Carrickfinn prospects looking flickeringly hopeful

Don’t get your hopes up. Be prepared for the worst. Assume that the weather will be awful. Only then, expectations suitably managed, should you take a look at the forecast that’s emerging for the weekend: Accuweather | Burtonport.

The weather is so changeable at present that you’ll need to keep checking the forecast at regular intervals. The trick is to monitor whether the weather systems are moving through at the predicted pace; then you can start to anticipate how accurate the forecast is. One thing you can be sure of is that it won’t be warm. The chances of us getting a pretty dry night look reasonably good though, but it’s unlikely that we’ll get away without some showers at least on Saturday.

Remember to let Damien know on 087 763 1911 if you plan to make the trip.

Instruction with Mary Finneran, Friday 18 May

Mary Finneran is so busy with her own business at Glenleary Stables that it’s tough for the riding club to grab her for lessons. This Friday we have the opportunity to benefit from her wonderful instruction.

Sally is organising the evening’s classes and will divide riders into groups of flatwork and jumping enthusiasts so that everybody has a chance to pursue their interests. If you haven’t got a horse of your own, Mary will be happy to provide a mount. Just give her a ring on 086 170 2357 to make arrangements.

To book in for the lessons please contact Sally on 086 165 5268 by Wednesday evening at latest.

Relay For Life : The big day is approaching fast

We’ve all been talking about Relay For Life for a number of months at this stage, ever since Cormac hit upon the bright idea of entering a club team in this immensely popular and highly regarded fundraising event. For anybody who’s been asleep for the last four or five months, Relay For Life is a community-based initiative in support of the Irish Cancer Society and their work in patient support and research. Relay For Life is a fundraising event which celebrates people who have survived a cancer diagnosis, remembers those lost to the disease and brings the community together to fight back against cancer. Relay For Life begins at 6pm on Saturday 26 May.

Those of you who are on Facebook can find out more about the local effort on the Relay For Life Donegal page. For everybody else, there’s the Irish Cancer Society website.

Now it’s time to pin down a volunteer rota so that Letterkenny Riding Club’s team has at least one walker on the track for the entire 24-hour event. The more the merrier at any one time and the social atmosphere should be great fun. Nadine and Damien are the first to put their names on the list and have volunteered to man the club gazebo and walk the track from 6pm to 8pm on the Saturday evening. The gazebo will be the social hub for the team and is sure to be the source of many tall tales when all is done and dusted.

Please contact Cormac on 087 251 4417 by this weekend and let him know when you can cover an hour on the track. Bring friends and family – it’s not limited to club members. The more the merrier!

Tattersalls opportunity

East Donegal Pony Club are organising a group visit to Tattersalls on Saturday 2 June, the exciting cross country day in this international eventing fixture. Luckily for all of us, the trip is open to non-pony-club-members. Here’s the deal:

Ticket prices will be no more than €12.00 for an adult or €5.00 for kids aged 13–17. Kids under 12 enter for free. Tatts have said that they will give us a reduced price for a group – possibly a 2-for-1 offer – so I can’t give you a final quote yet. Coach prices vary according to numbers but will be no more than €18.00 per person. The trip is open to non-club members, so if you have friends or family you want to bring let them know, but priority will be given to our own members and their families. Please let Rachel (086 161 7087) or Stella (085 828 4306) know if you are interested and roughly how many of each age group would be with you.

Tattersalls offer for AIRC members

News from AIRC HQ. Wouldn’t a group expedition be nice…

Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair, Ireland’s premier International three day event takes place over the June bank holiday weekend from May 31 to June 3. It promises to be a fun-filled weekend for the entire family to enjoy.

Tickets range from €5 to €50 for a picnic pass (includes entry for two adults and two children). Under 12s are free every day.

Tattersalls are offering AIRC members a two-for-one offer on adult admission tickets bought online. All you have to do is log onto www.tattshorsetrials.ie and insert promotional code AFF12 when booking your ticket. The offer applies to online adult admission tickets only. Offer ends 25 May 2012.

Spring Show in pictures and video *updated

Sally, ably assisted by Louise, documented the show on Sunday in great detail. Their still photos are now in the Gallery and Sally’s videos from the dressage arena, as well as few from the clear round jumping, are uploaded on the Media page. Orla was also in action with her camera and has captured some classic moments. See them in the Gallery Extra. Enjoy.

Pictured below: The inimitable Leo on Cool.

Talented 15.1hh 10 year-old mare available on loan

Mai (Somhairle Red Tiger) is looking for a longterm loan home. She’s a 10 year-old liver chestnut Anglo-Arab mare, about 15.1hh. She enjoyed an active riding club season in 2011 when Libby competed her with great success in show jumping, cross country and showing. Her dressage is not up to the same level as her jumping but, with a little time and patience, she has the paces and ability to do very well at it and would be a lot of fun to event.

Mai is an absolute pleasure to handle on the ground but she is not a novice ride. She would ideally suit a competent and ambitious teenager or small adult who wants to get out and compete with a good horse. She’s available on longterm loan to somebody who will make plenty of use of her. She already has a very good home where she can relax and do leisurely hacking but Mai would like to be doing a lot more than that!

If you’re interested in her or know somebody that may enjoy her, contact Libby’s sister Kate on 087 418 9954. (Libby can also fill you in more.)

Pictured below: Mai in action, 2011.

Clear round jumping, Friday 11 May

With the Donegal Gaeltachts’ Beach Show beckoning this Sunday, a spot of clear round jumping at Cyril’s this Friday evening will be just what the doctor ordered for many of our members. It’s remarkable how quickly both horses and riders get rusty and the consistent practice of the North West League is now a relic of the dim and distant past.

Even if you have no competitive objectives in the offing, or if you’re not even riding, it’s pretty hard not to enjoy the clear round jumping evenings at Cyril’s arena near Milford. The atmosphere is always sociable and relaxed and the scenic backdrop is enviable.

Contact Orla on 087 643 2458 to let her know if you plan to attend and the height to which you hope to jump. The evening will start with crosspoles and the sky, high over Donegal, is the limit.

Pictured below: Memories of previous clear round jumping evenings at Cyril’s.