Deane’s Equestrian Centre in Bruckless is continuing its good work in bringing registered dressage to County Donegal. This year’s autumn dressage show takes place on Sunday 20 November and is open to registered and non-registered riders alike. See Deane’s website for full schedule and entry details.
Membership map 2011
Some tasks get put on the long finger and it’s about two years since our membership map was last updated. As we near the end of 2011 our membership stands at 48. This shows remarkable consistency with the last few years when we had 51 and 49 members respectively in 2009 and 2010. (If you want to look at a larger version of the map, check out the pdf version on our Club page.)
Remember to keep digging out your old photos
These are the winter months when days are short and there’s no light for capturing the club’s activities on camera. Our Features section is designed to brighten up the dark season so root out some photos of when you were younger or put together a profile of your horse for the website. You can email material to Libby on libby@cartonlevert.ie or hand her the goods on a Friday evening.
Club AGM approaching fast
How time flies. It’s now less than two weeks to our club’s annual general meeting on Monday 14 November.
The meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve been doing for the past 12 months, assess where we’re going in the future, and generally appreciate the activities the club and its members have been involved with in 2011.
The business end of things is always important but the social side dominates proceedings and our AGM has always proven a very enjoyable affair. There’ll be the usual election of club officers so search your soul and see if you can commit the time and effort to one of the many jobs on the roster. If you want to find out what any of the positions entail, give Orla a shout or contact the person who has been responsible for the post this year (see The Club page of the site for an overview of current positions).
The finale of the AGM will be the presentation of our awards for Club Member of the Year and Club Horse of the Year. The winners of these awards are selected by the members through a nomination process. Each member can nominate two candidates for each of the awards. Damien collects the nominations and you can submit yours by texting, emailing or snail-mailing him in advance of the AGM. If you like, give a few reasons for your choice – this adds to the enjoyment of the ceremony on the evening.
For any further information on the AGM contact Orla on 087 643 2458 or Francis on 086 372 2542.
*Updated* Benbulben Autumn League Show, Sunday 13 November
Benbulben Riding Club’s Autumn Show, part of the Western Region Autumn League, takes place on Sunday 13 November. With the club’s prime location bang in the middle of the region, the show is guaranteed to attract large entries and prove a competitive affair.
Formation riding continues this Friday
Eight pupils enjoyed Valerie’s formation riding class on Friday last when the weather was clement and the tuition was excellent. The classes continue this Friday and the forecast is looking equally optimistic. If you’d like to participate, make sure you book with Rachel on 086 161 7087 by Wednesday at latest.
Update on Gaeltacht’s Halloween Fun Day
Roisin has been in touch with an update on the Gaeltacht’s Halloween Fun Day:
Our Halloween inter-club Show Jumping Fun Day is on Saturday. This show does not earn points in the Western Region Autumn League. Due to potential poor weather and subsequent ground conditions, we’re moving the show from Ballyness Bay to Killult Stables. We don’t want to be sinking in the sand again!!! The show starts at 12pm, or soon after. The fee for the day’s jumping is €15. This covers your individual round, a novelty round and training at other grades (within reason). Prizes for 1st place for Individual and Novelty and rosettes for 1st to 3rd. We may combine the Individual P/AP or AI/O grades if numbers are low. We’ll be using our new show jumps – we just can’t wait until next summer to show them off! Tea, coffee, soup, etc. will be supplied too. Details from Roisin on 087-9180008.
Casual dress too.
It promises to be a great day’s fun and the weather looks like being reasonably charitable — everything is relative this year!
Results from our Autumn League Show
Orla and Martina are working on the official results from Saturday’s show at Eglinton. Here for starters are the main individual classes. The results of the Team Challenge and the novelty classes will follow.
Formation riding classes with Valerie beginning this Friday 28 October
It’s about a year since we had any classes with Valerie so many of you will look forward greatly to the series of three formation riding lessons that begins this coming Friday evening and continues on 3 and 11 November.
For those of you who haven’t done it before, think of a cavalry drill. The emphasis is on riding synchronised movements in groups and it’s a wonderful way of doing great flatwork without even realising that you’re doing it. The lessons are suitable for all levels from novice to experienced riders.
With no indoor arena available for these Friday evenings we’re going to work outdoors at Harleys. It’s a pretty sheltered arena and with luck the weather Gods will smile on us.
Book at latest by Wednesday with Rachel on 086 161 7087, if you plan to attend.
New series of lessons with Gary Marshall beginning 7 November, Eglinton
Several of our members thoroughly enjoyed the September series of show jumping lessons at Eglinton with Gary Marshall. Rachael McCrossan has now arranged another series of classes, once again in Eglinton. They begin on Monday 7 November and will run for 4 to 6 weeks. The cost is €25 per class.
Contact Rachael on 087 212 8031 if you’re interested in taking part.
Letterkenny Riding Club 