Club meeting, Friday 22 March

Everybody is encouraged to attend our next general club meeting which will be held on Friday 22 March at Tir na nOg in Letterkenny. It’s time to draft the club calendar into the summer as well as to plan very seriously for a busy period through April and May.

These two months see a whole sequence of competitions from the National Hunter Trials at Gurteen College to our North West Team Show Jumping Challenge, our Derby Show, and the regional qualifiers for both the team show jumping and team dressage championships.

Western Region Calendar 2013

Not many members travel too far afield for competitions these days but it’s worth keeping an eye on the Western Region calendar for national qualifiers and Benbulben Riding Club’s events. Sligo is still reasonably achievable.

Western Region Calendar 2013

One unfortunate bit of news is that the regional qualifier for the team dressage championships will be held in distant Galway. Maybe we should switch our team dressage focus to the Riding Clubs Festival in Stradbally instead?

St Patrick’s weekend ride-out from Cyrils, Saturday 16 March

Plans for our bank holiday weekend ride-out have become clear. The expedition will depart from Cyril’s yard near Milford at 10.30am on Saturday. The route will take about one-and-a-half to two hours and will cover quiet country roads and the renowned Colmcille’s Way where Cyril made his infamous cantering debut several summers ago.

If you’re interested in going along, let Libby know on 086 830 1392.

Chill winds warmed by hot competition at fourth leg of North West League *with results*

A bitterly cold wind cut right through to the bone at Sunday’s fourth leg of the North West League but it didn’t deter another large contingent of riding club enthusiasts from turning out to earn more valuable points at this ever-popular event.

We welcomed another new member as Hannah McGlinchey made her debut on her lovely 11 year-old Arab x TB gelding, Buddy. From Convoy, Hannah rides at Primary level and we wish her all the very best for her new riding club career. It’s great to have a good new Primary rider in the club.

Our Intermediate and Advanced Intermediate riders did us proud once again and it was definitely a case of good things coming in small packages with the winning mounts. Armstrong continued his ongoing campaign to boot his larger stable companion, Trial & Error, out of the top spot and regain the master suite in the Gallagher yard. He propelled Damien to another great victory in the combined Advanced Intermediate & Open competition, strengthening the case for small horses with every leap.

Pint-sized Cool faces no serious opposition for his place in Leo’s heart but he took nothing for granted and made sure that his performance in the Intermediate class was top notch. Leo increased his points haul with a great win and it sets things up for a very exciting competition at the final where double points could change everything.

Thanks to all our members who put their shoulders to the wheel to make sure the day ran smoothly. In two weeks’ time the Gaeltachts take over the reins as the league reaches its 2013 climax. Not to be missed!

NWL 2013 | Results | Show 4
NWL 2013 | Points | 10 March

Pictured below: New member Hannah McGlinchey warms up her chestnut Red House Condor gelding, Buddy, as other more familiar faces smile despite the bitterly cold wind.

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Time to think about the dressage team qualifiers, Sunday 19 May

The team show jumping qualifier tends to dominate the thoughts of the club as we march into the competitive season but this year the club is also going to make a concerted effort to field one or two teams at the regional team dressage qualifier which will be held on Sunday 19 May, probably in Sligo.

Teams may be made up of three or four riders with at least two grades represented. Qualifying teams will go on to compete at the National Dressage Championships in Mullingar on Sunday 18 August.

Vera is going to coordinate our efforts and will organise a series of training sessions over the next couple of months. If you’re interested in taking part, contact her on 087 232 5632.

Jumping lessons with Gary Marshall

Rachael McCrossan is organising another set of lessons with top show jumping coach Gary Marshall. This is definitely something which should be of interest to those focussing on show jumping this season. Rachael has sent us on the following information:

The show season has gotten off to a great start and with lots more exciting competitions coming up including the Northwest Team Show Jumping Challenge, Letterkenny’s Derby, Donegal Gaeltacht’s Beach Show, not to mention the easily reached National Team Show Jumping Championships Regional Qualifier in Sligo, some top class tuition could be in order to get the best from you and your horse.

Following the last two years of highly successful show jumping training at both Eglinton and Lenamore with Gary Marshall, I’m putting the call out to gauge interest in another series of lessons.

Gary Marshall is one of only fourteen Level 3 show jumping coaches in the whole of Ireland which means he is qualified to coach riders up to the highest level at National competitions and is in good company with the likes of Irish show jumpers Clem Mc Mahon, Comdt. John Ledengham and Dermot Lennon qualified to the same level.  

As per previous sessions, Gary’s lessons are open to all levels of rider from x-poles right up to 1.10M and as anyone who has taken part before will tell you, Gary’s method and style of teaching is confidence inspiring and the transformation in your jumping from beginning to end is amazing – and before you ask, no, I’m not on commission!

The lessons would probably be on a Monday evening with no more than 6 in a lesson and would be grouped according to ability although Gary can work with a mixed group from x-poles to 1.10m in the same lesson so if you want to be in a specific lesson, it can usually be accommodated.  Lessons will either be at Eglinton, Lenamore or Templemore (venue TBC) and we would plan on starting after the National Hunter Trials in April.  Lessons would be €25 per person for 1hr but if we get sufficient numbers, this would be reduced to €20 per person and would usually run for between 4 – 6 weeks or may be extended depending on demand.  These lessons are not restricted to riding club (although riding club members are given priority for spaces) so if you know anyone interested who’s not in riding club, feel free to pass on the information to them.

If you’re interested in taking part in the lessons or need any further information, please ring or text Rachael Mc Crossan on 087-2128031 by the end of the week so I can get an idea of numbers.

***Postponed*** Armchair evening on the saddler’s craft, Friday 8 March

This Friday sees us relax comfortably into armchairs instead torturing ourselves in the saddles that usually lead to hard work and serious exercise. John and Sharon are going to give us an introduction to the craft of the saddler and will also demonstrate correct saddle fitting for horses. You can arrange to bring your horse for guinea pig services, if you like.

The evening will kick off at 7.30pm and you should let John and Sharon know on 086 338 9166, if you plan to attend.