AGM 2011 & Awards Night round-up
The Gloucester Old Spot pub provided a perfect setting for our AGM last night, good ales and a yummy steak pie dinner option ensured everyone left full and happy!
The proceedings kicked off with the AGM where formalities are presented, Nichole Baker delivered a detailed budget report in the absence of Noel, our standing is £500 up on last year, but against a backdrop of increased expenditure on championship entry fees, highlighting the need to increase revenue in the next year to ensure we can continue to support riders to attend championships.
The team managers reports were all circulated to allow members to read through club successes this year.
The chairman raised the issue of how helper hours are enforced and the agreement within the room was to tighten processes to ensure members do provide some help to the club, but not implement stringent penalties at this stage, though it was agreed team managers can decline team places to members if an equally suitable member with helper hours recorded is also in the running. We will monitor the effectiveness of such interventions over the next 12 months, but in the meantime the emphasis is on members to come forwards and offer help using the helper form on the website and Jo Holley to continue to approach members to ensure coverage for vital events.
Jules Newberry presented an overview of our communication systems, we have facebook, the website, a direct email link both on the website and at cheltenhamridingclub@hotmail.co.uk and we have circulated to all members a list of the committee contact numbers. There will not be a monthly newsletter printed due to no one being willing to take on the editorial of this and a need to move towards a more dynamic communication stream, there is now a blog/news section on the home page of the website, accessible 24/7 where reports and news will be displayed as it happens. We will post out quarterly a round up of news to those who don’t have an email address only. Reminders for training etc. will be sent via email to all, please use the whats on calender on the website to stay abreast of forthcoming activities and if you fancy being in teams contact the relevant team managers.
Changes to committee:
Nicola Norfolk stood down after 6 long years, her IT skills have propelled the technology which supports CDRC, the website, facebook etc were all her brainchild and she has been instrumental in moving us forwards, we wish her the best as she moves into full time rug repairs and I’m sure many of us will still see her as she repairs our rugs!! We have purchased her 2 tickets for Your Horse Live 2011 to enjoy.
The committee structure will be as follows:
Dawn Allen ~ Chair & Summer DR Team Manager
Nadine Exner ~ new proposal as secretary ~ proposed and seconded, therefore elected
Noel Ennett ~ Treasurer, this becomes a non executive position as Noel is now working with BRC as the Area 18 representative
Nichole Baker ~ Membership Secretary, non executive position
Jules Newberry ~ takes on website and IT management alongside her role as ODE team manager
Sian Evans ~ remains as Hunter Trail team manager
Michelle Holder ~ Remains as Show jump team manager
Nicola Klaiber ~ Remains as Winter Dressage and DTM team manager
Jeanette Stayt ~ remains as Blenhiem Team Manager and training support
Jo Holley ~ remains as helepr co-ordinator
Hannah Gwilliam ~ moves into event support role
Pip Wilson ~ new proposal to grass routes and mercian teams mentor ~ proposed and seconded ~ elected
Changes to the club year
The group voted to revise the club year to start on 1st January as from January 2013, this current club year will therefore run until 31st December 2012. This change brings us in line with BRC rule book renewal. In future membership cards will be sent directly from BRC head office
Future plans and Events:
Key event ideas:
1. tack sale ? X 1 or 2 – venue awaited
- Quiz 27th Feb @ Gloucester Old Spot, please save the date and come and join us
- March 11th BRC inter club and ? PC dressage team competition at Home farm ~ awaiting confirmation from HF
- Combined training event on grass ~ venue TBC
- Team cross country event ? Venue TBC
- Need to generate income from events and encourage member help and participation otherwise funding for championships will not be possible – difficulties this year in bringing in funds for clubs
- Review of how team members are selected, this will be through both formal selection sessions, riders coming forwards, reviews of competition records, attendance at training – aim to take a wider view so people don’t have to outlay financially above and beyond to be considered for team place – greater emphasis on riders to approach the team managers – details of forthcoming events will always be on the calender – emails will be send when team members are needed
- Greater promotion of Mercian events – need to bridge gap in standards as area now so competitive, again Pip keen to hear from people
No other business was raised and no further questions asked.
We therefore followed the AGM with speakers Jason Mahon and Judy Pullen from the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt who talked about their roles and the life within the hunting profession, a really informative talk and a special offer was given to RC members for hunting days – for more details please contact us.
The helpers raffle followed and 5 lucky CDRC helpers won a pair of Joules socks to keep them toasty through winter!
The CDRC Awards Winners 2011
Rider of the year ~ Kelly Clack
Horse of the year ~ Linda Delahook’ Arthur, ridden by Fe Moore
Newcomer of the year ~ Susan Stoddart
Most improved rider of the year ~ Pip Morris
Dressage performance of the year ~ Becky Stroud & Merlyn
Show Jumping performance of the year ~ Jeanette Stayt & Smurph
HT/ Eventer Challenge performance of the year ~ Fe Moore & Arthur
ODE performance of the year ~ Kim Drinkwater
Helper/ supporter of the year ~ Jen Berry
Most appearances for the club this year ~ Fe Moore
Chairman’s Choice ~ Fe Moore
Very well done to all our winners, all much deserved!
We ended the night with a raffle of great prizes all kindly donated and several people left with plants, smellies, choccies, wine and tickets for Your Horse Live ~ well done to all the winners
Thank you all for joining us for a very nice evening, great to see so many faces new and old and to have a catch up. The committee wishes you all the very best for the forthcoming year ahead and we will be gearing up for competitions again soon, with the Area SJ & DR competitions both happening the next few months, so do contact Michelle and Nicola K if you fancy being in the teams.
Dressage To Music Championships
I have just arrived back from a very exhausting, but wonderful weekend at Aintree Racecourse for the RC Dressage To Music Championships.
On Friday mid-day Phillipa and I bundles Arnie into the lorry and set off on the long journey to Liverpool. We picked up Fe and Elvis at Fox’s Saddlery on the way. ” I’ll only travel light” sais Fe !! – Five rugs, six bags, tack , abundance of food and haylage for Elvis and one small bag for Fe was stuffed into the living area of my lorry !!.
Over four hours later, having sat in endless queues on the motorway and fighting the lorry through wind and rain, we arrived. Unloaded, settled the horses and made the first of very many very long walks down the racecourse to the equestrian arena.
Very early Saturday Morning Fe and I took Elvis and Arnie to walk round the outside of the arena – a very big asset if you have a spooky horse, as many find this arena particularly electric.
As I watched people warming-up I began to wonder if I had arrived at a British Dressage Championships rather than a Riding Club. The standard was very high, well up on last year with many lovely big dressage horses forward.
The Elementary tests were first – Elvis and Fe were going beautifully in the warm-up, with some very lovely outside comments , and performed their usual professional routine. Elvis, I thought, looking even better than usual, they score just under 70%. Becky decided to arrive early that morning as Merlyn, I believe, does not take kindly to staying overnight. He worked in beautifully calmly, but unfortunately the atmosphere in the arena slightly got the better of him, which made his test a little tense. All credit to Becky she kept her cool, rode beautifully and still managed to produce a flowing test, to score over 68%.This put Fe in 8th place and Becky in 10th. Both through to the final line-up and a rosette.
Sue arrived later on Saturday with helper and navigator, Jen. Settled Cookie and promply went to the pub and then back to their room with a bottle of wine, bars of chocolate and pringles!!
Fe, Phillipa and I watch the evening performance and Quadrilles. All nine clubs had put in an enormous amount of work to produce wonderful costumes and routines from River Dance to Bumble Bees, Lion King and other topical themes. (Any interested members from Cheltenham – I am willing to give it a ago !!).
Sunday Morning was the turn of the Novice without points section and again Sue and Cookie (after many baths, baby wipes and whitener) produced their usual high score with 71.38%, equal to last years percentage which then placed them second. However, with this years high standard it could only manage to placed them in 7th. Still a wonderful result and another final line-up position.
After nearly two days waiting Phillipa finally got her turn in the arena in the Novice with Points. Arnie had spend all Saturday passaging up and down the walkway from the stables to the Arena, thinking that racecourse were a lot more exciting than boring indoor schools. He calmed down sufficiently to produce a lovely active, but accurate test, finishing on 71.67% and a very pleasing 3rd place. Well done Arnie – A very small person in a line up of rather large horses !!
We finally arrived home at ten o’clock, very tired but having thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.
Many thanks to all of you who took the time to compete at the area competition and well done to Fe, Sue, Becky and Phillipa for doing so well at the Championships.
Start planning for next year !!
Nicola
BHS Access Conference
Do you ride or carriage-drive off road?
Are you passionate about bridleways?
There are still tickets available for The British Horse Society’s National Access Conference 2011, which will take place on Sunday 16 October at BHS Headquarters in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2XZ.
And the Winner Is……..
….. Join us for the AGM on October 17th to find out who has won the annual awards from the nominations below!
Rider of the Year: Pip Morris, Fe Moore, Noel Ennett or Kelly Clack
Horse of the Year: Tornado (Kelly Clack), Hazza (Noel & Jess Ennett) Meryln (Beckie Stroud) or Arthur (Fe Moore/ Linda Delahook)
Rider newcomer of the year: Beckie Stroud, Susan Stoddart, Cassie Wood, Lucy Dickenson or Catherine Stevens
Most Improved Rider of the year: Alison Cupper, Arlene Mansell, Pip Morris, Bev Clapham or Amy Herring
Best Dressage performance of the year: Fe Moore & Elvis, Sarah Hance & Ellie, Phillipa Klaiber & Arnie, Sue Owen & Cookie, Sian Evans & Otis, Beckie Stroud & Merlyn, Kelly Clack & Tornado or Susan Stoddart & Ellie
Best Show Jump performance of the year: Kelly Clack & Winton, Cassie Wood & Magic, Jeanette Stayt & Smurph, Lucy Dickenson, Arlene Mansell or Stacey Partlett & Wally
Best Hunter Trial Performance (Eventer Challenge) of the year: Fe Moore & Arthur, Amy Herring & Punch, Kelly Clack & Winton, Cassie Wood & Magic, Sian Evans & Ruby, Alison Cupper & Mr Willoughby
Best ODE performance of the year: Kim Drinkwater & Paddy, Pip Morris & Alf, Polly Schreuder & Sky, Fe Moore & Elvis,
Helper/ Supporter of the year: Pip Morris, Sharon Thomas, Noel Ennett, Jen Berry, Nigel Stonely or Fe Moore
Most appearances for the club this year: Kim Drinkwater, Fe Moore, Kelly Clack or Sian Evans
Thank you to everyone who nominated, we will be deciding winners where we have a ties in the nominations at the forthcoming committee meeting. If you’re nominated then very well done, why not join us on the night to see if you have been successful or to celebrate graciously with those who win if you don’t!
Lincoln update:
Novice team dressage: Sue was 6th in her section with the highest CDRC % of 67.6%. The other three members, again all in different sections/judges, being Kim (3rd) with 66.8% – despite having a buck added into their routine, Kelly (10th) 64.8% with an un-requested I have to stop and itch my nose and have a hissy fit as you wont let me, from Tornado, and Gerri and Murphy’s 62% (12th) which Fe felt was a little on the hard side as Murphy was eager to please. Sian, who only had notification of her qualification a week previously was in the Individual’s section and finished a close 5th with Otis in that tightly marked section with 64%. This meant that overall in Prelim 12 all of the above finished in the top 66 of the country!!!
Jenny Tritton scored 65% in a very competitive RT14 section Senior Rider Test, but unfortunately didn’t get a placing rosette!
Latest report on jumpers: open team placed 12th!
Well done gang! 
Full reports to follow.
Good luck gang!
This weekend sees CDRC teams and individuals heading over to Lincoln Showground for the BRC National Finals. Kim, Gerri, Kelly and Susan defend the Novice dressage team title, and Sian as an individual. Jenny is riding in the Advanced dressage riding test; Jeanette, Cassie, Amanda and Jane ride in the open show jumping and Kelly as an individual in the intermediate show jumping. It’s such an achievement to reach the national finals, well done all. Hope you have lots of fun this weekend, drive safely and enjoy the day!
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Don’t forget to nominate club members for the awards at the AGM this year. Full details HERE
