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| Comments
from the Chair |
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Welcome to our website, the sun is shining and the clocks have changed, we are all ready for a good season with our horses. Our New Year commenced with our AGM held at Abridge Village Hall on the 2nd February, the AGM was preceded by a talk given by Larry Bensusan entitled ‘Open the Stable Door to the Emotions of your Horse’.
Larry kindly travelled from Lavenham in Suffolk with laptop and projector to give a fascinating insight into a horses view of life, covering their sight, hearing and scent capabilities and how their flight mechanism drives how they react to situations – I certainly learnt a lot and have a much better understanding of why my horse reacts to certain situations, in fact also why he reacts when there appears to be nothing going on at all!
Following this interesting talk our out going Chairman, Kim Ratcliffe, chaired her last AGM. Kim has been a great supporter and participator in Essendon District Riding Club and then the merged Essendon & Epping Forest Dressage Group, Kim had the idea of merging the clubs and we have all benefited from the stronger club. The Committee have asked Kim to remain involved with the club in an honorary position of Vice President, Kim has kindly accepted and will continue to run clinics and write articles from time to time. The Club constitution allows for the Committee to nominate a President and Vice Presidents, these are honorary positions and not Committee positions. Our President is Inger Bryant (List 1 Judge) and our Vice Presidents Mrs Jenner, proprietor of Woodlands Stables where our shows are held and Kim Ratcliffe (List 1 Judge).
I have taken over the position of Chair with the support of the Committee and whilst I am not a ‘fresh pair of hands’ I am a ‘safe pair of hands’ having been Chair of Epping Forest Dressage Group for all but 3 years in the period between 1991 and 2008. Emma Wakefield has agreed to become Vice Chair with a view to taking the Chair at the end of this three year term.
We have a packed schedule for the next few months with an affiliated show on the 15th April followed by a test and train show on the 29th April, tests for instruction will be those selected for the Winter Championship which takes place on the following weekend, Sunday 6th May. We have some great sponsors and we will be presenting the Club silverware to the championship and winter points league winners.
The summer series also commences in May, with four Wednesday evening qualifiers and the Summer championship held in September, also over the Summer we have organised three clinics.
The details of all of these events are contained within this newsletter and I hope all of you find something you will enjoy participating in.
I love the Winter Championship with all the presentations and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Have a lovely Summer with your horses.
Heather Lonsdale
Chair
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| Team News |
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Exciting things are happening in EEFDG teams – we have now proved that we can jump as well! The Club sent a Senior team to the Area Combined Training qualifier at Norton Heath on 10th March; this is the first team representing the Club in an event that involves jumping. The intrepid quartet of Gemma Pye, Camilla Sheeley, Georgina Wells and Charlotte West did brilliantly to finish a very credible 4th, and what’s more 3 of them jumped clear rounds in the process!
On the same day was the Royal Windsor Area Qualifier which is an individual dressage competition. EEFDG members did very well, with Rachel Kellett and the lovely Palladian breaking the 70% barrier to finish 3rd in a very competitive class and qualify for the Championships at Royal Windsor Horse Show. Well done Rachel and Ted, and good luck for the finals. Angela Fenn missed out by the narrowest of margins, finishing in 4th place.
The BRC Winter Championships took place over the Easter weekend, and our Senior team of Sofie Butchart, Jan Greenlees, Carly Dimes and Camilla Sheeley proudly went off to represent Area 8. Competition was incredibly strong, and the ladies all rode good tests finishing just out of the team placings but well into the top half. A particular well done to Carly Dimes who finished 5th in her arena.
Please email
Emma Wakefield at emmaequus@btconnect.com if you would like to ride for the Club or have any queries.
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| Upcoming Riding
Clubs Team Events |
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Full details of all team events are on the Team page as several people have commented
that they would like to ride in team events but are
not sure of how they work. We now have a RC Team page
which will explain to you how team events work, how
you can represent the club, what to expect, what it
costs and who to contact. It also has the latest results
and future dates for all team events. We hope they will
encourage more of you to join in with this aspect of
the club.
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| Members Success |
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We have had a very successful summer as a club! Well
done to Jacqui Field and Claire Burne who both competed
in the Trailblazers final.
Sofie Butchart won her novice and Prelim regional final….and
was placed in both classes at the Nationals.
Jan Greenlees was second to Sofie at the regionals
and also went to the Nationals. See if you can spot
the photo of Jan and Sofie on our website.
Please let Rachel Kellett or Kim Ratcliffe know about
your successes, qualifications etc at Dressage or any
Equestrian discipline.
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