NEWSLETTER APRIL 2016
Easter started with the Team Show jumping at Tillyoch, where Deeside had some great teams, and all jumped really well, with the Deeside teams taking home the trophies in all classes except the last one!! It was certainly testing weather, lashing rain in the afternoon, and many thanks to all the volunteers who well deserved a hot bath on their return home!
Well, it must now be official, Dinnet has its own micro climate! After studying the weather forecast over the weekend, before the Jumping Derby, we were convinced that it was going to rain, but we were proved wrong! A little light drizzleat 9am, and that was all, while all around the area it poured with rain. The ground in the field was perfect, no need for studs on the ponies, and it was a great day. I do understand that some changed their minds about coming because of the weather, but you do need to be prepared to compete in all weathers, Interbranch and other major competitions will not stop if it is raining on the day, unless it is unrideable!! The only downside was that we were struggling for volunteers. Two days to the event, only three families had volunteered to help. Many, many thanks to members of the committee and those who did come and help at short notice. We plan to run another Jumping Derby in September, after our Gymkana.
We use these events for fundraising and giving our members and others the opportunity to come and gain experience in low key competitions, to have fun, and try something different. We do need more jump uprights, and to give you some idea of the cost, the 6 pairs of large uprights we purchased last year cost £1500. But we do need parents, friends, family to come and help. You do not need any experience for some jobs, and with a membership now of over 60, please be prepared to give up some of your time to come and help. It would spread the load immensely and with your children being members of the Pony Club, we need a little of your time. Your committee are all volunteers, and put in a lot of time running the club.
Ok, plea over, lets get back to the rallies, backbone of the club! I have attached the letter detailing the procedures for signing up for rallies, and one of the most important ones is to sign up for the rally a week ahead. It was lovely to see 25 members at the first rally at Dinnet, but 9 of these had signed up late, and in order to enable them to join in, I had to find extra instructors at short notice. Also, when booking the rally, can you please pay at the same time.Leigh does a great job sending out reminders before the cut off date, and please reply to Deeside Rallies email address, not the
I place the children in appropriate groups, but if any of the instructors feel that a member would benefitwith a change to another group, they will do this after discussion with the other instructors to make sure the children get the best fun and experience from the day.
We are moving towards the evening Interbranch training short rallies, which those who are interested in going to the Interbranch competitions at the end of July. Members need to have attended at least four of these, as well as 3 all day rallies, since 1st June last year to be considered for teams. Camp last year, counts as one rally.
We will be running the Combined Training and Grass Roots Area competition ourselves on September 24th, and I hope we will have a number of teams for this competition. Details of these competitions and the interbranch heights etc can be found on the website.
We also will be organising a First Aid course (possibly on two Thursday evenings at Drumoak Church hall), for all parents who do not have a current certificate. We need First Aiders for each ride at a rally, and it again spreads the load, as well as being a useful skill to have.
The camp forms are now out, please fill them out as soon as possible. It will be great to have camp at Dinnet, great instructors, and lots of opportunities for learning and having fun. And we look forward to the younger members coming to join in for two days.
We will also soon be planning the next rallies after camp, and include a picnic ride, and ride along the beach too. There is also an Endurance ride planned with the Grampian branch of the Scottish Endurance club on June 12th,and all can come and have a good ride.
Looking forward to a great (dry!!) summer.
Mary