NEWSLETTER –October 2008
www.deloraine.pcat.org.au /
Assisted by the Office of Sport and Recreation through the Tasmanian Government Community Support Levy
4th / Northern Zone Dressage Championships –DDPC
5th / DDPC’s Frank Richards Gymkhana
9th / Royal Launceston Show
12th / DDPC Rally- Armistead
11/12th * / Polocrosse Training
18th / Longford Show
Polocrosse Training
25th / DDPC Polocrosse Chukka Championships
26th / BDPC Gymkhana
What a wonderful 2-day rally we had in September. The rally was the first one to be organised by our new chief instructor Jane Becker and what a wonderful success it was. What a credit to Jane to pick up from the high standards set by our previous CI Rosanne.
September has seen our website become fully operational. We will endeavour to ensure the website has all that you need to keep you up-to-date on what’s happened as well as what is coming up. The website has a comprehensive calendar showing the event scheduled to date up to early 2009 as well as forms, links and contacts. September saw our 40km long distance ride scheduled for 20th Sept postponed due to the terrible weather. Stay tuned for information on the new time and date for this.
Since our last newsletter we have also seen in the Northern Zone Showjumping Championships. How great did DDPC look out there with such a large contingent of riders across the four grades! Well done to everyone who had a go and especially to all those younger riders who were getting along to the Northern Zone Showjumping for the first time.
October is shaping up to be a very big month for DDPC with our hosting the Northern Zone Dressage Championships and the Frank Richards Memorial Shield Gymkhana in the one weekend. Closely followed by the Chukka Championship. All hands on deck for these events as they both raise funds and the profile of our great club.
From The DC ……
Thankyou to Jane & Kim who stepped in at the 2 day clinic, whilst I busily worked away.
I do hope you all enjoyed the days.
As we do approach this busy month, I ask that as a club we all band together to help and assist wherever possible. Please do not be afraid to step forward and also if there are any riders who find they have spare time over this busy weekend I would appreciate if you could also put your hand up to assist your club.
Good luck to all who are competing over the upcoming weekend and also at the Launceston Show for Pony Club.
Happy Riding
Ange.
EVENT ENTRIES
Please remember that if you intend on riding at an event It is your responsibility to get your entries & monies to Ange. Do not leave it to the last minute as you may miss out. It is very difficult to make phone calls with late entries or changes to other DC’s, as they are all busy too. You can reach Ange by phone at home or by email or text message.
Are You Coming to the Rally?
It is important that each rider who intends to come to the rallies notify Jane Becker of their attendance prior to the rally.
On rally days it is very difficult to organise groups and instructors when people do not turn up or simply turn up without notifying anyone. So please your assistance in this will make life so much easier.
Chaff For Sale
If anyone is after good quality chaff. Jo Claridge can help you. Large bags are available for $18 per bag. If you are interested you can contact the lovely Jo on 0419 681 142.
Membership Forms
Each year new membership forms must be completed and submitted with the rider insurance and affiliation portion of the membership must be paid. This year it is $50. If you have not already done so, please ensure you pay this portion of the membership to Geraldine before your next ride.
If you didn’t have a chance last month to return your completed membership form or volunteer form please try to do so by the next rally. There is a copy of the membership form on the DDPC website. Please ensure that you complete the form (if you have not already). On this form is a section for you fill out your efficiency test information. If you could all please complete this so we can get all our records up to date of who has completed what test and when it would be appreciated.
Congratulations
Michalea Van Rooye and Jess Becker who passed their Theory section of their “B” Test and also Emma Dolan, Katie Becker and Erin Roles who also passed their theory section of “K”. The girls will now work towards the practical side of the test in early 2009.
All efficiency tests require much commitment, work and dedication to becoming a skilled equestrian, particularly at these higher-level tests
A Reminder for Riders
If you are riding in Championships you must present to the judge. This is really important as it could mean elimination if you do not.
Interested in trying your hand at coaching?
Anyone interested in coaching are invited to contact Jane Becker to discuss obtaining their O level coaching certificate.
Check out or website for continually updated info regarding our club.
If you have anything that you would like to see up on our website please email
Northern Zone Showjumping Championships
On Sunday, 31st August Launceston Pony and Riding Club hosted the Northern Zone Showjumping Championships at Edinburgh Park, Gravelly Beach. Riders wishing to compete in this event were first required to be graded and rally qualified. The event consisted of four grades 1, 2, 3 and 4. Our club was well represented by a large contingency of riders consisting of Tegan Blackwell, Michalea Van Rooye, Laura Johnson, Stacy Plumbridge, Emma Dolan, Erin Roles, Sophie Roles, Jess Cowan, Georgia Orchard, Liv Whatley, Sophie Orchard, Danielle Whatley, Regan Heathcote, Lakesha Spain, Shania Wilson, Ebony Byard, Hannah Orchard, Jess Dornauf. Check the out in action on the website.
The event consisted of a jumping equitation class and a two round show jumping class for each of the four grades at the following heights.
Grade 4: Equitation height 55cm Show Jumping 1st round 65cm
Grade 3: Equitation height 70cm Show Jumping 1st round 80cm
Grade 2: Equitation height 85cm Show Jumping 1st round 95cm
Grade 1: Equitation height 95cm Show Jumping 1st round 1.05cm
Deloraine’s performance was outstanding as the below results indicate:
Event / Grade / Rider / PlaceEquitation / 1 / Tegan Blackwell / 2nd
2 / Michela Van Rooye / 1st
2 / Laura Johnson / 3rd
2 / Stacy Plumbridge / 4th
3 / Erin Roles / 1st
3 / Sophie Roles / 3rd
3 / Jessica Cowan / 4th
4 / Sophie Orchard / ?
Championship / 2 / Emma Dolan / 2nd
2 / Stacy Plumbridge / 3rd
3 / Georgia Orchard / 1st
3 / Liv Whatley / 2nd
In addition to individual places clubs submit teams. Each club team consists of the score of the club’s best placed rider in any three of the four grades of the Show jumping class added together. Trophies were awarded to each club whose 3 riders placed highest in each grade. Deloraine District Pony Club won two of the four shields, taking home the grade 2 shield and the grade 3 shields. Which are now proudly displayed in our club rooms. Well Done to everyone who participated, it is always great to see so many riders at events wearing our club colours and competing with such camaraderie.
The PCAT are again holding the annual raffle and ticketbookshave been distributed to our club families. Tickets are $2.00 each with DDPC retaining $1.00 and $1.00 going back to the PCAT. Please be supportive of this raffle. All members are encouraged to sell a book as the raffle benefits all members. There is a book seller’s prize for the family who sells the most tickets.
What makes our club tick?
There is no doubt that Deloraine Pony Club is a competitive club within our state. We have a high number of members, with diverse skills. We are a club that is well represented in all Pony Club disciplines at a State level. We have a tremendous turn out at rallies and a wonderfully diverse range in ages. How our club grows and develops is solely dependant on the voluntary work of all our members. It is the responsibility of all family to contribute to the running of the club. The tasks that we should all be doing every rally is taking responsibility for helping to assemble equipment such as show jumps and other equipment that may be required, take the rubbish to the skip at the end of the rally, helping in the canteen, packing up equipment, picking up rubbish, collecting manure at floats and cleaning and maintaining toilets. If you are leaving the rally without helping out in any of the areas – you are not fulfilling your own responsibilities. Please help to continue to make our club as great as it can be by sharing in the workload fairly.
A big thank you to Penny H and Kylie who did such a fantastic job in the canteen at the September 2 day rally. They did a fantastic amount of work before and during the 2 day rally. Thanks guys.
Endurance Training Rides
A big thank you to Mark and Gina Byard, our resident Endurance Experts. Thank you for all the time and knowledge that you have contributed to this component of the K test for our club riders. Unfortunately our final ride was rained out in September but what this space for details on a new date.
PCAT Northern Zone Dressage
This year DDPC will be hosting the Northern Zone Dressage Championships. Goodluck to all the riders who will be participating on the weekend.
Buy Now, Pay Later
At DDPC we pride ourselves on being a flexible and friendly club. However, being that we are voluntary run organisation we don’t often have the time to follow up on money owed. As such we have a policy that items purchase must be paid for before they are collected. This includes uniform and saddle blankets. Additionally, if items are used they must be purchased. Items cannot be borrowed and returned for re-selling.
This also applies for event entries; if you entered for an event please ensure you forward monies owing ASAP.
Boys Group
There has been some interest in establishing a boys group at the pony club. If you are interested in this idea please have a chat with Jane.
If we were to establish a boys group that would ride together at each rallies – there would need to be a commitment from these riders to attending the rallies.
Changing Coaching Structure
PCAT are currently undergoing a change in the way coaches are trained. Gradually, over the next couple of years the O level will be fazed out and replaced with a different structure. Those people who are interested in learning more about these changes and how they might affect coaches are invited to attend the Coaching Training Information at the Silverdome on 15th October at 7.30pm.
Please Let Ange know if you are wanting to attend and we can organise car pooling etc.
Fundraising Chocolates
Chocolates are now available for members to sell to raise money for our club. They will be available at our next rally.
DDPC Committee Meeting
Monthly Committee Meetings
Each month DDPC holds the committee meeting on each third Thursday of the month at 7.30pm. However, due to commitments the October’s meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 22nd October. All members are welcome to attend. For more information please contact Narelle.
Happy Birthday to You…..
Lakiesha, Caitlin & Niamah, we hope you have a fantastic birthday with lots of fun and nice pressies!!!
PCAT CHAMPIONSHIPS CHANGES
There are few changes to be noted for the coming year:
· The ages for B and C groups (where applicable) has changed. 14 yrs olds will now be in B group so that C group will now consist of riders under 14 years.
· Riders must still attend 3 rallies to obtain a rally qualification, but that a horse only requires 1 rally.
· Scramble teams will no longer be considered for non-selected teams, i.e. for Grade 3 Trials and the Dressage and Jumping championships.
· Riders may ride two horses maximum at the Trials and Jumping champs – subject to the organiser’s conditions – but only one of these may be in grade3, however they may ride two horses in either Grade 1 or 2.
These two are applicable to the Trials only:
· Speed for grade 3 to increase to 400mpm (12 month trial) – NW Zone does not agree
· Qualification – that there are no more than 85 XC jumping penalties.
Dressage Champs tests for 09 and the qualifying requirements.
Groups / Tests / Qualifying ReqsA / 2.4 & 2.3 / Any 2 novice tests over 55%
B / 2.3 & 1.4 / Any 1 novice test & Prelim test over 55%
C / 1.3 & 1.2 / Any 2 prelim tests over 55%
October sees DDPC hosting the Polocrosse Chukka Championships on 25th. This is a relaxed and fun day filled with great team spirited fun. It’s great to watch. If you find yourself near the Deloraine Showgrounds please head on down and support our Polocrosse team.
Tom Johnson Clinic
Congratulations to Jessica Cowan and Portia Conway- Whatley who have been selected to attend the clinic over the long weekend in November.
This year the clinic is to be held at Scottsdale and hosted by North East Pony Club.
Hope you both have a great time learning, riding and hopefully meeting and forming some long time friendships with fellow riders.