Liz has left no stone unturned in her masterful preparations for Sunday’s first leg of the league. Here are your start times, a map, your volunteer information, and lots more. Looking forward to a great day!
Driving Directions Carrigart
Dressage Start Times -Carrigart
XC Start times- Carrigart
XC Map Carrigart-5th July
Volunteer Rota Carrigart
Fence List Carrigart
Our inter-club summer league promises to add a whole new dimension to riding club life over the next few months and the first leg is only just around the corner on Sunday 5 July. The event is pre-entry only and you must enter for the first leg by Monday 29 June.
It’s not mandatory to do both disciplines – can do either or both and H/C entries are also accepted if you wish to ride below your grade. Dressage will start at 11am with XC following at 12 noon, starting with the highest grade in XC and working downwards to lower grades.
Bad weather and ground conditions have led to the postponement of next Sunday’s Derby & Dressage show at Hillsborough Farm. News of the rescheduled date to follow shortly!
Never let it be said that the members of Letterkenny Riding Club shirk an opportunity to broaden their minds. Last Friday evening saw a sizeable group of them following the hops to Kinnegar Brewing in Rathmullan where Libby, Rachel and Louise explained to a very receptive audience just how that magical liquid, beer, comes into being. The Cuffes, long-time brewery fans, were with the club in spirit as they knocked back pints of Kinnegar in the Black Sheep pub in Dublin.
Afterwards, for the practical side of the lesson, the group took a quick jaunt down the road to the Taproom, in the cellar of Rathmullan House. Kinnegar beer and a motley collection of other beverages helped wash down the wood-fired pizzas that were brought to the table in quartets. Ever taller stories of blind horses and talking crows brought the evening’s entertainment to the pivotal point when Enda’s birthday cake arrived on the table, rounding off a simple but satisfying meal.
Next Friday sees the return of horses to our club activities – remember what they are?
Pictured below: Following the hops in Donegal and Dublin.
Congratulations to our heroines – Nadine, Tanya, Vera and Louise – who have qualified for the Team Championship at the AIRC National Dressage Championships in August for the second year on the trot (your choice of collected, working or extended). At a chilly Inishowen show at Lenamore on Sunday they once again showed that we are more than capable of holding our own in the dressage arena.
Well done to everybody else who competed on the day and won or placed in their classes. All photos greatly appreciated.
Where do I start – the wrestlers in lycra or the wall. They both had the ladies in a sweat.
More on the men in pink in a moment but first the 12 members who made the journey to Derry on Friday for a mystery evening all rose to the challenge and what a challenge. The highest indoor climbing wall in Ireland in the new Foyle Arena looked daunting at first but in the end it was conquered by all. The most impressive was Paddy “Spiderman” Gallagher who was first to the top in record time. Years of practice scaling walls to raid orchards paid off. There was no stopping Paddy after he figured out how to get back down again. He was so high he was out of ear shot to get his instructions for the descent. After lots of “sorries” the message got through. More impressive performances followed from Hazel “Im not doing this I’m scared of heights” Mahoney, Louise “let me at it” Edwards, Pauric “you need a stronger rope” McCrory and Erin who relished beating her dad to the top.
Not to be out done Suzanne Deeney Wylie, Mary Finneran and our latest recruit Paul O’Kane left many in their wake as they scaled new heights. Then we had the Smith/Chambers combination who wanted to share the one rope but in the end were easily separated when Ann left her fiancee in her slipstream. Enda and Marina also had their own domestic duel. As for the wrestlers next door in lycra – enough said ladies.
Pictured below: No sign of a horse anywhere — club members conquer the wall.
It’s nearly time for our annual big day out at Hillsborough Farm, competing on grass as the summer gets into full swing. Our show follows the same format as in previous years. We have a new dressage judge, just to keep everybody on their toes, with Jackie replacing Petra in the hot seat.
Letterkenny Derby & Dressage Show | 2015
We’ll be building the course on Friday 12 June and everybody is asked to come out and lend a hand. Many hands really do make light work. Please also make sure that you contribute as much to the jumps collection as possible, and particularly to the dressing department. It’s quite amazing how plants, brush and some well chosen props can transform the course into something we can really be proud of.
Pictured below: Tanya, Nadine and Paddy competing at last year’s renewal.
So near and yet so far… Our gallant team riders finished a memorable third in the RDS qualifier in Sligo this afternoon while our Donegal Gaeltacht neighbours again set sail for Dublin in August. Congratulations everybody on a very, very fine effort. We’re proud of you. Go Donegal!
Time to sit down together again to plot a course the good ship Letterkenny Riding Club as we approach the summer months. Everybody is welcome and encouraged to attend in Tir na nOg this Thursday, 21 May, at 8pm.
Lenamore is the venue for Inishowen’s annual spring show next Sunday, 24 May. This year the show hosts the regional dressage qualifier and you should contact Tanya on 086 100 2972, if you’re interested in riding on a team.
Letterkenny Riding Club