Cold alright, but it was dry, sunny and very successful for Letterkenny at the third leg of the Northwest League at Templemore last Sunday. On a day when not only league points but also Masters Final qualification spots were at stake, our riders covered themselves in glory winning all three of the senior classes and mopping up with plenty of placings.
Congratulations everybody.
NWL Spring 2016 | Week 3 Points Table
NWL Spring 2016 | Week 3 Results
Following this week’s inter-club meeting, it’s now time for a get-together of our own on Monday 18 January. We need to plot the course for the next few months and plan a calendar of events that suits all members.
Everybody is strongly encouraged to attend. See you there!
Hardly have we finished wishing each other a Happy New Year and it’s already time to start training for the Northwest League. No rest for the wicked!
Kelda is giving a jumping lesson at Templemore on Tuesday night, 12 January, and you can book in with her on 086 834 9406 if you want to go along.
Before that, there’s unmounted preparation for the league in the form of a Donegal Clubs meeting on Monday 11 January in Tir na nOg. All welcome.
And, last but not least, the league runs in its familiar 5-leg Spring format on the following dates:
Sunday 24 January
Sundays 7/14/28 February
Sunday 6 March (Final)
It’s always nice to be the first name on a new trophy and the club had that honour on Friday night – being crowned Donegal’s first Riding Club of the Year. The new plaque was handed over to our chairman Pauric at the Dinner Dance in Gallaghers Hotel. Gracious as always, he then took the trophy on tour around the tables with the sound of Queen’s We Are Champions echoing around the room. It was quite a performance from our new chairman and one of the many highs on what was another successful inter-club get together. Our other big winner on the night was Louise who walked off with a new rug after being named the top primary dressage rider. How she pulled that off – we don’t know. How fitting her mum and dad where there to celebrate her big success.
A big congratulations to the others who picked up prizes on the night especially Emily and Liz who walked off with two rugs – well deserved. The much coveted horsey Oscars were another high point of the night, with Mickey, Ultan, Oliver and Enda picking up the awards for 2015. Four horsemen who were honoured for their outstanding achievements during the year – they wish.
The photo booth proved a big hit judging by the evidence on facebook. As always Paddy was first to give it a go along with his side kick Hazel and they set the standard. The photo booth was another masterstroke by our social queens and chief organisers Ruth and Rachel who deserve great credit for yet another superb Dinner Dance.
AIRC headquarters have asked us to remind members that (BS) EN1384 standalone hats are being phased out from the 1st January 2016.
If you are buying a new hat, please make sure that it has the PAS 015 standard mark or ASTM F1163 or Snell 2001 or AS/NZS 3838 and is Kitemarked, as the EN1384 standard alone will not be approved in 2016. All riding helmets must be retagged in 2016.
Vera and Molly walked off with honours at our AGM. Vera was named club person of the year after securing most votes in the ballot while the horse of the year title went to Damien and Nadine’s stalwart Molly.
Vera was singled out because of her dedication to the club and her resilience in flying the flag for dressage and flatwork, while Molly got most votes for her battling qualities as she returned from illness to carry both Damien and Nadine to honours. Both Molly and Vera were absent on the night so their trophies were collected and passed on – we think.
The awards were a fitting a climax to what was a very successful end of year get-together. There was much for Enda to celebrate in his last Chairman’s report —from our fine showing at Flowerhill to our double success at the Audrey Jacob Team Challenge. The 15 members present also enjoyed looking back at our sorties to Carrickfinn and Bundoran with the usual digs. It was even suggested that next year we add in an overseas venture to mark the club’s tenth anniversary.
Our trusty bookkeeper Maura reported some healthy figures—still in the black —while our one=armed secretary Ann gave us a breakdown of membership which is continuing to grow with some new additions joining next year.
Then it was out with the old and in with the new as Pauric was installed as our new chairman. He eventually reached the top table just in time to call the meeting to an end, but the craic didn’t stop as we all dished out more digs and Leo told us about his fifty shades of grey experience. Enough said !
With the awards ceremony now just a week away at our annual Donegal Clubs Dinner Dance, it’s high time we published the facts and figures from the thrilling final of the recent Northwest Autumn League.
Congratulations to everybody who participated over the four legs of the league but very particularly to Damien & Molly and Hilary & Twinkle who did us proud in the Advanced Intermediate and Advanced Primary divisions respectively.
Clubmate, friend and lover of horses. You were taken far too early but you’ll always be with us. Rest in peace.
Another year almost down! Our club’s annual general meeting takes place each year in early November, ahead of the Western Region’s AGM. This year we’re sticking to our familiar Friday evening social format in Tir na nOg.
Everybody is encouraged to attend. It only works if the membership turns up and we have the opportunity to celebrate what we’ve achieved in the past year and set the trim of the sails for the next 12 months.
Of much greater importance than elections or chairmen’s reports or anything else is the awarding our our two most prestigious trophies for Club Member and Club Horse of the Year. Please get your nominations (two per award) in to Damien by Wednesday 5 November. Do it by email, text, phone call or ink/paper/envelope/stamp. It’s always a lot more fun if you can give a few reasons for your nomination but we’re grateful just for simple names, if that’s all you can manage!
Contact Anne (Secretary) or Enda (Chairman) if you want to discuss anything specific in advance of the meeting.
Despite stiff competition from all sorts of other sporting events, riding club members turned out in numbers to enjoy the second leg of the NW Autumn League last Sunday at Templemore. Well done to all our competitors and congratulations to those who one or placed.
Autumn League 2015 – Points table (1)
Autumn League 2015- week 2
Letterkenny Riding Club