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.
At last, at last, we have confirmation of the venue for the AIRC National Hunter Trial Championships in April. As we all know by now, “Flowerhill” will not be in Flowerhill this year. Instead it moves down the road and across a county border to Gurteen College in County Tipperary.
Read the full details on the AIRC website.
Now in its fourth year, the North West (Spring) League opens its entry book for the first leg of the 2013 edition in just two weeks’ time. On Sunday 10 February members from all over our very large county will assemble for the first of five sessions of training, competition, camaraderie, friendship and rivalry. A broad assortment of riders, from quivering novices to seasoned veterans, will prepare to face new challenges and achieve individual, personal goals over a 10 week period that carries us from late winter to the first days of spring.
The format remains familiar. We’re retaining the double points feature that we trialled with success in the autumn mini-league. The rules governing the number of horses on which a member may ride competitively have been modified while retaining the ultimate objective of fair and sporting competition.
Letterkenny is responsible for running the first and fourth legs of the league. We’ll be shadowed by members of the new Inishowen club as its members familiarise themselves with the AIRC ropes. You can look forward to a nice lie in on three Sundays of the league but all our members will be expected to put their hands to the pump on Sundays 10 February and 10 March.
Between now and the starting bell of the first round of crosspoles, the best of luck with your training and remember that everybody will be ring-rusty and rough around the edges for the first couple of shows!
Deanes Equestrian Centre in Bruckless are running clear round jumping this coming Sunday, beginning at 11am. It’s a good opportunity for anybody within travelling distance to clock up a bit of mileage in advance of the North West League which begins two weeks later on Sunday 10 February.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Donegal clubs, our suggested dates for both the Derby show and the collaborative Northwest Team Show Jumping Challenge were confirmed.
The team challenge takes place on Sunday 28 April. The venue is to be confirmed. Our Derby & Dressage Show takes place two weeks later on Sunday 12 May, subject to the agreement of our hosts, the Edwards Family of Hillsborough Farm.
This gives us lovely continuity from the Northwest League through the National Hunter Trial Championships and on to the Gaeltacht’s Beach Show on Sunday 2 June. Lots and lots to look forward to.
Finola Murphy of Benbulben Riding Club, one of our most faithful visitors over the years, this week lost her outstanding Irish Draught mare Jessie Kildalton Delight to colic. Our hearts go out to you, Finola. You were a wonderful partnership and we can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through.
Finola and Jessie won every competition worth mentioning and competed the length and breadth of the region and country with success in every discipline. Jessie was a true all-rounder and a wonderful example of the Irish horse. RIP.
Pictured below: Finola and Jessie, winners of our Intermediate Derby Perpetual Cup in 2012.
The Donegal Clubs collaboration continues in 2013 where it left off with a meeting this Tuesday in Tir na nOg. The main focus of attention will be the upcoming North West League (beginning Sunday 10 February) but longer term topics will also be discussed.
Members of the emerging Inishowen Riding Club will attend to get a feel for how things work. Although there are several of our members who have committed themselves to working on this collaborative initiative, the gates remain open and you are more than welcome to get involved.
Anybody who hasn’t already put two and two together should note that Cormac inadvertently gave Marina’s number in his text for booking jumping lessons. It should of course have been 086 372 2542 for Francis.
Letterkenny Riding Club