Hard to believe but true — Donegal now has five AIRC clubs with Rosann and Inishowen officially on the board. We look forward to seeing them in action at the North West League. Rosann will be sporting navy colours with Inishowen togging out in navy and light blue.
Congratulations clubs on getting up and going. We look forward to many years of friendship, sporting competition and camaraderie.
Stabling on site (or in this case, as close to the site as possible) is the key to enjoying the AIRC National Hunter Trials. There’s no stabling available at Gurteen College itself but Anne and Marina were fast out of the blocks and have provisionally block booked 12 stables at the closest possible yard, just two miles from the competition venue. We can’t hold this booking for long without paying a deposit.
So, could anybody who is seriously considering making the journey this year please contact Marina on 086 821 6335 by Sunday and let her know. The cost of the stable is €20 and you’ll need to pay €10 in advance so that we can secure the booking. It’s the best investment you’ll ever make, if you’re heading down the road to compete!
Welcome Claire! Our newest new member is another familiar face. Denis Kelly’s daughter has come of age and we’re delighted to have her on board the riding club ship. She’s going to be jumping in cross country and show jumping at Intermediate level and will take on the big shots in the dressage arena at Advanced Intermediate. We look forward to seeing you out soon, Claire.
It’s time for a night of social life without the horses this Friday as the club goes for a meal and a cut throat bowling competition at Arena 7. Dinner is at 8pm followed by bowling. Book with Marina on 086 821 6335 straight away, if you haven’t already done so. It’s a great night’s entertainment and excellent value at €22 a head.
Members who have paid their subscriptions for the year but haven’t yet received their 2013 AIRC cards can pick them up at the entries desk at the North West League next Sunday, 10 February. Alternatively, contact Cormac and arrange to pick them up from him directly.
It’s always a pleasure to see new faces amongst the membership and we can enjoy two of them as we head into the second month of the year.
Gemma Carroll is no stranger to the club, appearing often as a guide and groom for her parents, Mick and Suzanne. Her connemara pony, Jack, has served his time too, giving Libby a memorable ride around Flowerhill a few years’ back. Both of them already know the riding club ropes and we’re delighted to have Gemma on board as a member.
Ewelina Wyszynska has the distinction of being our first Polish member and we’re very proud of her. She’s been in Ireland for five years and lives between Milford and Kilmacrennan. Before you all ask, her christian name is pronounced “evaleena” (we won’t go there yet with her surname!). Ewelina rides at primary level. We’re delighted to have her in the club and hope she gets many years of enjoyment from membership.
Following the successful blueprint of the autumn league, each leg of the spring NWL will be run by an individual club. Letterkenny is on duty for the first and fourth legs on Sundays 10 February and 10 March.
Cormac has drawn up four operational teams to cover the range of tasks involved in running a show and each member has been earmarked for one team:
Judges Box
Team leader: Cormac 087 251 4417
Team members: Enda, Maura, Joanne, Rachel
Safety & Warm-Up Arena
Team leaders: Paddy 086 854 3067 and Mick 086 349 8111
Team members: Leo, Cyril, Denis, Keary, Jenny, Audrey, Francis, Libby
Entries
Team leaders: Nadine 087 933 7854 and Tanya 086 100 2972
Team members: Gemma, Sharon, Anne, Suzanne Carroll, Hazel
Arena Party & Call-Up
Team leader: Damien 087 763 1911
Team members: Orla, John, Suzanne Wylie-Deeney, Marina, Louise, Ewelina
Please note what team you’re on and make contact with your team leader to coordinate a rota for the day.
Vera has confirmed the details for the series of three flatwork lessons that will run parallel to the NW League, beginning on Friday 15 February. Mary Finneran will provide instruction and the venue is Glenleary. Anybody who attended her classes in October and November will be eager to continue the good work. New pupils also welcome, of course.
Looking further ahead in Spring, Eglinton is confirmed as the venue for our North West Team Show Jumping Challenge on Sunday 28 April.
Patricia will once again teach a flatwork lesson for novices this coming Friday evening at Cyril’s. If anybody wishes to join Cyril and Maura at 6pm, book with Francis on 086 372 2542.
Although Rachel’s Monday evening novices lesson has been up and running already for several weeks this year, it was Friday 25 January before the more seasoned members of the club shrugged off their seasonal cobwebs and returned to riding club activity.
Patricia Warren manhandled a whopping cold and bronchitis to direct nine pupils on a remarkably clement winter’s evening. Cyril enjoyed a flatwork lesson at six o’clock while Paddy, Tanya and Liz turned to jumping in the 7pm lesson. By the time Rachel, Francis, Damien and Libby entered the arena at 8pm, the wind was up but the rain stayed away.
Patricia concentrated on the quality of the canter, expertly dealing with the extreme variety of specimens within a single class. In the late group that meant juggling the wound-up speed merchants, Zak and Bella, with the warm-blooded slow coaches, Fenway and Millie. In every case she helped their respective riders produce some much-improved work through exercises with jumping on a circle, progressing to a short circuit of small jumps.
Although certain individuals wondered whose bright idea it was to organise a league that had to be prepared for in the middle of winter, there was no doubting the feeling of achievement at the end of the exercise. It’s always worth the effort.
Letterkenny Riding Club