Changes to regional competition format

We had no club representative at last week’s regional meeting in Tuam but the Gaeltacht’s site reveals some interesting outcomes from the gathering. This year there are to be no regional leagues and no points system for establishing the Club of the Year. A festival show will take place in September to ensure that some all-region competition takes place.

Letterkenny didn’t focus to any great extent on the leagues and points in the past so this move won’t affect us all that much. However it is very refreshing to see some fresh thinking and a willingness to try new ways. Hopefully it will all be a great success.

Sports Partnership funding to ‘train the trainers’

Cormac made a successful funding application on the club’s behalf towards the end of last year. Donegal Sports Partnership have awarded us a small bursary of €300 to assist us in developing the qualifications of the coaches and instructors amongst our ranks.

If you’re interested in availing of the funding or have ideas about how it can be used, contact Cormac on 087 251 4417.

Two new faces

2012 has already brought two new faces to the club. Both of them have been seen many times as helpers and spectators in the past but we hope they now enjoy their new status as fully-fledged club members.

Joanne Cuffe has come of age and joins her parents, Liz and Mike, in the club. There’ll be a lot of competition for Judy and we wonder exactly how the sharing system has been defined!

Louise Edwards of Hillsborough Farm in Ramelton joins us from the Glenleary nursery. We hope she gets as much out of the club as she and her family have already generously contributed.

First quarter promises plenty of activity

Tuesday evening’s club meeting got the year off to a good start and there’s plenty to look forward to on the calendar. Orla will circulate the full list in due course.

The North West League will be the season highlight, running over five shows on Sundays 12 and 19 February, and 4, 11 & 25 of March. To work off the rustiness of the winter, regular weekly activity will focus on jumping lessons on Fridays 20 & 27 January and 3 February. The instructor is yet to be confirmed but the venue is Templemore.

As last year, the Friday nights of NWL weekends will feature non-mounted activity with various armchair information sessions and demonstrations. On non-NWL weekends we’ll fit in a flatwork session or two.

Leo will lead a ride-out over the St Patrick’s Day weekend, introducing members to new territory around Burt and Grianán of Aileach.

In the run-up to Flowerhill on 15 April, cross country schooling sessions will be arranged by those planning to compete at the event. Regular Friday evening activity will switch to flatwork once the North West League is concluded at the final on Sunday 25 March.

So, brush the dust off yourself and your horse and get out and enjoy the club!

Club year kicks off with meeting on Tuesday

It’s time to get back to routine in the riding club! Our 2012 calendar kicks off this Tuesday 10 January with a general club meeting at Tir na nOg. Everybody is encouraged to attend and to contribute plans for our regular weekly activities over the next three months.

We’ll also discuss the North West League which begins in the middle of February and the potential dates for our club’s shows throughout the year.

If you can’t make the meeting but have ideas you’d like to contribute, contact Damien on 087 763 1911 0r Orla on 087 643 2458 in advance.

Curtain comes down on our sixth year

Everybody has probably put their boots and helmets in the cupboard for a few days now as attention turns to turkeys and presents, eating and drinking. It’s been another highly enjoyable year for Letterkenny Riding Club and we’ve managed to maintain a very healthy level of membership and activity despite extraordinarily difficult times.

Have a lovely Christmas and a very peaceful and happy New Year.
Here’s to 2012!

Club meeting to kick off the new year, Tuesday 10 January

There’s to be no hanging around in 2012! We’re kicking off the new year with a club meeting on Tuesday 10 January. The purpose of the meeting is to set the calendar of events for the first quarter.

Make sure you come along and contribute your ideas. It’s particularly important that members from different geographic corners of our area undertake the organisation of Friday evening activities so that they move around democratically, spreading the burden of travelling to events fairly.

More dates for your diary: North West League 2012

Before you hang up your boots for the festive season, make sure you mark the dates for the 4th annual North West League in your 2012 diaries. The league, run jointly by the three Donegal riding clubs, is one of the highlights of the riding club year and provides an unbeatable opportunity to improve both your own skills and those of your horse over a 5-show period.

There’ll be a flat entry fee of €15 per member per day, and (within reason) you can jump as many rounds on as many different horses as you wish. Competition starts at crosspole level and continues through Welcome Stakes (approx 50cm) and then up through the standard grade heights. There are both competition and training rounds at each show and you may train outside your graded height.

The league shows take place at Templemore on Sundays the 12 and 19 February and 4, 11 and 25 March.