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As the 2003 season draws to a close, it just leaves me to say “What a year ! “. The weather has been gorgeous, the shows thanks to you all have been well attended. This has made it possible for us to upgrade the show jumps and the working hunter course, but most important of all we have been able to renew the clubhouse roof. A project that we knew would be very expensive but vital as the roof had sprung several leaks. Unfortunately this has taken up most of our funds leaving us hopefully with enough money to see out the winter.
Membership for the 2004 season will be taken at the AGM and with your continual support we are making the resurfacing of the show jumping arena our top priority for next year. This will give us a flat hole free surface to jump on.
Thanks go to all the people that have given us help throughout the 2003 season. I would like to thank on your behalf the Rugby Riding Club Committee who have all worked so hard to achieve the running and survival of the Club.
We are hoping to have a Bonfire night event at the club and for anyone interested there will be tickets available at the AGM. A bar and food will be put on.
Have a lovely Christmas and A Happy New Year to all.
Pat Flavell
The European Commission requires all equines( horses, ponies, donkeys and mules) to have passports by 31st December 2003. The reason being that many drugs routinely used in the treatment of horses are not necessarily safe if the horses are eaten by humans. If horses have passports, then drugs that are administered throughout their lives are recorded. Thus preventing possibly hazardous medicines entering the human food chain. However, if a horse is not destined for human consumption then it can be treated with the usual drugs.
Horses kept for leisure, riding, breeding and competing may or may not already have passports , if not you can contact the following
BHS Tel 01926 707700 A discount is available to British Riding Club Members
BSJA Tel 02476 658800 Contact Kate Robbins, cost for members registering existing or ex BSJA horses £15
Irish Draught Society Tel 08452 300399 Contact Caroline or 017220714970
British Driving Society Tel 01926 624420 (approx £10 members, £15 non members)
Any breed society or Association has been authorised in GB to issue horse passports
If your horse has a breed society or Wetherbeys passport look at the last few pages to see if there is a page headed MEDICAL TREATMENT or MEDICATION RECORD if it has then the passport is up to date. However, if not you should contact the relevant society and ask what they require to have these pages added. (Most will ask you to return the passport with a SAE for them to amend and return it) If your horse has registration papers contact them see what they require to upgrade them to a passport( most send you a form to fill in the markings which you then return with the original papers and £10)
A list of organisations and societies authorised in GB to issue passports is available on the notice board in the clubhouse. There are about fifty in total and most charge approx £20—£25 .
A passport is valid for the horses life and goes with the horse should it be sold. There are agencies on the internet offering deals for horse passports but it is NOT advisable to use these .
More information is available on www.defra.gov.uk or Nazia Naqui at DEFRA Tel 0207 904 8271
At one of the early season MARC qualifiers held at Rugby Riding Club, Charlotte Mills and her pony Copperas Little Joe , more commonly known as Oscar qualified for the Marc 10 years and under and 12 years and under show jumping classes.
The championships were held at the South Staffs Riding Club Ground on Sunday 31st August. Never ones to miss a championship, we duly set off at about 7.00 am, as the class was due to start at 10.00 am. Having negotiated three motorways we ended up at Stourbridge and having asked for directions we tentatively followed a lady down a very long bumpy road , full of pot holes and finally arrived at the showground.
We parked and took Oscar for a look round and walked the course. The course was up to height (2`3), with two doubles and a couple of fences that eventually proved to be the competition deciders. Twenty five children contested the first round and sixteen went through to the second round held over a different course at 2`6. Charlotte was very nervous but kept her head and she and Oscar jumped clear to go through to the jump off along with seven other riders. Charlotte was fourth to go with the previous riders all having four faults. It was very nerve racking but Charlotte and Oscar came through with a fast clear round , I was so proud of them both. Then in came a little grey pony who whipped round like lightening, just slightly faster than Oscar, with the remaining riders collecting four faults, Charlotte and Oscar were second and reserve champions. The results were called out, Charlotte had a lovely big rosette, which matched her big grin. The lap of honour was like the charge of the light brigade but luckily Oscar didn’t do his usual bucking bronco act and was well behaved.
Unfortunately Charlotte had four faults in the first round of the 12 years and under class but we had a look round the stalls and ordered a tee - shirt with Oscar jumping the wall printed on it as a reminder of the day.
Although it was a long journey, we were determined to go to the championships as we had qualified, we had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We made new friends from other clubs and saw Jodie Stokes on Taffy also from Rugby RC who competed in Charlotte’s class. Jodie also reached the jump off but finished just outside the rosettes. All I can say is, if you qualify for any championships, go, you won’t regret it.
Helen Mills
BRITISH RIDING CLUBS JUNIOR HORSE TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Having won our arena last year at the championships I just didn’t think we could have such a good day again. This year was even more exciting as Choc drop and I were part of a team representing Rugby Riding Club. We were lucky again to have lovely weather and of course the lovely setting of Offchurch Bury estate.
I was fairly pleased with the way my dressage test went, it was one I hadn’t done before which involved a lot of medium walk ( not Choc drop’s favourite movement!) but I shouldn’t have worried as the test scored well. We had a very nice clear show jumping round, and the XC was exciting but we were delayed starting because of a rider falling who had travelled miles to be there that day, ( we had been chatting earlier) it was at this point mum started to bite her nails !! We did a smashing clear round this time without time penalties , Choc drop is so trust worthy and despite having poor vision in his right eye , he’s so clever.
It soon became clear that our Rugby team which also included Kellie Stokes on Bustiki, Amy Pugh on Lynwood Cane and Stephanie Faulkner on Just my luck were 4th with only half a dozen marks separating the first four teams. Choc drop and I were lucky enough to win our arena, but were really surprised to find this year we were the individual junior champions. We had already received a fourth rosette with the team and Choc drop had a 1st rosette and sash for winning his arena, when we were recalled to be presented with a large silver challenge cup and sash for me as overall champion!!. I don’t think we have ever had a better day and I know how lucky I am to own Choc drop. Laura Findlay and Cerewood Chancer also finished in third place individually and Kellie Stokes on Bustiki tenth.
I would like to finish by thanking Val for organising the teams for this and all the Area 5 competitions and we hope to be around next year to represent the club again.
Sophia Icke and Choc Drop
BRC National Junior Horse Trials Champion 2003
BRITISH RIDING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS - LINCOLN
We arrived late on Saturday afternoon, and once Buster had settled in his stable it was time to let our hair down at the BRC party night. Whist everyone danced the night away, I’m ashamed to say I retired to bed at ten thirty when I gave Buster his last feed and left him to chill out ready for the morning.
My phone alarm sounded at six to husky hung over voices grumbling “turn it off”. It was time to plait Buster whilst intently repeating the dressage test in my head, I was convinced I would forget . After walking the first round of the open show jumping and warming in we finished on an acceptable four faults before the mad rush to change saddles and my outfit.
I had to ride my second ever elementary test ( the first being at the 2002 nationals) and wanted to do well and not let team members down, Gemma Carman, Gemma Cheney and Amy Pugh had all ridden so well. So to finish on 6o% was far more than I expected and I was over the moon especially when our team finished eighth.
We then prepared for the equitation jumping and by this time Buster was very relaxed and did a brilliant round , we finished overall individual champions and I really do owe it all to him, he was so well behaved. I was astounded when I found out, I couldn’t believe it! Buster must have known how proud of him I was because he went on to jump a foot perfect second round in the show jumping to help put our team into fourth place (same placing as last year … we will get in the top three next year!).
The equitation team which also included Gemma Carman, Amy Pugh and Alexandra Butler finished in fourth place along with the open show jumping team which also included Amy Pugh and Laura Findlay.
Although all Rugby’s horses and riders competing that weekend were stars, there is one more extra special little star without which it wouldn’t have been possible to have even been there in the first place. That is of course the ever patient, ever hard working and ever organised Val! So thank you very much for all your hard work Val it is appreciated by all of us.
Kellie Stokes and Bustiki
BRC National Junior Equitation Champion 2003
NOT forgetting …
Congratulations to our third BRC National junior champion 2003 Gemma Carman on Worton Buccaneer who for the second year running won the National Junior Riders Test title and helped the Rugby team to finish in overall third place with a well deserved individual fourth for Gemma Cheney and Keerans Choice.
Also our senior novice dressage team who finished third with individual places for Emily Smith Poacher, Penny Boon and Julie Fellows and Susan Bullock who finished second in the advanced riders test and fifth in the open dressage.
FRIDAY 31st OCTOBER at 8.00PM IN THE CLUBHOUSE
Please try to attend, the meeting will be followed by the presentation of awards to members for the 2003 season.
Website © Copyright Dawn Webb 2002