Congratulations Gaeltachts – what an achievement

With the Relay For Life attracting our attention and some of our usual suspects keeping a low profile in 2012, our club sat out the western region’s  Team Show Jumping Qualifier which took place on Sunday in Knock. But Donegal was ably represented by a team from the Donegal Gaeltachts.

Following a brilliant effort by Mickey McHugh, John McDaid, Laura Schneider and Patricia Warren, the quartet were one of just two teams to make it to the jump off. And who would you rather have as your jump-off rider than Patricia? With her hallmark panache she delivered the winning round to carry the team and the club and all of Donegal to the final at the RDS in August. In her own words, “there was nobody as shocked as us!”.

Congratulations neighbours and the very, very best of luck between now and the big day.

Idyllic ride-out from Kellee Stables

Friday’s ride-out, led by Hazel from Sharon and John’s Kellee Stables near Kilmacrennan, made the very most of one of the most idyllic Donegal evenings imaginable. With less than a month to go until Midsummer, it was wonderful to be able at last to enjoy the long light evenings that are such a feature of our northern county.

Seldom have horses sweated as freely on one of our expeditions. The six of them — Sapphire, Lizzie, Millie, Davy Arthur, Ozzie and Fenway — stepped out at a spanking walk for most of the route, picking up canter willingly on two lengthy off-road tracks. They returned to the yard with a spring in their step that belied their 90-minute work-out. Some of their riders nursed tender backsides and dismounted gratefully, hands already held out for refreshments.

John and Nadine manned the creche during the ride-out and everybody together enjoyed Hazel’s generous refreshments afterwards as the hens came home to roost in the yard after a long and luxurious day of long-awaited sunshine.

A very big thank you to Hazel (and to John and Sharon) for an evening that summed up everything that’s good about riding club life.

Pictured below: Lizzie cools down after a brisk 90-minute exercise routine that was a great deal more energetic than the rest of the photos suggest.

Ride-out at Legnahoory, Kilmacrennan, Friday 25 May

What could be nicer than a leisurely evening ride through beautiful countryside, now that summer has finally arrived? This Friday Hazel will lead an excursion from John and Sharon’s Kellee Stables near Kilmacrennan, meeting from 7pm for a prompt 7.30pm departure. The ride will last about an hour-and-a-half, after which you’ll be rewarded with light refreshments back at the yard.

Please let Hazel know on 087 746 6431 if you plan to ride.

Relay For Life: Weekend arrangements *updated

Team Captain, Cormac, has an update on arrangements for the weekend:

I have spoken to most people at this stage and have got agreement on the slots they will fill over the 24hrs. The idea is that at least 2 people at a time would be there for 2hrs and they can choose between themselves who will walk and for how long whilst the other person mans our gazebo/stand at the event. Note our club gazebo is No 28.  The track schedule so far is as follows;

Saturday evening
6pm – 8pm  Damien & Nadine
8pm – 10pm  Francis, Maura, Libby & Suzanne WD
10pm – 12am  Sally & Hazel

Saturday night
12am – 2am  Orla & Stephen
2am – 4am  Louise, Donna & Gillian
4am – 6am  Rachel & Christopher

Sunday morning
6am – 8am  Cormac & Brenda
8am – 10am  Mick & Leo
10am – 12pm  Marina & family

Sunday afternoon
12pm – 2pm  Paddy, Audrey & Tanya
2pm – 4pm  Anne & Keary
4pm – 6pm  Liz

Many Thanks to all who have committed so far and I have no doubt we will get the vacant slots filled. If anybody wishes to join please let me know because it would be great if we could have more bodies at the busier times of Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Housekeeping !!! Please wear your riding club gear (black & amber sweatshirts etc) and don’t worry about looking silly, believe me we will be mild compared to some of the outfits that will be there. Please leave plenty of time to be there for your alloted time because parking is going to be at a premium especially at busy times.(no parking in LYIT on the day, try Enda’s homeplace, Hugh is away !!!) Please be security aware because the event is so large you can be assured that some people will target it for the wrong reasons. If anybody feels like baking for our team gazebo a few of Marina’s Audrey’s or Jennie’s specialities would be appreciated (no pressure). I will have chairs etc in the gazebo and we will have posters photos and tack displaying the activities of the club. If anybody has anything they would like to add please contact Libby or Cormac. I tried to add a horse but that was a non-runner (excuse the pun).The event is very much a fun event and a celebration and will be screened live for the 24hrs on the internet, some of the highlights are the Luminari ceremony at 10pm on Saturday evening and the opening and closing ceremony at which the wonderful Gemma who we all know will be present. You can be guaranteed that you will not be bored as the fun will continue for the full 24hrs, I have even arranged that the wonderful Daniel who has written a song especially for the event and is donating all proceeds to relay has promised me he will pay a visit to our stand just to say “hello” to his biggest fans Marina, Orla, Tanya & Nadine. The weather forecast is good so please bring Sunscreen, dark glasses for when Orla starts screaming at Daniel, and some refreshments.

Lastly a big THANK YOU to all who helped in the fundraising and for all those who still have sponsorship cards & money please bring them along at the weekend and give them to Cormac, Damien, Francis or Orla who all have lodgement forms. We as a club look like having €1800 – €2000 for this worthy cause by the weekend and add this to the monies raised for the hand in hand charity from the rideout we can justifiably give ourselves a collective pat on the back.

Team Captain
Cormac

Travel to Tattersalls

Lack of interest has led the Pony Club to shelve their plans to run a bus to the cross country day at Tattersalls on Saturday 2 June. Don’t despair though — luckily for us, Roisin McGee’s family are running a 30-seater bus to the event and  you can book with them instead. The cost is €10 a head and the pick-up is in Letterkenny.

Contact Roisin on 087 918 0008, if you’d like to book a seat.

Magical Carrickfinn worth the two-year wait

The weather came good when we needed it this year and 10 members enjoyed a memorable camping trip in magical Carrickfinn. Most of them are still nursing sore ribs, injured from excessive laughter on a long and lingering Saturday night by a mighty campfire.

Spectacular surroundings, great weather, wonderful riding, good eating and priceless company. Thank you SO much, Damien and Nadine.

Pictured below: Carrickfinn in pictures. Plenty more to follow.

Lessons at Glenleary a great success

Despite the questionable weather outlook, Friday night’s lessons at Glenleary were a great success and everybody benefitted from Mary Finneran’s tuition. Two groups rode, both of them choosing jumping over flatwork, with Sally venturing happily over coloured poles for the first time in her riding club life.

Many thanks to Mary for the usual expert teaching and excellent facilities, and to Sally for organising the lessons.

Gemma and Mick joining us for Relay For Life

The Relay For Life is shaping up to be a really big occasion. Gemma Carroll will be participating in the first hour of the Relay For Life as cancer survivors take to the track while Mick will join the effort as a member of our team.

Remember to contact Cormac by the weekend to arrange a time to carry the club torch (it’s a metaphorical torch, but none the less important for that!).