Post by gillian on Jan 16, 2012 14:10:21 GMT 1
Hi All,
2011 has been another very successful year for the Clubs history, with weekly wins and placings by club members at both National and Regional competitions since last January. We also have among us a National Champion and that is Jenny Reid and her loyal companion Zulu, who won the Open Championship class at this year National Horse Trials in September. This can be added to our National Show Jumping Champions in 2009 of Margaret Walsh and Jessica Healy. Near the end of 2010 we were nominated for “Club of the Year” at the Awards Night in October, which the Club won and from there we went onto the Lancelot Awards where we were shortlisted to the final 2. This the Club also won. The Lancelot Awards are given by the Association of Irish Riding Clubs and to win this Award is a tremendous achievement. We can now add this Lancelot Award to our Secretary of the Year award in 2009 won by Gillian. These Awards could not have been achieved by us without the hard work and dedication of its members. These major achievements are a credit to all who worked hard in helping to get the Club where it is today. I feel we are continuing to grow every year and this year we reached an all time record of 42 members.
In light of these great achievements, Mount Juliet Hotel invited the Committee to Lady Helen’s Restaurant for a 7 course meal, in which we were greeted with a champagne reception. This was a way for Mount Juliet to thank us for our achievements since our merge with them in late 2009. Needless to say the Committee were very pleased to accept this invitation.
We must also congratulate all those who took part in summer shows during the year on their successes and our Teams who have done exceptionally well in their competitions.
The Committee I feel have worked very hard again this year to give its members what they requested. Those who took part really enjoyed the events provided and the feed back was excellent and I think that these events should be continued into 2012. What the Committee provided was:
January 2011 - Day out to celebrate the results of the Lancelot Awards in Portlaoise, followed by dinner.
February 2011 - Seminar with Ger O’Brien on Physcho-Cybernetics (this I would recommend to all members at the beginning of each year)
February 2011 – Dressage Clinic with Ivan Kelly in Mount Juliet for 4 weeks.
March 2011 – SJ Clinic with Francis Connors in Mount Juliet for 4 weeks.
April 2011 – Cross Country Clinic with Fraser Duffy/Carol Gee at Fernhill Stud for 4 weeks.
Weekly Club lessons in Mount Juliet Equestrian Centre every Wednesday night with all three disciplines catered for.
Weekly show jumping lessons in Raheen-Na-Gun Stud with Ger O’Brien every Tuesday night.
Core Fitness classes in Ormonde Hotel.
Also due to winning Club of the Year, we were invited onto the Sue Nunn programme on KCLR in February and Jenny and Gillian went along and Jenny spoke about the Club on the radio. I must say she done an excellent job.
As our membership seems to be growing every year it will be important for members to get in early with their interest in what the Committee provide. In light of the interest shown in the dressage, show jumping and cross country clinics I feel the Committee should do their best to continue with them again next year. These Clinics were started in 2009 and are proving to be very successful.
The Club ran a very successful Show in June in a new venue – Barrettstown Stud – with the kind permission of the Healy Family. We ran with dressage and show jumping. Our entries were very good and a nice profit was made. We also decided to run with a leg of the Masters, this is something that I feel the Club should not take on again, unless Head Office agree to entries having to be paid for when entering on-line. This was not the case this year and a lot of riders just didn’t bother turning up and there was no come back from Head Office. We had gone to a lot of bother in doing a second show jumping arena with timing equipment, judge etc., which eat into our profits as this competition ran at a big loss. Considering all the hard work that was done by members and friends the week before our Show, the Committee organised a BBQ for all its members and families in a barn in Healy’s to say Thank You. This was a huge success and a very enjoyable night/morning was had. Needless to say the clean up didn’t go ahead till the Tuesday. Big thanks to our Chef’s on the night – Sarah and Caroline, who kept everyone well supplied with food.
We also took on a new fund raiser this year and that was the combined One Day Event along with Ashwood RC in Monart Equestrian Centre. The response from members in helping at this Event was terrific and due to all our hard work we came away with a nice profit of €845.00. Can we manage our own maybe???
The Thomastown & District RC website has yet again been a great way for us all to keep in touch as to what is happening around the AIRC circuit and also locally and non AIRC events. It also lets members know of any cancellations etc that can occur at the last minute. By members using this service they have a daily update of all that is happening in and around their region. Other Clubs also use our website for information and this shows how successful it has become. All members are asked to join the site and to put any information that they think would be of interest to other members. As this is our main source of communication along with emails, it is important for members to touch base from time to time to keep in touch. You must be a member to enter information on the site.
The South East Regional Awards Night saw the club being recognised for their achievements during the Festival, the Hunter Trials Championships and the Hoof Prints Horse Trials League. They were –
2nd place - Jenny Reid – Open – Hunter Trials
1st places - Kieran Cahill at Festival in 3 classes of show jumping
1st place - Carmel Norton – Intermediate Competition – Horse Trials
2nd place - Margaret Walsh – Advanced Primary Competition – Horse Trials
Also to receive their prizes for the Hoof Prints Horse Trials League were –
1st place – Jenny Reid – Open
1st place – Gillian Hennessy – Intermediate
3rd place – Carmel Murphy – Advanced Primary
6th place – Jo Forde – Advanced Intermediate
6th place – Therese Curran – Advanced Primary.
On the night a new Award was announced called “Club Award” and this award is given by a Club to a person/member who goes beyond their call of duty in helping the Club and our Chairperson, Margaret Walsh, presented this Award to a very surprised and delighted Maria Rockett. Maria is always first up to offer help with anything that the Club runs and she travels to all Nationals to volunteer along with her little helper Paul. We trust this Award showed Maria how grateful we all are to her.
We also introduced a Club Logo and on display here is a sweatshirt and tee shirt showing the new Logo. Please contact Jess Healy if you wish to order any of these. The sweatshirt costs €20.00 and the tee shirt costs €15.00. From requests from members we also introduced new Cross Country gear which is available to purchase from Oldcourt Saddlery in Piltown at a cost of €65.00, this included the club coloured jersey and the hat silk. These look very well.
I think this covers 2011 and if I have forgotten anyone or anything I apologise. I would like to end by saying it has been a pleasure acting as Secretary for Thomastown & District Riding Club and I wish the Club continued success for 2012.
______________________________________________________
Our Club results for 2011 as follows:-
3 Rocks HT – Ballintobber 3d April.
1st place – AP Pairs – Mags Walsh and Ann-Marie Donnelly
1st place – Inter Pairs – Gillian Hennessy and Tracey Rooney
6th place – Inter singles – Gillian Hennessy
National HT Championships in Flowerhill – 17th April
2nd place – Open Singles – Jenny Reid
5th place – Intermediate Pairs – Gillian Hennessy and Carmel Norton
6th place – AP Pairs – Emma Kelly and Joey Cullen
Barrow Valley RC Easter Show – 25th April
3rd place – Team of Maria Rockett, Gillian Hennessy , Lyn Keane & Carmel Murphy
3rd place – Primary Dressage – Jennifer Holden.
Russellstown ODE – 1st May
2nd place – Carmel Murphy - AP
4th place – Claire Nulty – Green Horse
5th place – Claire Nulty – AI
Woodstown Summer Show – 8th May
3rd place – Margaret Walsh – AP Dressage
6th place – Carmel Murphy – AP SJ
3rd place – Lyn Keane – Inter Dressage
3rd place – Lyn Keane – Inter SJ
5th place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter Dressage
4th place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter SJ
Clonmel Summer Show – 15th May
No results received.
Horseware Qualifier – Warrington 23rd May
Best Turned Out
Dunamese ODE – 29th May
1st place – Jenny Reid – Open
2nd place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter
Thomastown & District Summer Show – 5th June
1st place – Ann-Marie Donnelly – AP SJ
1st place – Jenny Reid – Open Dressage
2nd place – Claire Nulty – Masters
5th place – Caitriona Woodthingy – AI SJ
Festival – 12/13th June
1st place – Kieran Cahill in Advanced Open Take Your Own Line
1st place – Kieran Cahill in Advanced Open Power & Speed
1st place – Kieran Cahill in Advanced Open SJ
Open Dressage
4th place to Qualify for Final - Jo Shairp
6th Jo Shairp
Advanced Intermediate SJ:
4th Niav Cahill
8th Caitriona Woodthingy
Advanced Intermediate Take Your Own Line:
6th Niav Cahill
Horse Sport Ireland Small Hunter:
Section 2 Rosette - 4th Suzy Davis
Intermediate Power & Speed:
8th Gillian Hennessy
Inter Performace Hunter:
Gillian Hennessy qualified for top 20 – but didn’t get results till after Final.
Waterford ODE Qualifier:
2nd place – Jenny Reid – Open – Qualified
3rd place – Sarah Lang – Open – Qualified
2nd place – Gillian Hennessy – Intermediate – Qualified
3rd place – Ann-Marie Donnelly – AP
4th place – Therese Curran – AP
Broomfield ODE:
No results received.
Three Rocks Dressage/Derby:
2nd place – Jo Forde – Ad Inter dressage
4th place – Marta – Inter dressage
4th place – Jo Forde – Ad Inter Derby
Beline Summer Show:
1st place – Jo Shairp – Open dressage
2nd place – Carmel Murphy – AP Derby
2nd place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter Derby
3rd place – Jo Forde – Ad Inter dressage
6th place – Jo Forde – Ad Inter Derby
Carne ODE:
1st place – Jenny Reid – Open
4th place – Jo Forde – AI
1st place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter
4th place – Carmel Murphy – AP
Barrowvalley ODE:
1st place – Jenny Reid – Open
4th place – Thalia Smithwick – AI
3rd place – Claire Nulty – Green Horse
3rd place – Gillian Hennessy - Inter
1st place – Therese Curran – AP
6th place – Carmel Murphy - AP
National Dressage C/Ships:
Few entries but no joy
Ballycanew Show:
1st place – Carmel Murphy – AP Derby
2nd place – Catherine Killeen – AI Dressage
Anna Harvey ODE:
3rd place – Jo Forde – AI
3rd place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter
6th place – Carmel Norton – Inter
Ashwood/Thomastown & District ODE:
1st place – Jenny Reid – Open
1st place – Gillian Hennessy – Inter
4th place – Carmel Norton – Inter
6th place – Carmel Murphy – AP
National Horse Trials:
National Champion – Jenny Reid – Open
1st place – Carmel Norton – Intermediate Competition
2nd place – Margaret Walsh – Ad Primary Competition
6th place – Jo Forde – Ad Inter Competition
7th place – Gillian Hennessy – Intermediate Championship
5th place – Team – Jenny, Jo, Gillian and Carmel (M)
Ashwood ODE: - cancelled
Tinahealy ODE: - cancelled
Hoof Prints Horse Trials Results:
1st place – Jenny Reid - Open
1st place – Gillian Hennessy – Intermediate
3rd place – Carmel Murphy – Ad Primary
6th place – Jo Forde – Ad Intermediate
6th place – Therese Curran – Ad Primary
Regards,
Gillian
Club Secretary.