediate riders then took up the challenge and the jump off produced some great rounds. Congratulations to Cliff on his 1st place, Leo on his 2nd (must have been the brown boots Leo) and Enda on his 5th place.

Our advanced intermediate riders really showed us how its done with great first rounds and some nail-biting jump offs. Congratulations to Dawn who, on her first time out at this level won the class with some brilliant corner cutting jumping! Well done also to Anne on her 2nd place Cormac on getting 3rd Claire on her 5th place and Marina on 6th.

A special mention also to Shauna who completed her first round at open level.

Many thanks to all those who took part, bringing in valuable points towards the inter club trophy at the end of the year and to all those members who helped out, without you these days wouldn’t be the success they are.

Also big thank you to Patricia who stepped in to create the course and to do a little jump judging too!

See you all next week which is being run by Inishowen.

Don’t forget, flat work with Mary Finneran this Friday contact Vera to book a place.

Its that time of year again when we welcome the start of spring by brushing off the mud from boots and horses, shaking the cobwebs from the show jackets and heading to Templemore for a few rounds of jumping. yes its the start of the The spring league!

This is where we start to accumulate points and begin the quest to try to win back the inter club trophy. So look forward to seeing as many members as possible battling it out with the members from Innishowen, Donegal Gaeltacht and Tirconail riding clubs.

Letterkenny are running the first leg of the spring league so it’s all hands on deck. Please try to help out where you can when not jumping and if jumping isn’t your thing still come along cheer on your fellow club members and give a helping hand.

SEE YOU THERE!

There was a small gathering at the club meeting on Monday night. However the calendar of events for the next few months certainly made up for it. Here is a quick synopsis of the calendar

Sunday 14th – Dressage Championship in Mullingar

Sunday 14th – xc Lenamore 2pm – 4pm

Friday 19th – Formation riding – Harley’s contact Francis

Sunday 21st – 2 phase league  Lenamore

Friday 26th – Formation riding- venue tbc

Saturday 27th – Formation riding filming- venue tbc

Sunday 28th – ODE Clonaw

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 3rd – 2 phase course building Deeleside 10am

Saturday 10th – LRC 2 phase Deeleside Drumkeen

Sunday 18th – Hunter trials- Annaharvey Tullamore

Weekend Saturday & Sunday 24th & 25th – Bundoran- contact Damien

OCTOBER

Sunday 2nd – Ride out Ballybofey in aid of Drumboe Respite House – contact Anne

Sunday 9th – NW league – Templemore

Sunday 23rd – NW league- Templemore

NOVEMBER

Sunday 6th – NW league – Templemore

Sunday 20th – NW league final Templemore

Saturday 26th – Dinner dance

Some of these dates may be subject to change!