October 2024

Well the ODE is over for another year and the AGM is booked – both signs that Autumn/Christmas is approaching !!  Whilst horses, riders, helpers and spectators got a soaking at the ODE, the feed back we received was wonderfully complimentary and sympathetic as regards the rain; so a very big thank you to all who made it such a success and a really well supported event on the DFRC calendar.

PAST EVENTS

Polework Clinic with Richard Long on 17 August

Steph arranged another polework clinic with Richard Long following the success of the previous training. However this was not quite so well supported but the four riders who did take part were unanimous in saying that they had had a really good evening.

XC Training at Smallwood on 29 August

Judith organised a training evening  with Bianca Mortimer mainly to give any members who had entered the ODE and members who were thinking of doing so, a good opportunity to have a run round the course albeit that the final fences for the official competition were still in planning.  It was disappointing that only 3 riders took advantage of this opportunity but those who did, enjoyed it and got useful experience for the event itself.

One Day Event at Smallwood on Sunday 8 September

On a wet Sunday morning, an army of riders, helpers, friends descended on Smallwood for our annual ODE.  And it was wet !!! However even the dire conditions could not dampen the enthusiasm of those taking part though maybe those helping felt differently ! But everyone connected with the Club put on a superb event and this was unanimously reflected in the lovely comments that were sent in afterwards. Steph Woodland has pulled the Club into the 21^st century by establishing the technology to transfer scores quickly to the Secretary’s tent. She co-ordinated the day and there really was a lot of work in the background – from Steph and Sam collating the entries (and the changes);  Elaine valiantly baling out the dressage tent to avoid the rain water falling directly onto the generator;  Judith getting soaked being the traffic policeman on the road crossing to name but a few – apologies for naming only a few as it really was a team effort. The event makes such a difference to the Club account – just to give you an idea of the financial side, the income was just over £10,000 and outgoings £8200. The resulting profit margin will be used to subsidise the meal at the AGM as a thank you to all the members for the help they have provided during the year. It will also be used to cover any shortfalls in on-going competitions, training etc.

Dressage and Show Jumping Qualifiers

It was more than unfortunate that, although we had three entrants for the above, in the end none were able to compete. This was, in part, due to a late date change as it then clashed with other commitments. But thanks to the people who put their names forward to represent the Club.   

 AREA  EVENTS

Area Qualifiers

For your diaries (but we do not have any further details at present) Area will be running the following qualifiers:

DTM and Intro dressage Q on 23 November at Reaseheath

Novice and Intro Winter Show Jumping Q on 30 November at Kelsall.

More information will be circulated as soon as we have it.

FUTURE EVENTS

As always, full details of all our competitions, training events etc, can be found on the web site but, briefly, the following is a list of diary dates for the next few months :

Dressage Competitions at Forest Gate Farm

The next dates for these competitions are

Sunday 10 November

Sunday 8 December

As always, details of the tests and entry details will be on the web page. The Christmas competition in December will be not quite so normal, as we hope as many riders and horses as possible will compete in festive attire.

Please note that, due to lack of entries, rosettes will now only be awarded down to 4^th place.  

If numbers increase in any one class,  we will continue down to 6^th place but, as things stand at the moment, its getting to the stage that everyone in a class is getting a rosette which, it is felt, detracts from the merit of being placed.

Also we have been advised that there will be new tests next year so please can you all check carefully the date (year) which will be added next to the test number on the web page.

Pole and SJ Training

You will probably have seen Cathy’s email advising that Katie Holden has kindly agreed to hold a Pole and SJ training session on Sunday 20 October from 10.30 am.  This will be at Church Farm, Little Leigh. There will be groups of four and the cost will be £12.  If you are interested and/or want further information, please contact Cathy on cathylondon@sky.com

Arena Eventing Qualifier

This will take place at Kelsall Hill on 26 October.  Sam has already sent an email round asking for members to contact her if they would like to take part.  We can enter either individuals or teams. The classes will be 70, 80, 90 and 100.  As we are running it, it would be really good to have some DFRC riders taking part so please can you contact Sam on samsansom@hotmail.co.uk for further information or to express an interest in competing.

AGM at Crowton Village Hall, Friday 22 November

This is early confirmation that the AGM has now been booked.  As usual, we will try and run it as a mainly social event and keep the business side of it to a minimum. There will also be the prize giving.  We are in process of finalising the details of the meal but in view of the help that members gave at the ODE, we are continuing the tradition of providing the food as a thank you from the Club.

An email will be sent out in due course to request numbers, advise on menu choices etc.  Members’ guests will be most welcome for a contribution of £10 towards the cost of the meal – which will be good as we are using the same excellent Caterers who provided the excellent dishes for last year’s Celebration Dinner.

To anyone who was awarded a trophy last year, we would be really grateful if this could be returned to Anne Doughton as soon as possible please.  And if it was returned having been cleaned, that would be a real bonus !!

MISC

Committee update

Delamere Forest Riding Club has been fortunate to have a good number of very hardworking committee members for many years now.

In 2023 we had a committee of 12 which was reduced to 9 this year. Many of you will be aware that Steph Woodland is due to give birth to her first baby next month and will be stepping down from the committee – we would like to wish her all the best and completely understand why she will no longer have any spare time!

3 other longstanding committee members have given notice that they will also be standing down at the end of 2025 (we are grateful for their notice as it allows us time to replace them).

We are a small riding club with less than 50 members and the committee have worked very hard to ensure that events and training are well run every year. With such a small committee we will be unable to continue in the same way. We will certainly struggle to run the biggest event of the year; the one day event. The ODE takes an enormous amount of organisation and an army of helpers. It would be a pity to lose it as many competitors come from miles away to enjoy the friendly atmosphere of an extremely well organised unaffiliated event.

Please could members consider whether they could commit to joining the committee and bring new ideas and direction to the club. We meet monthly on a Monday evening to organise events and training. This would be less if there is a quiet period in the calendar.

Many of you attended the informal meeting in July to try and consider the future of the club following greatly reduced entries at all events which has led to financial losses. Perhaps there are some of you who would welcome the challenge of leading the club into the future! If anyone would like any further information, or would like to talk to one of us; please contact any of the current committee. Nominations will need to be received prior to the AGM on 22 November