June 2025

The weather recently has been very challenging for both riders and horses with ground having been unseasonably dry and hard before we hit temperatures more reflective of the Mediterranean than Cheshire.  However, as we really get into the high season for shows and events, a bit of rain will hopefully ease the going a little.

PAST EVENTS

Dressage at Forest Gate

Due to lack of entries, the April dressage was cancelled.   

Clear Round Jumping at Forest Gate

Despite the lack of entries from members (thank you Emma Reading for flying the flag for the Club), it proved to be a good event for non members, particularly a group who travelled over from the Wirral.  They really enjoyed the day and we were grateful for their support.    The clear round chocolate eggs were not easily won – and as a result, the members of the Committee who ran the event went home after having a sugar rush.   

Combined Training at Church Farm on 18 May

Again, pre-entry numbers were down – very few members or non-members entered. However members who had horses at livery at Church Farm took advantage of competing in dressage tests on their own ground. We also had entries from resident non-members which made the competition viable. Last year we deferred this event to July due to the wet spring, this year it was extremely dry on the lead up. Although the jumps are on a sandy field which was also harrowed (thanks Katie & Robert Holden for doing everything possible to make this event run) the ground was hard. The pole classes went ahead and the 60cm jumping competitors also opted to compete over poles.

Kay Sparkes jumped in the 70cm and the single competitor in the 80cm was also happy to jump.

The dressage tests were advertised as Intro 4, Prelim 1 & Novice 1. Our judge Enid also had Elementary, Medium and an Advanced Medium from Rosie Ibbett and it was lovely to watch dressage at this level at the Riding Club. The members based at Church Farm certainly took advantage!

Well done to our members:

Intro 4/Poles – 1st Madelaine Davies and 2nd Mel Stynes

Prelim 1/60cm (poles) – 1st Michelle Cooke, 2nd Mary Humphreys, 3rd Wendy Burgess

Prelim 1/70cm – 1st Kay Sparkes

Intro 1 dressage – 1st Mel Stynes, 2nd Madelaine Davies.3rd Sue Harris

Prelim 1 dressage – 1st Kay Sparkes, 3rd Wendy Burgess, 4th Michelle Cooke, 5th Clare Fox (Zippy)

Novice 1 dressage – 2nd Clare Fox (Bob)

Elementary 1 dressage – 1st Pam Harrison, 2nd Stella McGregor

Medium 1 dressage – 1st Pam Harrison, 2nd Stella McGregor

Advanced Medium 1 dressage – Rosie Ibbett

Horse Camp at Somerford Park 30 May to 1 June

Horse camp started with well over the numbers available, but as usual, horses and people dropped out due to unexpected events.

Over the weekend we had 26 (full house) on the Saturday and 25 on Sunday. It is always worth asking if you want to do just one day as we would rather have all the stables and lessons full but there can be space for 1 day. Campers for the whole weekend are given priority but we know that not everyone can come for the whole camp.

Once again it was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend with extra guests staying over on both days and lots of extra people coming for the day to watch and meet friends on both days. All the lessons are in groups and it is much more fun to have friends watching (and the bonus of poo pickers).

This year the trainers were Sarah Johnson, Amy Lennon and Liz Lyonette who all did a great job coping with our campers who are all very special people!! Everyone had the lessons they wanted and no one was over faced or discouraged.

Many thanks to Brent Sansom for helping to cook the breakfasts – we catered for around 35 both mornings.

Cathy has a list going for next year – it will be the 29th-31st May as the bank holiday is the Monday before and is early again (TBC with Somerford).

AREA  EVENTS

Area Qualifiers

Past Event :

Area Winter Dressage at Northop on 22 March

A team of Elaine Reading, Clare Fox, Katie Holden and Wendy Burgess competed at the Winter Dressage qualifier and did really well to win this qualifier and therefore  secured a place at the BRC Dressage Championships – a great result and well done to all who competed and thanks to the helpers.

BRC DTM and Dressage Championships

Club members acquitted themselves incredibly well at the championships at the end of April. The team finished 9th out of a total of 32 teams, (so received well deserved Top 10 rosettes) which was an amazing achievement and a great credit to the Club.

Clare also competed in the DtM and did really well to finish in 24th place in a very large class.

However, Rosie Ibbett was an absolute superstar and won the DtM Championship against some really stiff opposition. Rosie also competed individually in Elementary, finishing 13th and Medium, finishing 12th.

Very many congratulations to all those who represented the club so well at this prestigious championship.

Senior Prelim Qualifier on 22 June

 A team of Elaine Reading, Rebecca Kneale, Wendy Burgess and Clare Adlridge represented the Club at this Area Qualifier on Sunday at Aqueduct Marina, Nantwich.   A full report will appear in the next newsletter.

FUTURE EVENTS

Dressage at Forest Gate Farm

Details of the tests will be on the web site – along with all details as to how to enter and dates are :

8 June   (at 2.00pm)    Cancelled

6 July     (at 2.00pm     Cancelled

3 August   (at 2.00pm)    Likely to be Cancelled

12 October  (at 2.00pm)

2 November  (at 2.00pm

7 December  (at 2.00pm)

Due to insufficient numbers and lack of entries, the summer competitions are cancelled.

One Day Event at Smallwood – 7 September

Our biggest event of the year will, as always, be held at Smallwood on 7 September and schedules will be finalised and posted very soon.    It would be good to have a good representation of Club entries for what may possibly be the last ODE that the Club runs (see Status report following).    We appreciate the help that is given by members, families and friends in running the day which always seems to be very much enjoyed by participating riders.

MISC

CLUB HELP DAYS

Unfortunately, because memberships are now processed through Sport80, Cathy has been unable to send out the tick box document so that everyone can elect which discipline they’d like to help at for their duty day.   However we have now added a Help Day Form for completion on the Membership page of the website.  Please can you all fill this in and send to Cathy as soon as possible.   Thanks, in advance, for this and apologies for sending this reminder to all who have returned the email.

Clwyd Special Riding School

Many of you will have seen the heartfelt appeal by Clwyd Special Riding School to raise sufficient funds to see them through 2025/6 and cover the plans they have for expansion in order to generate future income. The Committee agreed to send £200 to the appeal (for which the centre was extremely grateful) and I’m delighted to say that they reached their target so that this brilliant Centre can continue its much needed work.

CURRENT STATUS OF DELAMERE FOREST RIDING CLUB

As you will have seen earlier in this newsletter, we are not getting sufficient entries from members in order to run some of our events.    The Committee has continued to meet and draw up an on-going programme but its become a rather depressing task.    As a result, two members are retiring this year and it is likely that another 2 with retire next year.    In order that the Club is in a position to continue, at least two (and preferably up to four) Committee members are needed.    So that you have an idea what is involved in order that you can make an informed decision as to whether to volunteer, a guide to the duties is as follows:

Meeting up every 4 / 6 weeks to discuss past, and arrange future, events

A committee member has to be present  at each dressage competition .  Arrangements are made at a committee meeting but, on the day, the role will (with the help of people doing their duty day to cover car parking; running order, scoring, writing) be overseeing the team; putting put up the arena (training will be available for this);  answering any questions etc. ensuring venue and judging fees are paid; clearing the site.

Taking a first aid course

Agreed members of the committee also share duties for :

Overseeing all entries made on EntryMaster; Paypal arrangements;  refunds etc

Membership and duty days

Treasurer

Newsletter writer

Chef d’equip for Area events

Booking dates for Combined Training, Camp, ODE – and these can also include booking all associated elements from venues, judges, first aid, catering to loos, photographers etc

If you would like to discuss the role further and consider volunteering, please get in touch.

We know its a difficult time for Riding Clubs at the moment as there are a number of alternative venues that now provide the sort of competition etc that previously only a Riding Club offered – plus the fact that no help days or membership fees are required.  The feeling is that maybe DFRC is facing the real possibility of closure.  This is now up to current members to decide but unless people step forward, it will happen.