We are looking for volunteers to jump judge at our Craigie Hunter Trials on 22nd April. JJ's will be fed & watered and benefit from being up close & personal to all the action!!
No previous experience required as training will be given. You can check out the following article on what to expect > link
Individuals or pairs, full or half days, members & non-members very very welcome!! If you are interested and available or for more information please contact Lisa Allan on 077911 20227 or
Catherine Eardley Lessons
Catherine Eardley will be back at the clubfield on Sat 18th Feb and Sunday 26th Feb. Private lessons £40, shared lessons £25. Please contact Gillian Kettles if you would like a lesson on 07825 648 948
TEAM SHOWJUMPING COMP @ SNEC - REPORT (Gillian Osler)
We managed to pull together 3 teams for Fife Hunt Pony Club Team Showjumping competition on Sat 28th January.
Our first team of the day was our Novice team of Heather Jones, Laura Stenhouse, Katy Bain and Chelsea King. The team finished on 4 faults with great double clears from Heather and Laura. Unfortunately they just missed out on the ribbons.
Next we had the Intermediate team of Caroline Lees, Claire Skinner and Debbie MacGregor. With just 3 members the pressure was on with all scores to count, Claire did a lovely double clear but sadly poles fell for the other two members, so no prizes.
Finally we had our Open team of Callum Glasgow, Elaine McDonald , Sarah Hutchison and Kim Wilson. It's was a tough and up to height course and all combination performed well with the team finishing in 5th place!!
Thanks to all who competed, especially those who filled up places at the last minute, and to all those who came along to help and support.
MEMBERSHIP SUBSRIPTIONS - NOW OVERDUE Deadline 18th February
Subs should be sent to club secretary, Liz Glasgow, immediately if they have not already been paid. Cost is £35 for Riding, £25 for Assocuate & £10 for Non-Riding membership. If you are unsure whether you are due to pay, please contact Liz directly (contact details on Who's Who page).
The deadline for renewals is 18th February. After then full applications will need to be submitted for membership, including the joining fee of £20. The committee will assess as a new application. DON'T DELAY, SEND TODAY!!!
WINTER TALK - 30TH NOVEMBER 2011
Members turned out in good numbers to the first of our winter talks held at the Freuchie Cricket Club.
Our guest speaker was Jane Brindley, a qualified hypno- psychotherapist. Jane is also a keen horsewoman and so understands only too well the problems some riders face when handling horses or competing. In what was a very interesting evening, Jane gave members an understanding of how we can learn to adopt a more positive way of dealing with issues that sometimes have a detrimental impact on the way we interact with our horse. The evening finished with a short relaxation session, in which – judging by the total silence in the hall – everyone participated!
Jane is currently trying to raise funds for a sponsored ride in Rajasthan, India in early 2012. The six day ride is in aid of the Brooke, a well–known charity which provides veterinary care for the working horses, mules and donkeys of places like Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan & India. The trip won’t be a holiday as it will involve riding for between 4-6 hours a day and with overnight camping stops. Lets hope she doesn’t fall victim to the dreaded “Delhi Belly" which afflicts some visitors to that part of the world! Jane has promised to take lots of photos and we have nearly persuaded her to come back and let us know how she gets on.
For more information on the benefits of hypno-psychotherapy see Jane’s website & for more information on the Brooke Charity see their website
The talk was followed by the presentation of awards for the Summer Dressage League. The results are on the Events page.
An award was also made to Joe Smith who stood down at the AGM. Joe served for many years as Club Treasurer and more recently as a committee member but he has decided to “hang up his boots” for a bit and enjoy a well earned rest. We thank Joe for all his hard work on behalf of the members for the last 13 years or so and hope he will still get involved in future events.
A raffle was held on the night and members were asked to make donations for refreshments which included a terrific selection of home made cakes (thanks to Gillian, Liz & Lisa). A total of £150 was raised – a fantastic result.
Sincere thanks to everyone who donated gifts to the raffle and to our “master bakers”; also to Liz & Callum for organising the evening and, of course, to Jane.
Well done the hardy few who disregarded the drizzle to attend the cross country clinic at Craigie Farm, courtesy Club President, John Foster.
As ever the ground at Craigie was fine and the woods provided plenty shelter from the worst of the weather. Instructor Jane Gilchrist accompanied the second group on horseback ("a handy lead").In spite of the dreich conditions riders still had a great time and there were plenty happy faces on return to base. Needless to say, the rain stopped at the end of the training.
Our thanks to Jane for another great day's instruction,to the Fosters for once again giving us a chance to use the track for training and to Morag for her assistance on the day.
OPEN MINI CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION
This years open Mini Cross Country continued to prove as popular as ever and unlike the members one a few nights earlier the weather was glorious.
Everyone seemed to enjoy their day and despite a couple of fallers everyone managed to complete the course. Unlike Wednesday night where the planks caused a lot of problems it was the double leading into the woods that caught most riders out.
We would like to thank everyone who came along and hope you will join us in thanking all our volunteers who gave up their day to help as without them the competition simply would not run.
MINI CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION
WEDS 22 JULY 2011
We had a fantastic turnout of riders for the Members Mini Cross Country Competition – the best attendance for some years. Heavy overnight rain left woodland tracks a bit boggy and the burn was more like a raging torrent, so the track was trimmed – probably just as well in view of the large number of riders. We did well to get everyone round the course before it got too dark.
It was an eventful evening for some with a couple of fallers – all, thankfully are ok. The planks at the end of the horse lane caused more problems than any other fence – though, strangely, this same fence caused no problems at all a few days later when we held the Open Mini Cross Country.
This is a Points Competition but the horse coming closest to the Optimum Time on the night also wins the handsome Galway Cup, donated by member Hannah Seaton in memory of Galway (a horse well-known to many a member of FRC). We were delighted that Hannah was able to come along to make the presentation on the night
The cup was claimed again by Lucy Moffat and Tia – what a season they are having!
As ever, our thanks to those members who came along to help us set out the jumps the previous weekend and also to those who helped on the night.
AREA 22 QUALIFIERS 2&3 JULY 2011
A great big “Thank you!” to the many FRC members, families and friends who helped make this weekend such a tremendous success! We have been receiving non-stop messages of congratulations from participating clubs saying how much they enjoyed their trip to Fife and how well run the competition was, also how friendly everyone was.
Almost everyone (members included) commented on how fantastic the field was looking, a tribute to the behind-the-scenes hard work put in over the final week or two ahead of the big weekend – grass cutting, raking, filling pot holes, repairing & creosoting fences, raking, field tidy up and painting jumps to name but a few of the many tasks undertaken in some cases by people who are not even club members.
Our visitors expressed downright astonishment at the Clubs facilities – we are almost unique amongst riding clubs throughout Britain in owning our own showground, something we often take for granted.
Compliments flowed about the Saturday nights entertainment at Howe CC and on how smoothly everything ran. Thanks to all who were involved in the running of the show – from our splendid car parking crew, our writers, stewards, arena parties & tea ladies to our scorers and entries secretary – each and every one of you went the extra mile to ensure two great days of competition, well done one and all.
Congratulations to all our riders especially our qualifiers – the Intermediate Showjumpers - Kim, Sarah, Elaine & Lucy – who also qualified in Style Jumping, plus Shona for Dressage to Music. The full results will be posted later.
All in all, a resounding success – we even organised the best weather of the summer! Again, well done everyone – it made me very proud to be a member of what is one very special club.
NURSERY NOVICE, FERRIER, NB AND BALFOUR POINT COMPETITION
In spite of showery conditions earlier in the day we still had a good turn out of riders for the Points Showjumping competition night on Wednesday 1st June.
In order to squeeze in four classes, the first two competitions were run as A5s where all clear rounds went straight into a shortened course against the clock. The winner was Kathleen McMillan and Delta Flyer with no penalties to add in a time of 31.16. Simonne Adams and Gizmo also went clear but a few seconds slower for second place with a delighted Susan Kerr & Bacchus in 3rd.
The Nursery Novice class was also hotly contested. Most riders went clear in the first round but only Laura Nash and her new horse, Diamond Impact, managed to finish with no faults and collect the Ferrier Trophy.
The Intermediate class finished with a straight head-to-head between Roslyn Davidson’s Chevy Blazer and Rhona Beda with Candleriggs Caitlin. Rhona had a great time in the jump off but Caitlin just tapped the pole in the last fence for 4 faults, while Chevy managed a clear to clinch the NB Trophy.
The final class – the Granny Balfour Trophy – went to three rounds. The course offered an option at fence 5; riders could either opt to sweep left-handed round to the triple bar (the biggest fence on the course) or take a shorter but twistier righthanded route over the wavy planks. No attempted the alternative all night and mutterings of “Why did I bother?......” were overheard from the arena. Two horses made it into the final jump-off. Kim Drysdale & 21st Century Fox were first in and opted for the safe route. Next in were Lucy Moffat & Tia – last year’s winners. “If this doesn’t work, it’s Dad’s fault” said Lucy as they set off for the final time. Dad had suggested Lucy try the option – and how it paid off – for they shaved 6 seconds off the time and clinched the trophy for yet another year.
Well done to all our winners and thanks to everyone who helped with this competition.
STYLE JUMPING & TURNOUT
Despite the lack of help to construct the Style Jumping course, (the few members of the committee that were there) decided after a discussion to build the course . It is a shame members do not support the committee who are all volunteers and give up their spare time to build courses , run events and try and compete their horses. Despite this and the inclement weather the Turnout was reasonably well attended the overall winner was Lucy Moffat and Tia. Thanks to Donna Hanlon for judging this .
The Style Jumping competition judged by Andi Bruce had a good turnout of riders , nobody was fast enough to obtain Nil time faults , this may have been due to the wet conditions and the competition being held on the grass arena , the overall winner was Callum Glasgow on Fleur d'eclipse , a close second overall was Roslyn Davidson , Mandy Lam was third they all qualified for the Blair Atholl Style Jumping Final.
Thanks to all the helpers on the night , without whom the event would not be able to go ahead .
AREA 22 HORSE TRIALS QUALIFIERS
Fife Riding Club members had a great day at the Area 22 Horse Trials, with one team taking first place (Sarah Hutchison, Laura Rennie and Jenny Cushnie) and the other team taking third (Kayleigh Wallace, Jacqui Macadam, Anne Henderson and Caroline Lees). There were also individual prizes with Laura taking 1st place, Jacqui taking 3rd and Sarah 4th.
Well done everybody, thanks to all supporters and grooms who came along, a great team atmosphere!
A big thank you also to Gillian our Chef E'equipe & our Team Manager Amy, for keeping all our riders on track.
AREA 22 CAMP 2012
Area 22 camp is to take place at Auchlishie Eventing, Kirriemuir from 11–13 May 2012. We are awaiting application forms & further information which will be forwarded to all club secretaries shortly. Anyone planning to compete for the club at the Area 22 HT Quals must not go on the XC course after Sat 12th May. Please ensure you let the organisers know when applying so XC lessons can be arranged for earlier. For more info click here
Club Documents
The club Constitution & Bye Laws are now available to view on the membership page
AREA 22 HORSE TRIALS
Date for the diary! Strathmore & District are hosting the BRC Horse Trials Championship Qualifiers at Auchlishie Eventing, Kirriemuir on 27th May 2012.
FACEBOOK
For those of you who don't already know FRC now has its own Facebook page. Check it out for all the latest news and no doubt gossip.
A great big “Thank you!” to the many FRC members, families and friends who helped make this weekend such a tremendous success! We have been receiving non-stop messages of congratulations from participating clubs saying how much they enjoyed their trip to Fife and how well run the competition was, also how friendly everyone was.