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Sweatshirts and Polo Shirts for sale

We have red Polo Shirts and Sweatshirts for sale with the club’s name. These are great to wear if you are representing the club at an event. They are very reasonably priced at £17 per sweatshirt and £12 per polo shirt. If you would like to see or purchase one please contact Jo Cottee on 01732 823175.

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High Vis Coats

The fluorescent/reflective fleece coats are still available in Orange or Yellow from the supplier. If you would like one of these for safer, warm riding on the roads, please let me know. Price per coat about £17 depending on numbers ordered. Please contact Caroline on 01622 710582.

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NEWS 07/08

Area 10 Novice Showjumping Qualifier - Sat. 17^th November 2007, Duckhurst Farm

Beach Ride – 3^rd November

On a glorious sunny Saturday in November, we held a Club beach ride at Camber Sands.

We parked at two different locations for unboxing then met up down on the beach.  In excess of 20 mounted members took part from our youngest one to the more mature.  We had as many unmounted members with their dogs of various shapes and sizes also enjoying the event. 

It really was a wonderful trip with all horses (and riders!) behaving impeccably.  People tended to break off in small groups and wander along the shoreline so it was suitable for everyone.  Those with more mature and sedate mounts were able to amble along and enjoy the scenery while the younger energetic ones were able to go a little faster.  

The weather really did make this event with some members even riding in T-shirts!

After the ride many enjoyed bacon rolls and hot dogs back at the car park. A good day was had by all from riders to horses, dogs and walkers.

Thanks to Jo for organising the event – looking forward to the next one!

The Magic Junior Novice Show Jumping Championships

Junior Team Organiser Sara Fairhurst writes: Unfortunately, our team of qualifiers including Lauren Mullen, Lizzie Burden, Jessica Hawkes and Hattie Sharp, were somewhat depleted on the day due to lameness etc. However, Jessica and Hattie went to represent the club and did a fantastic job. Although neither were placed in the top ten individuals, both rode brilliantly and more importantly had a fantastic weekend. Well done to you both.

British Riding Clubs Area 10 Hunter Trial Qualifier, Lodge Farm, Matfield on 14^th October

Junior Team Organizer Sara Fairhurst writes:- We had a junior Novice team comprising of Tori Betts on Dazzling Diva, Laria Collister on Blinky Blue, Hattie Sharp on Fiery Moon and Harriet Fairhurst on High Diva.

Tori was first to go in the team and rode very well with an unfortunate 40 faults and 45.2 time faults. Next to go was Laria who made a brilliant effort but unfortunately got eliminated with 90.4 time faults. However she did very well indeed as it was the first time she had attempted a 2’9’’ cross country course. Third to go was Hattie who took a tumble and got 68.8 time faults, but again rode very well and made a valiant effort. The final member of the team to go was Harriet, who managed a clear round with only 8.4 time faults, earning her an individual 5^th placing.

All the team had a lovely day in the sunshine and seemed to enjoy themselves very much.

Report from the Riding Club championships in Lincoln

Team member Sue Stewart writes: - M&D were fortunate enough to qualify for Lincoln again this year and I helped represent the Senior Novice team along with Jenny Hutchinson, Emily Hutchinson and Rebecca Rogers. Lucy Field, Brenda Hawkes and Emily also qualified as individuals.

We arrived on the Friday after a long journey and set up camp with the horses stabled nearby.  Somehow we all managed to arrive about the same time so the team parked together.  The showground is vast with excellent facilities and plenty of space - I soon realised why so many competitors brought bicycles to get around on. Although a hog roast was laid on by the showground we made our own entertainment on the Friday evening by having a barbecue for 12 (only 3 of which were competitors). It was a good job there were no close neighbours to complain about the noise!

Luckily for us our times were all after midday on the Saturday so we had plenty of time to get the horses ready.  Connie was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of horses, size and magnitude of the showground etc. and needed an hour’s exercise to calm her down before the test.  There were over 11 dressage arenas and about 3 show jumping arenas.  The team did their best but although overall we were not placed, we got two individual placings and the individual members did very well too.  We all had a fantastic weekend with lots of fun and I would like especially to thank my 5 grooms (slightly over the top!) and the Fields for all their help.  Also congratulations to Jenny, Lucy and Emily for their excellent performances.

Cobtastic – BHS Trec Pairs 2007

Congratulations to Julia Izzard and Clare Reynolds who currently hold the lead in the national Trec league for Level 1 and 2. Clare Reynolds writes: I had competed as an individual in 2006 and Julia was a relative newcomer to the sport when we met up at both M&D Trec practice at Arran Bank run by Jane Scott and Anne Rillie and then at Tilford Trec in Surrey earlier this year.  We decided to join forces and compete as a pair at the next Trec.  Our team “Cobtastic” was born – my horse Pie, a 16.2hh 9yr old piebald cob cross and Jock Scotch Broth, a 14.2hh 20 yr old piebald cob cross. 

It was with absolutely no pressure that our first Trec just happened to be Chilham run by Jane Scott and Anne Rillie.  Competing at Level 2 the POR (orienteering) was tough in places having to navigate through several orchards.  The COP (control of paces) was straightforward and the PTV (cross country/obstacles) fully utilised Chilham’s cross country course.  We were surprised and delighted to finish first in our section and our M&D team consisting of Dave Ingram and Caroline Rillie finish 2^nd in the teams competition. 

Jules and I then plunged ahead to the next Trec – The Chevron BHS Welsh Championships in Pembrokshire.  The Championships are always well attended with participants from all over the country. The complexity of the course is also much tougher.  This was also our first overnight stay at a competition so we set off on our 7 hour journey with camping equipment, electric fencing kit for the corrals and all the equipment necessary for the competition. 

The competition was run over 2 days and we had a fantastic time.  We made lots of new friends which we were to meet again in the coming Trec competitions.  At the end of it all we came 3^rd at our first Championships and were chuffed to bits.  Made it home in one piece although I was getting concerned about my ageing Range Rover – it had been making some odd noises on the way home.

Bryanston School Trec in Dorset was our next competition in July and the weather was horrendous.  Pie and Jock being out of the “tough as old boots” mould, simply ploughed through the mud (literally) and we came home 2^nd.  My poor Range Rover was definitely not very well by now.

Foot and mouth reared its ugly head which resulted in the Uckfield Trec and St Ebba’s at Epsom being cancelled. Ardingly was also cancelled which meant fewer Trecs for us all in the South-East.  It was also the time that my Range Rover “died”.  Until I could arrange for

a replacement I was car-less.  Julia very kindly volunteered to take us both to Lilley Manor Trec in Bedfordshire.  With all the kit we have to take we normally travel in convoy.  This competition was our first level 2A – the main difference being the complexity of the orienteering.  At this level bearings are introduced.  In laymen’s terms it means there are sections on the orienteering route where your map is sealed and you have to navigate from a list of instructions using your compass only!  For extra spice grid references may also make an appearance – you have to locate exact points on the map and then navigate your way to them.  I felt much safer tackling this as part of a pair.  If we got horrendously lost

at least we’d be lost together.

By some miracle, beginners luck, expert navigation or combination of all three we came 1^st.  At this time we were creeping up the leader board in the Trec league – things were getting serious and Jules and I were both getting competitive.

Jules attended White Horse Trec in Derby and the BHS Championship of Great Britain in Staffordshire on her own as I was unable to go.  She did fantastically coming 8^th and 4^th respectively.  The last 2 Trecs of the season that we in reach for us (we drew the line at travelling to Scotland!) in Dorset we knew that good performances would give us a shot at coming first in the league.  I had my shiny new car and was back on the road.  Back at Bryanston again we did brilliantly until Jules realised that she had missed out an obstacle on the PTV course and therefore received a zero score for that entire section.  Completely mortified and inconsolable, she felt that she had let me down.  I assured Jules that this was not the case – as in any team you take the highs and the lows as they come and look to the next competition.  We still came 9^th! 

The last Trec at Shipton was the following weekend…….  

Anyone who was anyone in the league attended this final Trec competition.  People had travelled as far as the Midlands to try and improve their position.  It was tough and the pressure was on.  The PTV was to determine the final placings as this venue had some very strange obstacles indeed including a washing line, aerial slide and dog rescue. Both Pie and Jock did themselves proud (again) and we finished the season with another 1^st place. 

With the best 4 positions to count in the league points system we have won the Level 2 Pairs competition at our first attempt (still to be finalised by the BHS).  We would both like to thank our wonderful horses Pie and Jock for their consistency and fantastic temperaments that have enabled us to achieve this lofty position.  Hopefully in 2008 we can move up a level to level 3, but this will depend on the going and the fitness of both horses as the distances covered in the orienteering can increase to 32km with bearings and grid references.

Trec is a great sport for all abilities – the competitors extremely friendly and helpful to newcomers.  Don’t let the orienteering section put you off as entry Level One is designed to encourage newcomers to this growing discipline.  Jules and I are only too happy to help or assist any M&D member who might want to compete next year.  

If you would like to know more about TREC please email Clare Reynolds at icreynolds@btinternet.com

STILEBRIDGE SUCCESS:

Congratulations to the following Riding Club members for their recent success at Stilebridge Barn Dressage Championships:

Emily Fairhurst - Junior Prelim points runner up

Julie Offen        - Senior Prelim points champion

Sheila Whibley - Novice points champion

Sally Sharp      - Elementary points champion

Lucy Field        - winner of Novice class

Many more Riding Club members qualified and were placed, well done to you all!