NEWSLETTER

Diary Dates 2012 www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com


Sat 18th Feb 12 Closed Club Fun Day (Dressage, Jumping, X-C) Venue T.B.C.

Sat 3rd Mar 12 Royal Windsor Dressage Round 1 (Elstead R.C.) Priory E.C

Sun 4th March 12 Area 10 Friendly Teams Jumping Eaglesfield

Sunday 18th Mar 12 Royal Windsor Jumping Round 1 (Chipstead R.C.) Sands Farm

Sat/Sun 7/8th April 12 N.A.F. Winter Championships – Dressage and Jumping Hartpury

Sun 6th May 12 D.D.R.C. Spring Show Warrigal Farm

Fri 9th - Sun 13th May 12 Royal Windsor Horse Show Windsor

Sun 13th May 12 Area 10 Horse Trials – Novice and Intermediate Chilham Park

Sat/Sun 2nd/3rd June Festival of the Horse Championships Aston-le-Walls

Sat 2nd – Tues 5th June Three (Four!) Day Event inc. Teams Milton Keynes

Sun 24th June 12 Area 10 Style and Showjumping Qualifier Felbridge

Date T.B.C. June 12 Summer Camp Pulborough

Sun 22nd July 12 Area 10 Dressage and Riding Test Qualifier Ardingly

Fri 3rd – Sun 5th Aug 12 S.I.E.B. Horse Trials Championships Aston-le-Walls

Sat/Sun 15-16th Sept 12 N.A.F. National Championships Lincoln

Sun 23rd Sept 12 D.D.R.C. Autumn Show Warrigal Farm

Sun 4th Nov 12 D.D.R.C. Team Showjumping Eaglesfield


Team Training in various disciplines will run throughout the winter, subject to demand.

Specialist rallies, open to Dartford and District members, are held at Shannon Leigh Stables weekly.

MONDAY LESSONS 3.30pm onwards with Leanne Wall (B.Y.R.D.S trainer) Flatwork/Dressage ....45 mins Private £45

FRIDAY SHOWJUMPING CLINIC with Chris Moyce. Time slots available throughout the day.

Shared £20. Private £55. 1 hour.

Please call Leigh first to find out if there are any spaces available on the lessons/rallies 07752909887


NEW FOR 2012 ‘Get in Shape for the Summer’ Rallies – last Friday of every month – venue and trainers to be confirmed. Please register you interest and ideas with Nicola 07841634174.

We will aim to cater for all abilities and will cover flatwork and jumping.


Cross Country dates and venues to be announced once confirmed, hopefully at least one a month.


Bold denotes competitions organized by D.D.R.C. – helpers always welcomed!

Area 10 and Team events – vaccination record in passport required – contact Clare on 07958 617648 and keep an eye on the Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk


Dartford members are obliged to help at our shows and/or team events…..many hands make light work and all that! Please do not expect to be welcome on our teams if all you do is turn up without ever helping!!!!

But THANK YOU to all our regular helpful people, you know who you are!!!!


We are hoping to bring back the Dressage Series!

We really need some volunteers to help run this – probably over three dates – no great expertise needed, just the ability to keep one ring ticking over all day, stewarding the arena / warm up, one writer for the judge all day, collecting and adding the score sheets and working out the winners! If anyone can lend a hand, it will make a lot of our keen dressage people very happy. Please let us know!

January 2012

D.D.R.C. Annual General Meeting Wednesday 30th November, Shannon Leigh Clubhouse at 8pm.

Thank you to everyone who attended our A.G.M. in November. Congratulations to everyone placed in the showjumping points championships and particularly to Elize Zelenka, who won, on Fred. A fitting finish to a successful season! All committee members agreed to stand again in their posts and we welcomed Nicola Brown who will be training officer and Glynda Cullen who will be seeking some much needed sponsorship. 2011 was a busy year for the club in general and we achieved many of our goals. Roll on 2012! Thank you to Leigh, Laura and Phillip for use of their lovely clubhouse.


Area 10 Winter Jumping Qualifier, Saturday 3rd December @ Ardingly.

We sent one junior and one senior team down to Ardingly for the winter qualifier.

Juniors were;

Maisie Morgan on Millfields Dorothea,

Ellie Bryant on Gabriel,

Katie Earl on Sisco

and Rhia Noel on Red.

The first round produced some lovely clears from Maisie and Ellie, with some exuberance and poles down from Sisco and a beautiful round from Red, until the last, where he took an uncharacteristic disliking for the wall and poor Rhia did not complete. In the second round the jumps went right up to height and there weren’t many clears at all, let alone from Dartford. A shame but I’m sure all riders will be determined to come back stronger next time.

Seniors were;

Flair Sifleet on Paddy,

Nicola Brown on Connie

Zara Thompson on Tyler

And myself on Tiny

Again, clears were a rarity, Paddy was ‘on one’ and not concentrating in his first round, Connie was completely off form, but Tyler and Tiny went clear. This left us on 8 faults, still in the running if things went our way. In the second round, I managed the only clear, so the team hopes were dashed. Whilst everyone was consoling themselves in Flair’s horsebox over hot chocolate, Tiny and I completed our third clear and were placed 2nd individually. I was secretly quite pleased as three clears in a row on my borrowed ‘dressage’ horse is quite an achievement.


Area 10 Winter Dressage Qualifier, Sunday 4th December @ Ardingly.

The following day, after B and B for Rhia, Katie, Nicola, horses and myself (and our ‘grooms’) overnight in Ardingly, we rose bright and early for the dressage. Rhia and I were first on at 8.30am (eeeeeek) which was pretty bad. It was nice, however, to have the whole of the indoor warm up to ourselves for the majority of the time. Obviously this did us a favour as we both posted identical scores (under different judges.....spooky!) of 66. something %.

Juniors were;

Rhia Noel on Red,

Katie Earl on Sisco,

Lily Venables on Puck

And Jasmine Wilks on Lily

This team all rode neat tests and were 6th overall against some very tough competition. Well done girls! Onwards and upwards!

The two senior teams were;

Laura Kerr on Stuart,

Clare Bull on Ottawa B

and myself on Tiny.

Then myself on Connie,

Danielle Clarke on Finn

Clare Bull on Pintofields Regal Hit

and Adam Trew on Billy.

The Prelim riders went first. The first team did quite well, and look to have much promise for the future but our main hopes rode with the second team. When Clare (B) arrived with her two horses, I greeted her with the bad news ‘Adam’s horsebox has broken down’ (so we were down to three riders, all scores to count) . . . . .and the good news ‘Connie’s won her class and Finn came second!’ and more bad news . . . ‘so if you could please try to win, that would be good for the team!!’ Taking me at my word, she rode an amazing test on her lovely new young horse and went well into the lead. There she stayed. With time getting on, we decided to leave before the final results were announced, so I was delighted to hear, later that night, that Dartford had indeed won the Senior Dressage!

So we have qualified for Hartpury for the winter finals, yippee!!

Thank you to Nicola for helping the judge in the junior jumping competition and for checking ‘flu certificates as our helper – wow...what responsibility! (Nicola is now our passport expert.)


Closed Club Fun Day on Saturday 18th February – Venue to be confirmed, possibly East Byshee Fruit Farm.

We plan to run a Fun Day incorporating dressage, showjumping and cross country for our members only. Riders will receive some tuition before each section, then will ride under ‘test conditions’. We will run a prelim and a novice dressage test and various jumping heights to suit. The scores from each section will be added together for final placings, like a mini one day event. We will also stop for a picnic lunch (maybe even a barbeque) at some point. More details on this to follow, but please keep your diaries free.......


Royal Windsor Qualifiers – Dressage and Jumping in March.

Although Area 10 aren’t running any first round qualifiers this year, we can go to Area 11’s competitions, where we should have our own Area 10 sections. These are grass roots competitions for individual riders, in dressage and/or jumping (i.e. Prelim/Novice level and approx 2ft9ish jumping). This year, those that win the first rounds go straight through to the finals at The Royal Windsor Horse Show, which apart from being most prestigious, offers some amazing prizes. It is well worth trying to qualify.....keep a check on the Amtrust part of the Windsor website for the latest news http://www.rwhs.co.uk/Amtrust/ Entries can be made by members themselves, you must be a paid up member with current membership card, though!


Dartford Area 10 Friendly Teams Jumping @ Eaglesfield on Sunday 4th March.

We are again organising a teams of three jumping competition for members of Area 10 riding clubs. Juniors and Seniors ride separately. There is an individual warm up ‘scurry’ before each team class. On each team, two ‘novice’ riders complete 2ft6, and one ‘open’ rider completes 3ft. We can enter as many teams as we like for this! Please let me know if you would like to be considered for a team, and I will forward the schedule onto you. We do also need plenty of help on the day to help the whole event go smoothly, please, if anyone out there would like to volunteer?


Keep Yourselves Informed…… Remember to keep an eye on our own website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules. The Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations. Here also, information about Riding Club team competitions can be found and starting times are always posted.


We now have our very own Facebook page ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ which will be updated with all that’s going on. Members can upload photos and generally share and comment upon events and training.

Links are made when schedules are added to our website.


Happy New Year, let’s hope for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012!





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November 2011


Area 10 F.O.T.H. (Festival of the Hunter) Sunday 2nd October @ Lodge Farm
We had an amazing day out in the blazing sunshine at Lodge Farm. D.D.R.C. riders and runners were;

Junior Novice Team and Pairs
Conor Hudson-Smith ; Prince
Elize Zelenka ; Freddie
Jasmine Wilks ; Birthday Girl
Ellie Bryant ; Gabriel



Senior Novice Team and Pairs
Clare Drury ; Welyn Vogue
Alex Hudson ; Toby
Zara Thompson ; Tyler’s Toast
Claire Bull ; Ottawa B



‘Mini’ Individual Class
Hannah Cullen ; Kingsmill Bay
Nicola Brown ; Au Contraire
Lauren Watson ; Farrah
Maisie Morgan ; Lady
Diana James ; Gerry
Tabitha Zelenka ; Honey


This was a really fun competition which consisted of a course of show jumps followed almost immediately by cross country, the whole of which was timed and the closest clear to the optimum time won. Jasmine got the juniors off to a flying start with an individual win in the junior qualifier (Bang on the optimum time!! Even with her birthday party hangover!!), The junior team were a brilliant second. Conor and Elize then won the junior pairs, with Ellie and Jasmine 3rd. The senior pair of myself and Alex were 5th. Then Dartford fielded lots of riders in the non qualifier. Maisie won, Nicola was 4th and Tabitha was 6th in a very strong class. Thank you to our jump judges Glynda, Carly and Eleanor, who were picnicking around fence 3 and whooping as our riders steamed past and to Zara’s parents who had a tricky job at the water fence. Jasmine, Conor and Elize will be representing the club at the National Festival of the Horse Finals in Aston-le-Walls in June, we thank them for doing so well and wish them all the best of luck!


Team Show Jumping Hosted by Moat View at Limes Farm on Sunday 27th November.
If any members would like to come down to jump at Limes Farm, this is an ideal starter for young horses or inexperienced riders as there are warm up classes to begin with. The team event is at 75cm (not to have won any B.S. money) and 85cm (Open) and is for four riders per team. Entry fees are £40 per team which we’d split, plus £2 first aid.

D.D.R.C. Annual General Meeting Wednesday 30th November, Shannon Leigh Clubhouse at 8pm.
You are all welcome to attend our club’s A.G.M. at the end of the month. There will be a short report about our successes this year and aims for next year, followed by election of committee officials and then the presentation of the Show Jumping Points Championship. Anyone interested in joining our small, but perfectly formed committee should contact me beforehand. Planned posts of responsibility include a training officer to start co-ordinating more rallies (we do have possible funds in the form of an Area Training grant available for this purpose) and a Sponsorship secretary. Running a riding club isn’t always easy but the rewards are worthwhile when you get that rare ‘thank you’ and know that you are putting something back into a pastime that you love. All current committee members have agreed to restand for election and would appreciate hearing how you, the members, would like the club to continue. See you at the A.G.M!

Area 10 Winter Jumping Qualifier, Saturday 3rd December @ Ardingly.
We need to field twelve keen riders to compete for Dartford on one junior and two senior teams at this qualifier. Height of fences 2ft6 in the first round and 2ft9 in the second round. Horses/Ponies may not have won any B.S. money and must not have competed above ‘novice’ level at area competitions. If you are up for this, please let me know a.s.a.p. You will need a vaccination record in your passport to compete, if you are not on the database, a copy needs to be sent to me to forward to the event organiser.

Area 10 Winter Dressage Qualifier, Sunday 4th December @ Ardingly.
The following day, we will be sending another 3 teams, again one junior and two seniors, for the dressage team qualifier.
Restrictions and tests are as follows;
• Both these competitions are for teams of 4, with the best 3 to count. Individual entries will be accepted but will not qualify for the championships.
• Two members of each team will ride Prelim 18 (2002). Horses must have 0 BD points.
• The other two team members will ride Novice 24 (2010). Horses with over 124 BD points are not eligible.
• Riders who have competed in a CDI or CDIO under FEI rules in the past 5 years prior to the prelim entry being made are not eligible
• Junior riders must be under 18 on the 1st January 2011
Anyone wishing to compete on a dressage team should let me know. Again passports will be required. I am looking into the possibility of overnight stabling on the Saturday evening and am just waiting to hear back. There was also a mention of overnight accommodation for riders and grooms at Ardingly, which could be rather fun (!) Again, let me know if this interests you. The senior team was 2nd last year, missing out on qualifying by 1 point, so we’ve got a score to settle!!

We also need to send helpers over this weekend, to pole pick on the Saturday or to steward or write for a dressage judge on the Sunday, so I would be grateful for some volunteers willing to help out, please? Both events would have to be self funded by riders, although the club will pay the preliminary entry fees, this is likely to be around £12 per class. Riders will also be responsible for providing their own transport and paying for any stabling.

Keep Yourselves Informed……
Remember to keep an eye on our own website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules. The Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations. Here also, information about Riding Club team competitions can be found and starting times are always posted.

We now have our very own Facebook page ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ which will be updated with all that’s going on. Members can upload photos and generally share and comment upon events and training.
Links are made when schedules are added to our website.

Well, that’s it for now, hope the darker evenings aren’t spoiling your riding too much, hope this winter will be kind to us!

Hope to see lots of you next weekend at Eaglesfield, failing that, at our A.G.M.!!!

Clare

September 2011


Area 10 Horse Trials Qualifier @ Borde Hill Sunday 10th July.
Thank you to everyone who made the journey down to Bordehill for the Area Horse Trials –


Junior Novice
Conor Hudson-Smith ; Garnavilla Trigger,
Elize Zelenka ; Fred
Tabitha Zelenka ; Honeydew
Hannah Cullen ; Kingsmill Bay

‘Pre Intro’
Jasmine Wilks ; Pentaran Birthday Girl


Senior Novice
Clare Drury ; Au Contraire
Amye Hudson Smith ; Carel Cruise
Zara Thompson ; Tyler’s Toast
Clare Bull ; Ottawa B

Senior Novice Individual
Laura Kerr ; Ulahan



The juniors didn’t have the greatest day collectively, but there were some highlights : Conor and Prince enjoying their jumping as usual and Hannah surprising herself with a very good dressage. The double of offset brush fences on the cross country caused the majority of the problems, witnessed by our jump judging volunteers Nicola and Dionne (thanks!) who went to help on our behalf. Not many rosettes for seniors either this year, so back to the drawing board and, no doubt, we’ll be back again!


B.R.C. Team Jumping @ Kent County on Saturday 16th July.


Neil Page ; Kent Balou Bay
Lisa Waghorn ; Baby Badger
Sara MacDonald ; Little Kira
Sonja Page ; Sonar Flare

Alex Hudson ; Tacco
Amye Hudson-Smith ; Carel Cruise
Victoria Jackson ; Such a Charlie
Adam Trew ; Springwood Blues

Clare Bull ; Ottowa B
Zara Thompson ; Tyler’s Toast
Laura Kerr ; Ullahan
Clare Drury ; Au Contraire


Everyone jumped very well at Kent on what was one of the wettest days of the summer. Luckily the sun came out by the time our class started. The team of Alex, Amye, Victoria and Adam were 4th. Well done, guys!

Area 10 Dressage Qualifier @ Burwash on Sunday 24th July.


Junior Dressage and Riding Test
Tabitha Zelenka ; Honeydew
Megan Zelenka ; Billy
Elize Zelenka ; Fred
Jessica Sifleet ; No-One’s Perfect

Rhia Noel ; Asterix
Katie Earl ; Sismo de Peramanca
Jasmine Wilks ; Birthday Girl
Rowan Bryson ; Ti Amo Rhodes


Senior ‘Novice’
Dionne Chapman ; Charlie
Danielle Clarke ; Finbess
Clare Drury ; Au Contraire
Adam Trew ; Baldaghade

Victoria Jackson ; Such a Charlie
Lacey Pilson ; Star
Hayley Jackson ; Jimmy
Flair Sifleet ; Lasna Buachaill

Senior Open
Clare Drury ; Welyn Vogue
Adam Trew ; Journey Man
Laura Kerr ; Ulahan
Lesley Lambell ; Esterella

Senior Riding Test
Clare Drury ; Au Contraire
Adam Trew ; Baldaghade
Dionne Chapman ; Charlie
Victoria Jackson ; Such a Charlie


The juniors rode very well and gained rosettes in both the pure dressage teams and in the riding test teams. The standard is very high at Area level, so it’s hard to keep your nerve and ride the soft, flowing test you know you can do at home, especially when you’re in the middle of a huge polo field! Keep working on your schooling and we’ll have another go at Ardingly for the winter qualifiers…..
The seniors kept the Dartford flag flying high with a win in the Novice team (due to super individual arena wins for Adam and Danielle and a 4th from Dionne), plus a pairs win (Danielle and Dionne….!!) plus 4th in the Riding Test team. After losing the 2011 winter dressage qualifier by 1 point, we felt we had something of a score to settle….I think the following photo captures the mood of the day….


Area 10 Show and Style Jumping Qualifier @ Felbridge on Saturday 30th July.


Junior Novice 2ft6 – 2ft9
Elize Zelenka ; Fred
Tabitha Zelenka ; Honeydew
Anna Liggins ; Calais
Lauren Watson ; Milo

Ellie Bryant ; Gabriel
Maisie Morgan ; Millfields Dorothea
Daniel Hockey ; Toby



Junior Intermediate 3ft- 3ft3
Conor Hudson-Smith ; Prince
Hannah Cullen ; Kingsmill Bay
Megan White ; Grand Marnier
Jasmine Wilks ; Pentaran Birthday Girl

Senior Novice 2ft6 – 2ft9
Lacey Pilson ; Star
Hayley Jackson ; Jimmy
Clare Drury ; Welyn Vogue
Laura Kerr ; Ullahan

Senior Intermediate 3ft0
Jade Caulfield ; Jade’s Promise
Clare Drury ; Au Contraire
Zara Thompson ; Tyler’s Toast
Neil Page ; Almera

Senior Open 3ft3
Amye Hudson-Smith ; Carel Cruise
Neil Page ; Kent Balou Bay
Sonja Page ; Sonar Flare



We generally had a good day at Felbridge. The juniors all jumped really well. Lauren on Milo was particularly determined so deserves praise for positive riding. The senior Intermediate team came 2nd and the senior Open team won (for the third year running, I think?). Our style jumping teams also rode neat, professional rounds, achieving good scores – well done all. Thank you to Sara, Claire B and Flair who assisted the judges in the top ring as our helpers.


Hickstead Teams of Three Showjumping on Sunday 31st July.
We sent six teams to Hickstead this year and competed against over 100 riding club teams from all over the country. I think I have the following teams recorded correctly, but with so many riders and horses, my original list was changed many times! However, we did have an exceptionally good day, with an amazing 5 Dartford teams in the top 35. Huge congratulations to Elize, Zara and Amye were an incredible 3rd and Megan, Jade and Kris who were 10th.


Elize Zelenka ; Fred
Zara Thompson ; Tyler’s Toast
Amye Hudson-Smith ; Carel Cruise

Olivia Chidley ; My Fair Lady
Clare Bull ; Ottawa B
Sonja Page ; Sonar Flare

Clare Drury ; Au Contraire
Adam Trew ; Springwod Blues
Conor Hudson-Smith ; Prince

Tabitha Zelenka ; Honeydew
Alex Hudson ; ‘Lovely Cob!!’
Sara MacDonald ; Little Kira

Jasmine Wilks ; Birthday Girl
John Annett ; Templemoor Robin
Neil Page ; Kent Balou Bay

Megan White ; Miss Dynamite
Jade Caulfield ; Jade’s Promise
Kris Dabner ; Athlone Sausilito



Area 10 F.O.T.H. (Festival of the Hunter) Sunday 2nd October @ Lodge Farm
The following riders have been selected and entered for next weeks’ F.O.T.H. Challenge;

Junior Novice Team and Pairs
Conor Hudson-Smith ; Prince
Elize Zelenka ; Freddie
Hannah Cullen ; Kingsmill Bay
Jasmine Wilks ; Birthday Girl



Senior Novice Team and Pairs
Clare Drury ; Welyn Vogue
Amye Hudson-Smith ; Carel Cruise
Zara Thompson ; Tyler’s Toast
Claire Bull ; Ottawa B



‘Mini’ Individual Class
Nicola Brown ; Au Contraire
Lauren Watson ; Milo
Maisie Morgan ; Lady
Ellie Bryant ; Gabriel
Diana James ; Gerry
Tabitha Zelenka ; Honey

This will be fun! Please remember to bring your PASSPORT, back protector, medical armband, skull cap etc with you. Dartford and District Rugby shirts to be worn if you have one……they are £25 each if anyone wants to order one?

That’s all for another ‘inspired newsletter…please let me know if you have anything to report for next time…photos are always appreciated. I steal them from Facebook if you don’t send them to me (thanks, Rob!).
Clare


P.S. Places available on jumping teams for our own competition, held at Eaglesfield on Sunday 13th November.
We need novice level riders to jump 2ft6 and open level riders to jump 3ft…please let me know a.s.a.p. if you are interested in this!! We also need lots of help on the day with this one! Keep this date free!








May 2011

Well, June already, and we’re embarking on our busy summer. Our Spring Show ran very well. Thanks to the members and judges who helped to make it a success. It was hard work but well worth it and we received some pleasing feedback. Full results are posted on our website.
Remember to keep an eye on our own website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules. The Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations.
Here also, information about Riding Club team competitions can be found and starting times are always posted.
We now have our very own Facebook page ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ which will be updated with all that’s going on. Members can upload photos and generally share and comment upon events and training. Links are made when schedules are added to our website.

Team Jumping @ Bluebarn on Saturday 23rd April.
We sent two teams down to Bluebarn for Moat View Riding Club’s Jumping competition in April.
Representing Dartford were:
Dartford Divas;
Hannah Cullen on Kingsmill Bay
Nicola Brown on Au Contraire
Olivia Chidley on My Precious Amber
and Zara Thompson on Tyler’s Toast
Dartford Dynamos;
Clare Drury on Welyn Vogue
Olivia Chidley on My Fair Lady
Lacey Pilson on Star
and Hayley Jackson on Jimmy
Everyone jumped very well, securing two firsts (Nicola and Clare) a 5th and 6th (Lacey and Hayley) in the warm up classes followed by a brilliant win for the Divas and a 2nd for the Dynamos in the team class. Olivia won individually on My Fair Lady, Hannah was second and Nicola was 5th. So Dartford pretty much ‘reined’ supreme!!!



The Only Way WAS Essex!
Towerlands ran a 3 day camp over half term and nine intrepid Dartford members joined all the ‘happy campers’ from Essex for some show jumping focused training. The facilities at Towerlands are fabulous. We arrived on the Saturday evening and settled our horses and ponies into the lovely stables before meeting everyone over a chinese takeaway dinner in the ‘hut’. The following three days consisted of daily training in small groups. The seniors tended to be working on all things technical, striding between fences, counting (cups of tea), etc. whilst the juniors seemed to be doing their best to fall off……no reins / stirrups gridwork, jumping ridiculously big fences and even the 10ft derby water tray. On the Tuesday evening many competed in the unaffiliated show and on the Wednesday our junior affiliated members did the Junior B.S.J.A. show. This is definitely something we’d like to repeat, it was a great experience. Thanks to Charley Nathan and Megan James for instructing and putting up with the Dartford dREEM team!




Teams of Three Jumping @ Joydens on Sunday 5th June.
Our local ‘rivals’ Joydens are hosting a jumping day including a friendly Teams of 3 Jumping competition. On each team, one rider does 2ft2, one does 2ft4 and one does 2ft6. If this interests you, check out the details on their website http://www.joydensridingclub.info/EVENTS__WHATS_ON.html and we’ll try to get some teams together. THIS IS THIS WEEKEND – ANY MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE UP A TEAM WILL NEED TO CHECK IF ENTRIES CAN BE MADE ON THE DAY!

Area 10 Horse Trials Qualifier @ Borde Hill Sunday 10th July.
Preliminary entries are shortly due for this team competition so please let me know if you’d like to be included. This is a dressage test, followed by showjumping, followed by cross country and the cross country is built to British Eventing standards (big!) so you need to have completed some one day events before you put yourself forward for this!
We need juniors and seniors for the Novice (BRC HN1 Dressage test, 90cm jumping, no B.E. points allowed) or the Intermediate (BRC HI2 Dressage test, 1m jumping, Juniors 20 B.E. points allowed, Seniors 5 B.E. points allowed).
There is also an individual ‘intro’ class for people who would like a go at novice height or a ‘pre intro’ class at 80cm for less experienced competitors. The schedule is available online on the area website. We will need to send some jump judges to do this event – help really appreciated, our entries won’t be accepted if we can’t supply helpers!

B.R.C. Team Jumping @ Kent County on Saturday 16th July UPDATE….SENDING OFF ENTRIES THIS WEEK!
Entries close for Kent on 10th June so am hoping that the following D.D.R.C. members will hopefully retain the beautiful Memorial Shield we won last year. This competition is open to seniors only and the height of fences is approximately 95cm – 1m. So far the following have confirmed that they’d like to jump;
Alex Hudson on Tacco, Sara MacDonald on Kira, Adam Trew on ???, Amye Hudson-Smith on Carel Cruise, Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony, Neil Page on Kent Balou Bay and Sonja Page on Sonar Flare. This is enough, if I jump too, for two full teams, but there were a few new members who said they’d also like to come and jump, if this is you, please let me know a.s.a.p.

Area 10 Dressage Qualifier @ Montague Farm, Near Hailsham on Sunday 24th July.
We will also be putting in teams for this event and need seniors and juniors to ride for us, both in the dressage and in the riding test. Junior dressage teams consist of two at prelim level (nil B.D. points) – Prelim 12 and two at novice (B.D. limit 124 points) – Novice 24, senior ‘novice’ teams (nil B.D. points) all ride prelims – Prelim 12 and senior ‘open’ teams have 3 riders doing Novice tests (124 point limit) and one riding at Elementary (199 point limit). Juniors doing the riding test must have no more than 60 B.D.points and seniors must have either no more than 60 points or 124 points for the advanced tests. The restrictions can be quite confusing but I have the rule book so if you’re concerned or confused, give me a ring! There is also an opportunity to do junior or senior pairs dressage, the music classes (for this you need to be very organized and have licenced music via British Dressage!) or a medium individual class for seniors. This is a new venue and I believe all tests are to be ridden on grass arenas. Please let me know a.s.a.p. if you are up for this as again, prelim entries need to go in. The schedule, listing all tests to be ridden, is on the area website. We will need a few D.D.R.C. volunteers to write for judges if anyone can help?

Area 10 Show and Style Jumping Qualifier @ Felbridge on Saturday 30th July.
We will be entering several teams for this area qualifier. The juniors have the choice of either the ‘novice’ (80cm +, no B.S.J.A. winnings allowed) or ‘intermediate’ (95cm+, up to £400 B.S.J.A. winnings allowed) and the ‘style’ jumping (80cm+, up to £175 B.S.J.A. winnings allowed) whilst the seniors choose from ‘Novice’ (80cm+, no B.S.J.A. winnings), ‘Intermediate’ (95cm+, up to £175 winnings allowed) or ‘Open’ (1.10m, no restriction!!) plus the ‘style’ jumping (80cm+, £175 winnings). Please note that the dress code is no B.S.J.A. jackets allowed – riders need to wear proper show jackets or tweeds! This is always a busy but fun day and last year we did qualify several teams through to Lincoln. We have offered to run a ring, so please be prepared as we’ll need to ring crew all day, plus provide a judges’ writer, a scorer and ring steward…if anyone can ask a friend or relative if they can lend a hand, we’d be most grateful. We have to do our bit and can only compete if we do!

Hickstead Teams of Three Showjumping on Sunday 31st July.
If we survive Felbridge, then Hickstead Teams Jumping is the following day….we need riders to jump 85cm, 95cm and 105cm for each team and can only use one junior per team. The schedule isn’t out yet but I’m keeping a close eye out as this is a very popular event, with 100 riding club teams entered last year, so we’ll need to secure our entry early. We thought it might be fun if we stabled our team horses overnight on the Saturday (especially those who go to Felbridge) and joined in with the Hickstead parties, if anyone is up for that?

Team Dressage and Showjumping @ Towerlands - Date to be Announced – Summer Holidays?
Towerlands have changed the date for this competition and as yet, their website does not include the team schedule but last year they ran 3 different team jumping classes (plus individual warm up classes) and a team dressage completion with 2 riders competing at Prelim level and 2 riders at Novice. If you wish to be included, please let me know and I will organise some teams.

Riding Club Eventers’ Challenge, Thursday 8th September @ Blenheim.
Unfortunately I have recently received the news that we have been balloted out of this event which is a shame…however hopefully we can enter again for next year. Watch this space!

Membership Renewal Now Due……well……overdue, actually!
Thank you to all our new 2011 members who rejoined after the last reminder. I still have a few people who really should be rejoining, especially those who wish to do the Area team qualifiers. Time is now short! Please, it is essential that you do so a.s.a.p. as our database must be up-to-date with the Riding Clubs’ head office. This will be the last newsletter you will receive if you choose not to rejoin this year. If you have any queries relating to your membership status, please contact Sara on 07931822156.

See you soon, keep safe, Clare



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March 2011

Welcome to the March newsletter, we have noticed some early signs that Spring is, at last, on its way (well it was sunny last Thursday!) so here is an update of all the latest being offered by your riding club. Hopefully this will encourage you to get you out there, getting your horses fit and schooled for the coming season…..
As always, if there is something you would like to see your riding club doing - a competition or similar – then do tell us! The competition and events calendar is filling up, with 2011 looking like being another busy year….please put our dates in your diary now to avoid missing out on what’s on offer.
Remember to keep an eye on our own website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules. The Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations. Here also, information about Riding Club team competitions can be found and starting times are always posted.
We now have our very own Facebook page ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ which will be updated with all that’s going on. Members can upload photos and generally share and comment upon events and training. Links are made when schedules are added to our website.

Windsor Second Rounds @ Sands Farm Saturday 19th March.
We wish Dionne Chapman on Charlie and Danielle Clarke on Finn the best of luck riding for Dartford individually in the dressage section of the Windsor second rounds, which they qualified for in January at Ardingly. If either win their class, they will get to compete at The Royal Windsor Horse Show…….watch this space for more news after the event!

D.D.R.C. Teams Jumping @ Eaglesfield on Sunday 3rd April
We have been asked once again to host the Area 10 Riding Clubs’ Friendly Showjumping Competition. This is for riding club members only. There will be a junior warm up (2ft6) followed by junior teams of three. On each team, two rider/horse combinations must be ‘novice’ (no B.S.J.A. winnings allowed) who jump 2ft6, and one rider/horse combination to be ‘open’ who jump 3ft. The senior section then follows the same format. Schedule to follow but if you are interested in competing for Dartford, please let me know. Members who help steward, arena party and do car parking duties (or provide a friend/family member to do so on their behalf) will get free entry on this occasion.

Combined Challenge @ Ardingly on Saturday 16th April.
There is a new individual competition which qualifies for the National F.O.T.H. weekend (in June) consisting of a riding test (like dressage but marked on riders’ ability rather than the horses’ way of going) and style jumping (one round of show jumping, where approach to fence, riders’ position and style etc are judged and marked). The riding test is approximately prelim/novice level and the jumping is no more than 2ft9. Snaffle bridles must be worn throughout. If this interests you, please let me know, the prize at the finals is a £1000 training bursary, so well worth entering to ‘have a go’.

Ardingly Riding Club Horse Trials on Sunday 17th April.
Ardingly Riding Club are holding an early horse trials competition, open to everyone and with classes from 70cm to 1m. Members interested in competing on our horse trials teams this year would be wise to have a crack at this! A schedule will be attached or visit www.ridingclub.org.uk for more information.

Team Jumping @ Willow Farm on Good Friday 22nd April.
There is a showjumping teams of three competition at this event, with individual classes from 60cm – 90cm, too. See www.cbequine.co.uk for more details and a schedule. We would be pleased to field some Dartford teams if anyone is interested – riders would be responsible for their own transport and entry fees. The team class height is 75cm, so this is an ideal level for ‘newbies’, juniors or younger horses.

Team Jumping @ Bluebarn on Saturday 23rd April.
Another teams’ event, with individual classes, too, from 45cm to 90cm, including a Topscore. The team competition is open to four riders, two who jump 75cm and two who jump 85cm. See www.moatview.co.uk for a schedule. We hear that Bluebarn has and will be subject to a major refurbishment this year, so it would be nice to support Moat View in their first team jumping competition. If anyone is up for this, give me a shout!

Membership Renewal Now Due……well……overdue, actually!
If you have recently joined (i.e. since the Autumn Show) you will already be a 2011 member. You should have received a membership card, welcome letter and diary dates. Juniors are juniors now until the end of their 18th year. We have kept the membership fees the same - £20 for juniors and £25 for seniors.

If you were a 2010 member - good news - it’s time to rejoin!! A renewal form is enclosed. Just to remind you, the benefits of being a D.D.R.C. member are; vastly reduced entry fees, rallies and clinics (more to be announced for 2011), opportunities to compete in team competitions, Rider Magazine, newsletters, various special reductions due to being a British Riding Club affiliated member, and much more! Please see the British Riding Clubs’ website for all the opportunities and discounts available to Riding Club members.

So, we hope that you will consider rejoining this year. Please do fill out the renewal form as fully as possible….it helps us to know what you want from your club. Please print your email address clearly so that you receive regular updates, schedules and newsletters and do contact me if your email changes!

D.D.R.C. Spring Show, Sunday 1st May @ Warrigal Farm.
The schedule for our Spring Show has been finalised and you are amongst the first to receive it (attached). As always, we try to make this a friendly, yet professionally run show for all the family and it is often one of the first outdoor shows of the year. Entries have been ‘frozen’ and remain at previous years’ rates with a decent discount for members, those that pay before the day get the best offer. Please, please do try to come and support us. We do need lots of helpers! We will be setting up from 10am on the preceding Saturday (with lunch in the pub afterwards, as is tradition!) and will require stewards, help with the clear round, help in the secretary’s tent and of course, packing it all away on the Sunday. The good news is, that with the Royal Wedding and the Bank Holiday on the Monday, this will be a lovely long weekend….hope to see you all there!

Team Dressage and Show Jumping, Monday 2nd May @ Towerlands.
Once again, the organisers of Equestrian Events Ltd are organizing a team competition at Towerlands. Last year this was great fun and D.D.R.C. won the dressage and had some good jumping results, so it would be nice if we could return! See www.equestrianeventsltd.com for full details. The show jumping consists of warm ups and team classes in three sections – Novice 60-65cm, Intermediate 70-75cm and Open 80-85cm (teams of 3 or 4). The dressage consists of 2 riders doing Prelim 12 and 2 riders doing Novice 24. This will be a self funder and riders will be responsible for their own transport, but looks to be great fun at a great venue we thought we’d lost. Let me know if you’re up for this, we can enter 2 teams per section.

Camp….anyone……?
We have been looking into the possibility of trying to secure some D.D.R.C. places on a camp this year. Towerlands are running a 3 day camp over half term (31st May – 2nd June).
Details as follows;
SENIOR AND JUNIOR 3 DAY CAMP. £160 PER RIDER PONY/HORSE. £90 PER EXTRA PONY/HORSE
TWO HOURS A DAY TUITION IN FLATWORK AND JUMPING. LEARN HOW TO DO JUMP OFFS, TO WALK COURSES RIDE A COURSE THE RIGHT WAY. WELFARE OF THE COMPETITION PONY. ARRIVE THE EVENING OF 30TH MAY 2011
INCLUDED IS STABLE, TUITION, THREE MEALS A DAY. TWO HOURS A DAY TUITION.
ALL LEVELS CATERED FOR FROM THE GRASS ROOTS TO THE EXPERIENCED. EVENING QUIZZES
UNAFFILIATED SHOWJUMPING ON THE TUESDAY EVENING AND JUNIOR AFFILIATED ON THE WEDS EVENING YOU CAN WATCH OR JOIN IN!!!!
MAXIMUM OF 4 ON EACH GROUP. GROUPS ARE SET ACCORDING TO HORSE/PONY AND LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE
LIMITED SPACES SO BOOK EARLY!!!!!
British Riding Club’s Team Endurance Event.
Endurance G.B. are organizing a series of endurance events aimed specifically at riding club members who can ride in teams of three to six. No specialist horses/ponies or equipment is needed and rides vary between 30-35km (20 miles). There will be a league points table with top teams being invited to a championship at The College Ride in Bedfordshire on 18th September. If this interests you, you can find out more by visiting the area website.

Riding Club Eventers’ Challenge, Thursday 8th September @ Blenheim.
We looked into this competition last year, but missed the closing date for entries, so are preparing early this year!
Details as follows;
The Riding Club Eventer Challenge is kindly sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and supported by DERT cross-country fences. This is a grass-arena-based competition over a testing course of 1.05m show jumps and cross-country jumps with an optimum time for completion. The competitions are open to all Riding Clubs and entries are taken on a first come first serve basis for the first 25 teams. Five places will be given to new teams who have not competed at Blenheim in the past. In the event of oversubscription, a ballot will take place for the remaining five places. Entries are now open. Full details on the competition are on our website www.blenheim-horse.co.uk Click on competitors info then PC and RC Eventer Challenge where you can download an entry form.
(I will actually put an entry in tomorrow, so will be needing 4 riders who are comfortable jumping 105cm showjumping and cross country (one under 18 junior allowed) by September!)

Caught on Camera Prize
Equilibrium have kindly agreed to sponsor our Caught on Camera page in Rider magazine. The owner of the funniest photo in each issue will receive an Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad for their horse. Please send your funniest photos to e.baldwin@bhs.org.uk or m.smith@bhs.org.uk . Please note images must be at least 500kb to be of magazine quality.

British Riding Clubs BE80 Championships.
British Eventing and British Riding Clubs have been working together to provide an eventing series which culminates in a championship for grass roots B.R.C. members that are not catered for by the existing completion structure. Every section of the BE80 (training) from 1st March to 10th September will be a qualifier for the BRC BE80 championship. If you are new to eventing, this is an opportunity to compete through the riding club at 80cm height, receive help from accredited coaches at competitions, get cheaper ticket entries, and maybe even make it to a national final! See www.britisheventing.com for more details, go on the ‘fixtures and results’ tab and see ‘BRC BE80’ information.


Well, as you can see, there are lots of interesting and exciting things going on, so better go and tell your horse or pony all about the fun packed year ahead…….!

See you soon, keep safe, Clare





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June 2010

Welcome to the June newsletter, which will contain an update of what’s been going on so far this year and what’s in store for the next few months. Remember to keep an eye on our own website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules.
Also the Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations. Here also, information about Riding Club team competitions can be found and starting times are always posted.

Spring Show.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Spring Show either to compete or to help. It was a very successful day with pleasing entries and we are grateful to Warrigal Farm for the use of their excellent facilities. The full results have been posted on our website for some time now. We shall run a similar schedule of classes at our Autumn Show, please put the date in your diaries: Sunday 19th September.

Teams…..the story so far…..!
We went down to Felbridge for the Area 10 Jumping Qualifier on Sunday 13th June with several teams. We ran the Style Jumping ring to do our bit for Area 10 and would like to thank Vic and Terry (The Amazing Grandads!) for ring stewarding, Jessica for tack checking, Daphne for writing for the judge and Sara for scoring and announcing. Thanks also to everyone who helped to ring crew.

Junior Novice: Jasmine Wilks – Pentaran Birthday Girl, Ellie Bryant – Monard Touch, Louisa Jennings – Secret Tango & Olivia Chidley – My Precious Amber. Both Louisa and Olivia jumped lovely double clears and were getting ready to jump off for individual placings but were then informed that they’d had time penalties (which no-one heard at the time….bit of a mystery!) so sadly they missed out.
Junior Style: Elize Zelenka – Honeydew, Louisa Jennings – Secret Tango, Amye Hudson-Smith – Carel Cruise & Olivia Chidley – My Precious Amber. The team were 4th and Elize was also 4th individually.
Junior Open: Sam Hemple – Gabriel, Conor Hudson-Smith – Garnavilla Trigger, Amye Hudson-Smith – Carel Cruise & Megan White – Trinity Goldrush. Due to the rain Felbridge had had leading up to the competition; the rubber school was used for this class. This made for some technical riding as the fences were up to height. With each rider on one clear and one 4 faults in each round we waited for the teams to jump off to be announced. Happily we found out that no jump off was needed…..Dartford had won outright! So one team qualified for National Championships in Lincoln in September. Great!
Senior Novice: Flair Sifleet – Lasna Buachail, Clare Drury – Welyn Vogue, Neil Page – Kent Balou Bay & Alex Hudson – Tierdrop. We made it through both rounds to finish in 5th place. This qualifies us for the London and South East Championships in October at Lodge Farm. Flair jumped a double clear and then put her foot right down in the jump off to win individually, so she will be joining the juniors in Lincoln.
Senior Intermediate: Clare Drury – Au Contraire, Lisa Waghorn – Baby Badger & Jade Caulfield – Ben. This was another up-to-height class in the gorgeous new sand arena which led around the pond but we didn’t all jump our usual neat rounds and weren’t placed this time.
Senior Style: Clare Drury – Au Contraire, Adam Trew – Springwood Blues, Lisa Waghorn – Baby Badger & Flair Sifleet – Lasna Buachail. We finished in 2nd place, narrowly missing out on qualification this year.
Senior Open: Adam Trew – Springwood Blues, Alex Hudson – Tacco & Sara MacDonald – Kira. Sadly no teams made it to the jump off but Alex flew the Dartford flag high, winning individually and also qualifying for Lincoln.
So one whole team and two individuals qualified, plus another team going to London and South East…not bad for a day’s work.

Then on Sunday 20th June we sent two teams to Bordehill for the Area 10 Horse Trials. The novice consists of a preliminary level dressage test, 2ft 9 showjumping and Intro Level cross country. This is still a big test as the fences are big and bold and take some riding. Thank you to Sara Mac for her hard work stewarding the car park on our behalf and to Daphne who was miles away from the action stewarding the exit gate – without sending helpers we wouldn’t be allowed to compete!
Junior Novice: Conor Hudson-Smith – Garnavilla Trigger, Amye Hudson-Smith – Carel Cruise, Jasmine Wilks – Welyn Vogue & Sam Hemple – Gabriel. This team did a super job, with some thrills and spills cross country, they managed to finish in second place. Quite amazing really when we considered that Amye’s horse had never been cross country and Jasmine had only ever ridden Welyn Vogue twice before.
Senior Novice: Adam Trew – Tierdrop, Alex Hudson – Tacco, Lisa Waghorn – Baby Badger & Clare Drury – Au Contraire. This team finished in a creditable 5th place. I finished individually in 2nd on my dressage score so am pleased to have found some cross country speed this year! The team has therefore qualified for the London and South East Championships.
Our next few team events and selected teams are as follows:
Kent County Show Jumping Saturday 17th July (entered)
Team 1: Flair Sifleet – Lasna Buachail
Clare Bull – Ottawa B
Danielle Clark – Major Finesse
Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
Team 2: Clare Drury – Au Contraire
Alex Hudsoon – Tacco
Adam Trew – Springwood Blues
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony
Team 3: Sara MacDonald – Kira
Lisa Waghorn – Baby Badger
Neil Page – Kent Balou Bay
Sonja Page – Sonar Flare

Area 10 Dressage and Riding Test @ Speedgate on Sunday 18th July
Junior Dressage
Prelim 12 Elize Zelenka - Honeydew
Megan Zelenka – Heather of Burnside
Novice 24 Jessica Sifleet – No-one’s Perfect
Jasmine Wilks – Pentaran Birthday Girl
Junior Riding Test ( BRC RT11 2010)
Team as above.
Senior Novice Prelim 12 (2005)
Claire Carter – Zalena
Dionne Chapman – Charlie
Laura Kerr – Primitive Missile
Flair Sifleet – Lasna Buachail
Senior Open
Novice 24 (2010) Lesley Lambell - Esterella
Novice 28 (2008) Adam Trew – Springwood Blues
Novice 30 (2006) Clare Drury – Welyn Vogue
Elementary 45 (2010) Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
Senior Riding Test
BRC RT 11 (2010) Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
Dionne Chapman – Charlie
Adam Trew – Springwood Blues
Clare Drury – Welyn Vogue

Team Showjumping @ Footscray Meadows Sunday 18th July.
There are three levels of teams, novice(2ft6 approx), intermediate(2ft9 approx) and open(3ft+). If you would like to be included in a team, Rob Smith is going to be Chef D’equipe for the day and is currently getting his teams together. Please contact him urgently as entries will shortly be due in. This looks like a good competition for new teamies, as well as a good run out for more experienced combinations. Unfortunately this clashes with the team dressage, so good luck to you all.

Saturday 1st August @ Hickstead – Teams of Three Riding Club Showjumping (entered)
(The first rider in each team will jump the 85cm section, the second will jump 95cm and the third jumps 105cm. In each team there must be only one junior rider, and there were B.S.J.A. restrictions for each section!)
Team 1 Flair Sifleet – Lasna Buachail
Megan White - Trinity Goldrush
Sonja Page – Sonar Flare
Team 2 Olivia Chidley – Josephine
Alex Hudson – Tacco
Laura Barber – Talisman
Team 3 Georgina Lewis – Babylon Balou
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony
Lisa Waghorn – Baby Badger
Team 4 Neil Page – Kent Balou Bay
Conor Hudson-Smith – Garnavilla Trigger
Adam Trew – Springwood Blues
Team 5 Danielle Clark – Major Finesse
Sara MacDonald – Kira
Amye Hudson-Smith – Carel Cruise
Team 6 Khloe Down – Western Chip
Jade Caulfield – Jade’s Promise
Clare Drury – Au Contraire
I have been sent one horsebox pass and two entry wristbands for each competitor, which I will forward on, either when I next see you or by post. We will be jumping in Ring 4. The class starts at 8.00am. More details of drawn order are to follow but be prepared for a long day!

Team Dresage and Team Jumping @ Towerlands Saturday 7th July.
I will be putting teams together for this event shortly, so please confirm with me if you would like to be considered for a team place. The schedule is available on the website listed on the Dairy Dates page.

Club Merchandise.
We have some lovely new team and club wear available to members, all embroidered with our distinctive double stirrups logo, by Clip Clop Clobber. All clothing is black with gold logos and saddlecloths are cream/white with gold binding.
Jackets - £35
Fleeces - £25
Polo shirts - £15
Hoodies - £15
Bodywarmers - £25
Saddlecloths (suede) - £25
Saddlecloths (cotton) - £20
Orders are being taken now, we can order single items at a time, so get yourself kitted out and tell the world you belong to D.D.R.C.!!!!!

Well, that’s it for this newsletter, keep safe and enjoy the summer. Clare

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April 2010

Welcome to our new members and thanks for rejoining to all you oldies out there! If you were a 2009 member and have yet to rejoin, please do so as soon as possible, especially if you would like to continue to receive newsletters, receive membership entry discounts and be on teams in 2010. If you are not sure of your membership status, please contact our membership secretary, Sara MacDonald, on 07931822156 and she will be able to advise you. Rallies have started to pick up recently……but we are always open to suggestions if anyone has ideas of trainers or venues. Remember to keep an eye on our own websitewww.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules. Also the Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations. Here also, information about Riding Club team competitions can be found and starting times are always posted.

Area 10 Friendly Team Showjumping Sunday 21st February.
We had a very busy day organising the team jumping at Eaglesfield, with lots of entries from Riding Clubs in our area. Thank you to everyone who helped – the other clubs always comment on how well our competitions are run and that is credit to our mums, dads, granddads and to our members themselves who are happy to lend a hand.
Starting us off in fine style were Georgina Lewis on Babylon Balou who was 3rd in the Warm up and Conor Hudson-Smith on Garnavilla Trigger who was 5th. There were 37 competitors in this class. Then onto the Junior teams where the Dartford Dollybirds all jumped clear. The team were Jasmine Wilks on Welyn Vogue, Louisa Jennings on Secret Tango and Megan White on Trinity Goldrush. Megan then had to represent her team in a nail biting jump off but jumped another cool clear to secure first place to retain our trophy. The Dartford Dazzlers came a very close second, also all with perfect clear rounds. Members of this team were Olivia Chidley on Precious Amber, Demi Thomas on Moorcroft Badger and Conor Hudson-Smith on Garnavilla Trigger. The Dartford Dynamos finished in a very respectable 6th place. Members on this team were Olivia Chidley on My Fair Lady, Louisa Jennings on Irish Jackpot and Amye Hudson-Smith on Carel Cruise. 13 junior teams competed.
We then ran the Senior Warm up for 48 competitiors and Hollie Letheam on Million Dollar Pony jumped an amazing round for 1st place. Finally came the Senior teams. Sevenoaks took first place and Bradbourne came a close second but Dartford Disco Divas (Alex Hudson on Toby, Flair Sifleet on Tresison Zodiac and Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony) finished in 3rd. 21 senior teams competed. So all in all a very successful day for the club and a little bit of money earned for the team kitty, too!


Colette’s Team Show Jumping. Friday 2nd April.
After snow stopped play earlier in the year we finally managed to get down to Bluebarn for the team jumping on Good Friday. Teams were as follows;
Dartford Dazzling Diamonds;
Flair Sifleet-Lasna Buachaill, Clare Drury-Welyn Vogue and Olivia Chidley-My Fair Lady.
Dartford Disco Dollybirds;
Flair Sifleet-Tresiason Zodiac, Hollie Leathem-Million Dollar Pony and Olivia Chidley-Prescious Amber.
Dartford Dashing Darlings
Clare Drury-Au Contraire, Natasha Radford-Midnight Express and Jess Ovenden-Disa.
Everyone jumped very well and team Dazzling Diamonds finished with zero penalties, just two seconds behind winners Moat View Riding Club, for second place. The Disco Dollybirds were 4th and the Dashing Darlings were 6th. This was by far the busiest teams jumping at Bluebarn, with 24 teams competing. Thank you to everyone for attending. We hope to revisit Bluebarn later in the year. Watch this space for more information.

Rallies 2010.
Show jumping training with Rob Smith is very much underway for our junior team hopefuls who have been out and about competing with growing success. If you are interested in joining in the fun, please contact Rob direct (number under calendar, page 1). We have also started jumping clinics with Mark Boxall at Preston Farm, kindly organized by Claire Carter (see page 1) and the first session was very useful for all. All members are welcome to attend rallies and clinics – this is often a great way to learn and improve as well as meeting other members.

Easter Show. Sunday 4th April. Shannon Leigh.
Thanks to Alex Hudson and Hollie Leathem for taking on the running of the ‘All New Easter Show’ a few weeks back. This was a huge success and everyone enjoyed the lovely facilities at Shannon Leigh, and we are grateful to Leigh Kerr for allowing us the use of her yard for the day. Thanks also to Sharron Trew, to Claire Carter and to Sarah Coughlan amongst others, who helped during the day to keep things running smoothly.
Results were as follows:

Class 1 – Minimus
No combinations completed.

Class 2 – Novice
1st Becky Craig Jagger
2nd Lauren Withy Red
3rd Lucy Collick Missy
4th Helania English Prince
5th Zoe Coleman Robin

Class 3 – Pairs
1st Amye and Conor Hudson-Smith Prince
2nd Danielle and Lauren Clarke Major Finesse
3rd Rosie Murphy and Ruby Friar My Sweet Destiny

Class 4 – Scurry
1st Toni Michelle Burrows Tipster
2nd Ruby Friar Mr. Flintstone

3rd Mike Phillips Toby
4th Rosie Murphy My Sweet Destiny
5th Laura Whiteman Izzie
6th Stacey Ward Kanastan
7th Demi Wood Cascade

Class 5 – Accumulator
1st Fran Ellis Double Trouble
2nd Emily Groves Gemini
3rd Conor Hudson-Smith Prince
4th Amye Hudson-Smith Harley
5th Lauren Burgoyne Aero
6th Marnie Frost Pied Piper

Class 6 – Open
1st Grace Barnes 007
2nd Claire Turner Double Trouble
3rd Amye Hudson-Smith Harley



Spring Show . Sunday 25th April at Warrigal Farm.
Our Spring Show is a week away and entries are now coming in. A copy of the schedule should be included with this newsletter. Closing date for entries is Monday 19th April if you wish to claim reduced members’ fees which are £7 per class. We welcome help in setting out the rings and jumps on the preceding Saturday starting at 10am if anyone out there is feeling fit? Putting up two whole jumping rings and one workers ring with very few helpers is no joke. We will, as is becoming tradition it seems, be having lunch in the pub garden afterwards. For those of you not competing, help is also needed on the day, stewarding rings in particular. Flair would be very pleased to hear from anyone able to offer their services on the Saturday and/or Sunday. Please ring or text her on 07957 765964. It is especially nice when members help to put everything away at the end of the day, too, so don’t go running off thinking its all done!

Dressage Series 2010.
We have decided, sadly, not to run our dressage series this year. We felt that locally there is so much unaffiliated dressage going on that running our own shows was counter productive so have put it on hold until next year. With F.S. Events (see Diary Dates) and Speedgate running through the summer, there is plenty for our dressage enthusiasts to busy themselves with. We would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in taking on the organisation of the dressage series for next year.

Well, that’s it for this newsletter, keep safe and enjoy your riding. Clare

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Febuary 2010...

Hopefully now spring is just around the corner after a very cold past few months. Those of you lucky enough to have been able to continue riding regularly must be the lucky ones with indoor or non-freezing schools! This newsletter contains show and team reports and details of forthcoming events. Thank you members for your ongoing support, there is always plenty going on team and competition-wise. Rallies have been less well supported recently……but we are always open to suggestions if anyone has ideas of trainers or venues. Remember to keep an eye on our own website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com for the latest news and schedules. Also the Area 10 website www.brcarea10.org.uk often has details on special offers for you as an affiliated riding club member with training clinics and demonstrations.

Team Showjumping at Eaglesfield – November.
We ran what was Wrotham Riding Club’s annual indoor team competition, which was always a popular and well supported event, traditionally held on Remembrance Sunday. We had good entries from local riding and pony clubs as well as some yard groups. Thank you to everyone who helped, we fielded several teams ourselves and everyone gave a good account of themselves. Special thanks, as ever, to our faithful carparking chaps – Vic and Terry – who gave up their time to stand in the cold to organize the parking. Congratulations to our winning teams who proudly kept the ‘Waterford Trophy’ and then went on to collect the ‘Moat House Trophy’, too – kindly donated by Wrotham and District Riding Club after our donation of £50 to The Arrow Riding Centre for their work with less able riders. The winning team members were: Dartford Diamonds: Clare Drury - Welyn Vogue, Dionne Chapman – Champagne Charlie, Flair Sifleet - Lasna Buachail, and Sara MacDonald - Kira and Dartford Dollybirds: Natasha Radford - Midnight Express, Flair Sifleet - Tresiaison Zodiac, Hollie Leathem - Million Dollar Pony and Megan White - Trinity Goldrush. Way to go girls!

Area 10 Friendly Team Showjumping Sunday 21st February.
I have contacted many of you already about jumping for Dartford in this competition which we are hosting. We need Juniors and Seniors capable of jumping either 2ft6 (one section is rider not to have won £25 within the last 5 years, the other section is horse/pony not to have won £25 in the last 5 years) or 3ft (this is open to all). It is not too late to let me know if you would like to come and have a go, please email me on clare.drury@hotmail.com if you would like to be included. There is a warm up competition before each team round to calm those nerves before your team round. This was a great competition last year and Dartford won both the junior and senior teams. If I have not contacted you, it is probably because you are a new member or perhaps I do not have your correct email. All those who commit to jump must provide help over the weekend. We will be setting up on the Saturday evening at Eaglesfield from 6pm then we will need help all day on the Sunday ring stewarding, pooh picking (oh, joy!) and ‘jump putting upping.’ If you can provide a mum, a dad, a sister, a brother or, well anyone, to help on the day, that would be fabulous! Members who jump for Dartford will have their entries paid as a thank you for helping.

Colette’s Team Show Jumping Sunday 28th February.
Following the teams at Eaglesfield is a teams of three jumping competition at Bluebarn. There are plenty of warm up classes plus a very small novice team competition (no more than 2ft6), then some more warm ups before the open teams (max 3ft). See cbequine.co.uk for more details. This is an ideal start for anyone interested in teams this year so please don’t be shy and let me know if you would like to join a team. Entries can be done on the day. You will need to be able to get there yourself and this one will be a self funder.

New Rallies 2010.
We are introducing some new rallies for 2010 starting with showjumping with Mark Boxall at his base at Preston Farm. Rallies will consist of gridwork and general jumping training and they are aimed at those starting green horses to those who are regularly out competing. There will be a maximum of four riders per rally and spaces will be strictly limited. If you would like to book onto the first rally, on Sunday 11th April, please contact Claire Carter (number on dates list) to reserve your place, then you will be expected to pay in full, by cheque, to secure it.
We are also hoping to begin some dressage training this year. Please keep an eye on our website for more details, which will also be emailed to you all once we have a firm venue and some dates.

Membership Renewals.
If you have recently joined (i.e. since the Autumn Show) you will already be a 2010 member. You should have received a membership card, welcome letter and diary dates. Membership changed last year so that Juniors are now still Juniors up to 18 years of age to coincide with Child Safety regulations.

If you were a 2009 member - good news - it’s time to rejoin!! A renewal form is enclosed. Just to remind you, the benefits of being a D.D.R.C. member are; vastly reduced entry fees, rallies and clinics (more to be announced for 2010), opportunities to compete in team competitions, Rider Magazine, newsletters, various special reductions due to being a British Riding Club affiliated member, and much more! Please see the British Riding Clubs’ website for all the opportunities and discounts available to Riding Club members.

If you are unsure about whether you need to rejoin or not, call our membership secretary Sara MacDonald on 07931822156 and she will be able to advise you.

So, we hope that you will consider rejoining this year. Please do fill out the renewal form as fully as possible….it helps us to know what you want from your club. I would very much like to be able to send as many future newsletters by email as possible, so if this is more convenient for you, please print your email address clearly.

Committee 2010.
At the Annual General Meeting in November the following committee members were elected.
Their contact details are below should you wish to get in touch:
Chairperson/Schedules/Newsletters: Clare Drury 07958 617648 clare.drury@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary/Health and Safety Officer: Sara MacDonald sara.mac@virgin.net
Show Secretary/Rallies: Flair Sifleet 07957765964 f.sifleet@btinternet.com
Training Officer: We would like to thank Katie Sanders for all her work in this role. We now have a committee vacancy for someone who would like to be our training officer. The ‘job’ entails organizing training sessions and attending some (fun!) meetings and possibly advertising any training sessions.
Any volunteers?
Website: Leigh Ann Kerr shannonleighstables@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Michelle Walsh michwalsh@blueyonder.co.uk

We are always on the look out for general committee members. If you feel you have some time and energy to give to our little club, please contact an existing member and we can arrange for you to ‘trial’ a meeting. We are a friendly, sociable bunch and we always have a wild time at meetings eating crisps and drinking tea!


Team or Individual Le Trec Competition. Sunday 7th March.
INDOOR TREC COMPETITION
In conjunction with
APPLEDORE & DISTRICT RIDING ASSOCIATION
SUNDAY 7th MARCH 2010
TO BE HELD AT
INGLEDEN PARK EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
SWAIN ROAD, ST MICHAELS
TENTERDEN
KENT, TN30 6SL
The BHS Trec winter series is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in trying Trec, this competition focuses on the COP, Control of Paces and PTV, obstacle phase of Trec. This is an ideal introduction for anyone to have a go at this friendly sport, and for the hardened Treccies, an ideal opportunity to have a warm up before those spring competitions!
If anyone would like to have a go at this competition, please email me for a schedule. The maximum height of any jumping obstacles is 2ft4. Apart from the individual competitions, there is also a team competition, so if we can get enough D.D.R.C. members together, this will make a fun day out.

Easter Show. Sunday 4th April. Shannon Leigh.
We are pleased to announce a return to the Easter Show for 2010. Kindly being organized by members Alex Hudson and Hollie Leathem, this will be held on Easter Sunday at Shannon Leigh Stables. A schedule should be included with this newsletter and it includes a whole range of showjumping classes from Minimus at 1ft3 to an Open at 3ft. Please make every effort to attend if you’re into jumping and if you’re not, come and watch (and help!!). We need to keep the carpark under control, we need a keen arena party and we need stewards to let people in and out of the arena. This looks to be one of the first outdoor events of the season and we are fortunate to be able to use the lovely ‘Turfloat’ arena at Shannon Leigh so the going will be perfect! Hopefully the Easter Bunny will be in attendance and there is a rumour that he may be leaving us some chocolately prizes (if the judges don’t scoff the lot first)! So well worth coming to compete! See you there!!

Spring Show . Sunday 25th April at Warrigal Farm.
We have set a date for our annual Spring Show and have moved it away from the Badminton and Nurstead Horse Trials weekends as we felt that the clash of dates affected our entries. As usual, we will run four rings – Clear Round, Showjumping, In-hand and Ridden showing. Please put this date in your diary and encourage all your horsey friends to come and compete.
If anyone out there would like to sponsor a class, please let me know. For only £25, your name / company’s name will be printed on the schedule against a class of your choice with whatever advertisement you provide. Our schedules go out in local tack shops and yards and are seen by many! We also publish them on our website. We have 30 classes to cover in our Spring Show alone, so would welcome any offers of sponsorship.



Well, that’s it for this newsletter, keep safe and enjoy your riding.

Clare

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February 2009...

Welcome to another new season for Dartford Riding Club. This is the first newsletter for a while, apologies to all those who have been waiting eagerly by their letterboxes every morning….sometimes my life just doesn’t revolve totally around the club(!) Not to say we haven’t been really busy with club ‘stuff’ …because….we have!!! If you look at the Diary dates you’ll see we have been working on this year’s events and competitions…and we certainly hope to see lots of you over the coming months.

Team Showjumping at Duckhurst – Saturday 21st February.
We sent two Novice and two Open teams to this event, hosted by Maidstone Grammar School. It was a well supported competition, but Dartford riders did us proud, and came away with lots of rosettes. In the Novice Individual class, Sarah Edmonds on Mr. Foyle Clover came 3rd, and I was 6th on Welyn Vogue.

The Novice teams were:
Louisa Jennings on Irish Jackpot
Flair Sifleet on Treziaison Zodiac
Sarah Edmonds on Mr. Foyle Clover
and Clare Drury (me!) on Au Contraire

Conner Hudson-Smith on Kiera Royalle
Megan White on Lady Roulette
Alex Hudson on Toby
and me (again) on Welyn Vogue
Both teams finished on a zero score (no faults) with the first team 2nd and the second team 5th. There were fifteen teams competing in this class. We then moved onto the Open Individual class, with five of our riders being placed in the top six – Flair on Lasna Buachail won, and were 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. A bit of a Dartford whitewash!!

The Open Teams were:
Megan White on Miss Dynamite
Jade Caulfield on Jade’s Promise
Kristy Deacon on Kimba Lad
and Jasmine Wilks on Diamond Lady

Amye Hudson- Smith on Garnavilla Trigger
Sara MacDonald on Kira
Flair Sifleet on Lasna Buachail
and Me on Au Contraire.

The first team jumped well and were 5th, and the second team kept it cool in last drawn position and won! The jump off was quite a tricky one with lots of twists and turns at the beginning and a long gallop to the last….this proved most exciting, especially when riders went ‘for a long one’ and horses didn’t!!! Mentioning no names there (ha ha!!). So overall a great start to the year for our teamies….well done to everyone who jumped, and thanks to the support crew a.k.a. ‘Dartford Destoyers’!!!

Area 10 Friendly Team Showjumping, hosted by D.D.R.C. at Eaglesfield – Sunday 29th March.
The next Team Jumping competition is one that we are going to run. We hosted this last year and had huge entries, so are hoping for another good turnout. Obviously we will be able to field a few teams ourselves so if you are interested we will need Junior teams and Senior teams who can meet the following criteria:

Novice horse/pony (any rider) not to have won £25 in show jumping competitions since March 2004. Jumps not to exceed 0.75m – 2ft 6 in the first round.
Novice rider (any horse/pony) not to have won £25 in show jumping competitions since March 2004. Jumps not to exceed 0.75m – 2ft 6 in the first round.
Open horse/pony & rider – unrestricted. Jumps not to exceed 0.90m – 3ft in the first round.
Please contact me on 07958 617648 or email me at clare.drury@hotmail.com if you would like to jump. You should be confident of getting round a course at Eaglesfield, which is now just so lovely with the new surface.
We have also been asked to run the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2nd round jumping qualifiers at this show – quite an honour – which will run concurrently with the team classes…..so the fastest first round clear will go forward to a national final. We will pay entries for all Dartford Teamies who help, either setting up on the Saturday evening before or on the day. We would also welcome any other kind offers of help with this show…..we need someone to write up scores, people to be the arena party, help with the stewarding etc. etc. etc. Please offer to help or have your excuse ready (!) We had lots of help last year and as ‘many hands made light work’ it was, I think, rather good fun.

Colette’s Easter Team Challenge. Dressage and Showjumping @ Bluebarn on Monday 13th April.
There is a ‘Team Dressage’ competition (3 or 4 riders) at Preliminary level and a ‘Team Challenge’ where 2 riders do dressage (Prelim) and 2 riders (can be the ‘dressage’ riders or different riders!) jump (70/80cm.) followed by individual dressage and show jumping in the afternoon. Further details and the schedule can be found on the website www.cbequine.co.uk. We would like to send some teams as this looks like a fun day out. Again, if you’re interested, let us know…..and you can come!!! This will be a self funder.

D.D.R.C Dressage @ Warrigal Farm on Sunday 26th April.
Included with this newsletter should be a copy of the dressage series schedule. You have it first before it becomes available to ‘outsiders’!!! There is something, we feel, for everyone with 4 different levels of test at each show - Walk and Trot, Prelim, Novice and Elementary. There will be three shows in this year’s series, with points awarded leading to the championship prizes. We have kept members entries at only £5 per class…so what are you waiting for??? Get yourself entered!!!! We are sad to have moved from The Old Mill this year but we are no longer able to hire the indoor facilities there. At Warrigal farm there is more parking, grass or sandschool warm up areas and a lovely passada arena for the tests themselves. We hope that we will be well supported at this new venue. If you are new to dressage we will try to help you – please ask if you need some guidance…tests can all be commanded and some of us have very loud, encouraging voices for this task!! We also need lots of help on the day, there is no heavy lifting involved and you may even get fed!! It’s a great way of learning. We need judges writers, warm up stewards and scorers.

D.D.R.C. Spring Show @ Warrigal Farm on Sunday 3rd May.
We are currently preparing the schedule for our Spring Show, which will be sent out to you in due course. It will include a full programme of jumping, an all day clear round, ridden showing and in-hand showing. We plan to split the in-hand classes into ‘fun’ and ‘serious’ sections as we have been offered two new challenge trophies to suit these purposes. If anyone has any special class requests, now is the time to put them forward. Obviously we need to run at a profit, so if you have any ideas, they must appeal to more than two riders!! But essentially this is a Riding Club show for Riding Club members, so please make your suggestions known. We also seek class sponsorship if anyone out there is able to donate a small fee in exchange for advertising? £25 is all it costs per class! We will add your name or your company name and an ad. into the schedule (this will go onto our website, too) and will love you forever!

Membership Renewals.
We are very pleased to welcome Sara MacDonald as our new membership secretary. If you have recently joined (i.e. since the Autumn Show) you will already be a 2009 member. You should have received a membership card, welcome letter and diary dates. Membership has changed slightly in that Juniors are now still Juniors up to 18 years of age (just as you thought you were growing up, eh?) to coincide with Child Safety regulations.
If you were a 2008 member - good news - it’s time to rejoin!! A renewal form is enclosed. Just to remind you, the benefits of being a D.D.R.C. member are; vastly reduced entry fees, rallies and clinics (more to be announced for the summer!), opportunities to compete in team competitions, Rider Magazine, newsletters, various special reductions due to being a British Riding Club affiliated member, and much more! Some of the discounts available to you as an affiliated British Riding Club member are as follows:
Farmkey
£5 off Freezemarking services at Farmkey. Tel 0870 870 7107 or visit www.farmkey.co.uk
BHS Membership
£5 joining fee is waived if already a BRC member, and join the BHS. Call 08701 201900 or join online.
BHS TREC
Discount at BHS TREC competitions, and eligibility to enter BHS TREC Championships and Get Smart BHS TREC League.
BHS Horse Passports
£5 off passports processed by the BHS. Tel: 01926 707791 for further information.
IPC Media
Up to 38% off Horse & Hound, HORSE and Eventing Magazine subscriptions. Tel: 0845 676 7778 www.ipcrenewals.co.uk
Rosettes Direct
10% discount off all orders ff all orders (min. order value £25 excl P&P). Tel:01254 393711 www.rosettesdirect.co.uk . Account number: BRC10A.
Jump4Joy
5% off all orders (excludes jump cups) Tel: 01386 79333339 www.jump4joy.co.uk
Signam Products
10% off Signam Products. Tel 01926 417300 or visit www.sportsmark.co.uk
McArdle Equestrian
2.5% off any arena surface (excludes construction or gallop surfaces) Tel: 01844 353202 www.mcardleequestrainsurfaces.com
Equimats
10% discount on all wall, stable and trailer rubber matting. Tel: 01536 513456. www.equimat.co.uk
Agesource
10% off pasture management products from Agesource. Free advice on weed eradication in your pasture. Tel: 01926 633099 or email enquiries@agresource.co.uk.
Spillers
Visit www.spillers-feeds.co.uk to join the free SPILLERS® DiamondClub. Benefits include exclusive offers, competitions, newsletters and feeding advice
Kate Negus Saddlery
5% off any purchase. Tel 0845 4308456or visit www.katenegus.com

So, we hope that you will consider rejoining this year. Please do fill out the renewal form as fully as possible….it helps us to know what you want from your club. I would very much like to be able to send as many future newsletters by email as possible, so if this is more convenient for you, please print your email address clearly.

Happy Hackers???
We would very much like to run some ‘Happy Hacks’ this year. The idea is to have a group hack, perhaps once a month, somewhere off road. We would decide on some dates and venues, pay any fees applicable ….and meet up! There are a few places around Kent that offer free riding routes. Ideas already suggested have been beech rides and a trip to Lingfield Racecourse where you can have a blast around the all-weather track. Does this sound like fun? What we need is a ‘willing volunteer’ to co-ordinate this! The hacks would go in newsletters and be posted on the website to keep everyone informed. If anyone would be willing to help, or has any ideas as to where we could go, then please contact a member of the committee.

Committee 2009.
At the Annual General Meeting in November the following committee members were elected.
Their contact details are below should you wish to get in touch:
Chairperson/Schedules/Newsletters: Clare Drury 07958 617648 clare.drury@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary/Health and Safety Officer/Minutes Secretary: Sara MacDonald sara.mac@virgin.net
Show Secretary/Rallies: Flair Sifleet 07957765964 f.sifleet@btinternet.com
Training Officer: Katie Sanders ksanders12@hotmail.com
Website: Leigh Ann Kerr shannonleighstables@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Michelle Walsh michwalsh@blueyonder.co.uk

Well, that’s it for this newsletter, hopefully you are now starting to enjoy the warmer and brighter weather, your horses and ponies are happy and well and we look forward to a safe and enjoyable season ahead. See you at the first dressage series, we really don’t want to see many trophies and rosettes go to non-members!!!!

Clare

AUGUST 2007

Rallies
General rallies on Saturday mornings at The Old Mill, Swanley with Flair Sifleet continue after a short summer break for £10 a session. See diary for dates. Booking required. Ring 01474 708566 if you’re interested.

Specialist Clinics at Shannon Leigh, Bexley
Shannon Leigh are offering Dartford members the following weekly clinics:
Mondays 7-8p.m. Dressage with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session
Wednesdays 7-8pm & 8-9pm Jumping with Roger Browne £16 per session.
Thursdays 7-8p.m. Rally with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session.
Ring Leigh to book your place on 020 8300 7092.

Team Training
Training sessions in Show Jumping / Dressage / Riding Test are offered on Saturday afternoons Hogspringville Stables, Swanley. A course of show jumps is available, with help / instruction if required. These will be run in the afternoons, starting from approximately 3p.m. and will cost around £10 per rider. Booking required, please ring 07958 617648. If successful, we will continue to run these, on alternate weeks to Flair’s Rallies. These are open to anyone who has competed on teams or anyone who would like to be considered!

Spring Show – Sunday 6th May @ Warrigal Farm.
The Spring Show seems a distant memory now, but was very well attended. Lots of you came along to compete with many rosettes and trophies going home with our members (always a bonus!!) and we were chuffed that so many of you came to help set up on the Saturday before hand. ‘Many hands make light work’ is certainly true so A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped. Special thanks, as always, to Flair who organises the judges and stewards, takes the entries, buys the equipment needed, hires the loos, books the first aid etc. etc. etc. AND is always first there on the showground and last to leave. She is a mad woman!! Colin Lewis also deserves a mention as he busied himself putting up all the rings for the Spring Show, its rather boring banging in all those posts and roping the rings off, but someone’s got to do it, and it’s usually Colin! The jumping, clear round and working hunter rings don’t magically appear, it was down to lots of you, your families and friends, all working together. So thanks again…..
Full results are on our website www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com


Dressage Series Sunday 13th May and Sunday 29th July
The first two of our dressage series have now taken place. They both ran smoothly, the July date being very busy and running from 9 to about 6 o’clock! Thanks to everyone who helped, including Jessica and Hannah our fantastic, young, but ever so accurate, scorers!! Full results, are again available on the website.

Team Showjumping at Bluebarn – Saturday 12th May.
We sent three teams to this competion, which was a friendly, hosted by Colette’s Horse Shows. In each team, all three members’ scores count.
The novice team were:
Louise Atkinson – Twiglet ( clear / 4 faults )
Rachel Webb – Ziggy ( Double Clear )
Alina Tinson – Bally Larkin Cliff ( Double Clear ) Team 7th, well done girls!!

The two open Teams were:
Sarah Edmonds – Mr. Foyle Clover
Megan White – Miss Dynamite
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony Team 6th, wicked!!
and
Clare Drury – Au Contraire
Alex Hudson – Toby
Kristy Deacon – Kimba Lad Team 1st, wey-hey!!!!
So a good day for the club, with individual placings in warm up classes for lots of members, too.

Area 10 Dressage / Riding Test on Sunday 17th June @ Risebridge Farm.
This was a great day out for the club, with some unexpected results! We had a junior team entered for both the team Dressage and the team Riding Test. Riders representing Dartford were:
Jessica Sifleet – No One’s Perfect
Hannah Knight – Prince Nuchi
Hannah Lewis – Pondhead Oliver
(Lacy Haward unfortunately had a disaster with a trampoline so was unable to make up the team with the ever consistent Jack, a real shame as the remaining members had to go on and compete on all three scores to count)…..but go on they went….Hannah Lewis was amazing and won both of her tests, qualifying her for The Nationals in Lincoln. It’s Hannah’s last year in Riding Club juniors and was one of her aims to qualify again. She has been very successful and consistent on our dressage teams, so thanks Hannah and well done. The team came 6th in the Dressage and a really great 2nd in the Riding Test. The Riding Test result means that they, too, have qualified for Lincoln!! You go, girls!! Considering that Jessica’s ‘Alfie’ and Hannah’s Nuchi are very young ponies, this was a great achievement, they rode brilliantly.
Then it was the turn of two Senior teams, who also competed in a Dressage and a Riding Test Team. They were:
Virginia Rider – Operation Chance
Laura Kerr – Grace
Amanda Giles – Artist Impression
Emma Swarbrick- Two Tone Artist
and
Leigh Ann Kerr – Point – no shoes – Scally!!
Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
Flair Sifleet – The Lone Brigadiar
Clare Drury – Au Contraire Team 1st (Dressage) Qualifying for Lincoln
This is the third time of winning the Novice Dressage team for Dartford and really great when you consider who we’re up against in our area of very well established clubs.
So, onto the more ‘fun’ classes. Leigh and I had entered the Individual ‘Dressage to Music’ and had spent some (not much) time, with my fantastic music teacher friend, Chris Hook, putting together some kind of routine to music. We both had distinct ideas for what we wanted to use. As ‘Connie’ (Au Contraire) is French (Selle Francais) I wanted to ride to French themed music. I had chosen The Can-Can as a definite for my trot work. Chris was able to plug in his keyboard and play live whilst I went through some ideas for my routine. Leigh had decided that Troy (Point Scally) was a Bob Marley fan so her music was taken from one of his albums. Chris mixed our music, and copied it onto disk and tape (a back up!). So, armed with my French music and Leigh’s Bob Marley, we had a go….well….. it was worthwhile as I came 2nd and Leigh came 5th. I am waiting to hear if I have qualified for the Nationals at Addington. That was the first surprise.
Finally, Leigh and Katie were entered for the Pairs Dressage. They had done this class last year, so were hoping to improve on their performance. They are at the same yard so were able to refine their routine. Their horses are both chestnuts and well matched. However…..Leigh and Katie had done very little in the way of preparation. In fact, both had been so busy, their paths at the stables had hardly met. In fact, they hadn’t practiced at all. They could barely remember their test from last year. I think they were thinking that I wouldn’t make them do it. They were wrong! With half an hour to go before their time, they were busily trying to remember what they had to do and riding round together making something up. The final surprise….They won!! So now they’ve got to do it again at Lincoln, luckily Phillip got it on video so they can check what exactly it was that won them the class! So two teams, one pair, one individual and maybe a music through to the Championships……

Area 10 Horse Trials @ Borde Hill Sunday 24th June.
The following week we sent some riders down to Borde Hill to have a go at the Area Eventing. The Junior team, quite inexperienced as far as horse trials is concerned, but up for it, were:
Nicola Wood – Ollimore
Amye Hudson-Smith – Baby Badger
and Kristy Deacon – Kimba Lad
(Hollie Leathem and Million Dollar Pony were entered but unable to compete, as Hollie was unwell the night before the competition) So, again, the team competed on a three, with all scores to count. The first discipline was the dressage. Amye had had a crash course dressage lesson on Badger, a pony kindly lent to her and only previously ridden by Amye a handful of times. Kristy had been working on it as had Nicola, although all three girls concentrate on Show Jumping in the main. So they all performed very creditable tests. Then came the show jumping. By then it had really started to rain. Ollimore wasn’t keen as it was so slippery but got round, whilst Badger and Kimba skipped round most happily (great ponies!). Then the rain really set in. Ollimore had definitely decided we were all mad, and pulled up, but Badger and Kimba again put in stirling performances and were clear. Future eventing stars???
Sarah Edmonds on Mr. Foyle Clover went as Senior Novice individual and had a good time, sploshing around in the mud. Lastly, we entered a Senior Intermediate team and one Senior Intermediate individual:
Clare Drury – Au Contraire
Leigh-Ann Kerr – Point Scally
Emma Swarbrick – Two Tone Artist
Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
and Sara MacDonald – Kira
The Senior team came 3rd and Sara wasn’t placed individually, but wasn’t far off. The course was beautiful, but the rain just didn’t do anyone any favours, so great for everyone to return home in one piece. Hope you’re all dried out by now???

Area 10 Showjumping Qualifier @ Felbridge on Sunday 8th July.
The final qualifier was at Felbridge, a great venue with several arenas. We sent two junior teams. A novice, and for the first time, an open team.
Jumping on the Novice Junior Team were:
Amye Hudson Smith – Baby Badger
Lacy Haward – Jack
Jasmine Wilkes – Millfields Dorothea
and Alina Tinson – Bally Larkin Cliff.
This team didn’t get through to the jump off, but Amye and Badger got through individually and were placed 5th.
The Open Junior Team were competing with only three members. These were
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony (Ebony)
Kristy Deacon – Kimba Lad
and Amye Hudson- Smith – Garnavilla Prince.
This team went really well, and were placed 2nd, beating Ardingly but being just pipped by Rother Valley.
We also had a Junior ‘Style Jumping’ team entered, who were
Lacy Haward – Jack (3rd individually)
Amye Hudson-Smith – Baby Badger (5th individually)
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony (Ebony)
And Jasmine Wilkes – Millfields Dorothea.
This was a new competition for all of the girls. It is unusual in the fact that the riders’ style is assessed and marked, giving a total mark at the end. Ponies must be ridden in a snaffle and there is a penalty of 5 marks for wearing martingales. Knock downs are also penalised. The whole competition calls for some very accurate riding! Well, you wouldn’t have known that the girls had never competed in this kind of competition before, as all scored really high marks, and the team won (so they will get to have another go at Lincoln!)
It was then the turn of the Seniors. Jumping on the Novice team were:
Sue Bray – Mia
Flair Sifleet – Lasna Buachaill
Alex Hudson – Toby
and Me (Clare) – Au Contraire.
We did quite well over the two rounds, but had a pole here and there, resulting in 5th place out of 14 teams. We have, however qualified for The London and South East Championships based on this result.
Jumping on the Senior Intermediate team were:
Emma Swarbrick – Two Tone Artist
Leigh Ann Kerr – Point Scally
Sara Mac Donald – Kira This team were also placed 5th.
and Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber.
We then competed in the Senior Style Jumping. The team consisted of;
Emma Swarbrick – Two Tone Artist
Leigh Ann Kerr – Point Scally
Clare Drury - AuContraire
and Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber. (2nd individually)
The team were chasing last year’s win, but could only manage team 2nd place. Happily, Katie qualified individually for the Style Jumping at Lincoln, so our hopes will lie with her (no pressure, Katie!!).

Autumn Show @ Warrigal Farm on Sunday 23rd September
You should receive a copy of the Autumn Show Schedule in this newsletter. We have changed it ever so slightly, adding some classes hopefully to attract more competitors. Please, Please, Please get you entries in early to avoid disappointment….and do come, making the most of your vastly reduced entry fees!! As usual, we need lots and lots and lots (and lots!!) of help. We will be setting up from 10 o’clock on Saturday 22nd and will also need helpers during the day to steward rings, assist in the secretary’s tent, to run the clear round all day (any volunteers??) etc. The show raises money for the club and our charity, Demelza House. It is one of our bigger ventures and cannot run without support from members and their families….SO PLEASE HELP!!

Area 10 Hunter Trials Qualifier @ Lodge Farm on Sunday 14th October
Here’s a chance for anyone interested in cross country to represent the club. There are both Junior and Senior team competitions. The Novice is approximately 2ft 9 and the Open 3ft 3. This is a qualifier for the national competition, and vaccination certificates are required. For more information, ‘phone the team hotline 07958 617648!!

D.D.R.C. Dressage Series @ The Old Mill on Sunday 28th October
The third, and final event of our dressage series will take place at the end of October. You do not need to have participated in the whole of the series to take part, so do have a go. The introduction of a Walk and Trot series has proved very popular but there are also Preliminary, Novice and Elementary tests too. Entries for members are, again, vastly reduced (where else can you compete for £5 per class??) but spaces do fill up quickly. So get your entries in!! Help is also needed on the day. If you want to view a test from the Judge’s point of view, and are able to write at speed, it’s a great idea to volunteer to be a judge’s writer. We also need scorers and someone to open and shut the arena door all day…..you can watch and learn a lot from this, too. Contact Flair if you are able to help!

Team Showjumping @ BlueBarn on Saturday 3rd November
This ‘friendly’ teams of three competition is hosted by Collette’s Horse Shows. www.cbequine.co.uk The Novice competition is ideal for anyone new to teams as there are warm up classes and the courses are approximately 2ft3 – 2ft6. The Open team courses are approximately 2ft9. If you would like to be part of a Dartford team, please let us know, Bluebarn is a lovely venue and it’s great fun.

Area 10 Winter Indoor Novice Jumping Qualifier
@ Duckhurst Farm Saturday 17th November
Anyone interested in representing Dartford at this area qualifier should contact me a.s.a.p. You need to be confidently jumping over 2ft9 courses, but equines must have no B.S.J.A. winnings. We can send junior and senior teams. Vaccination certificates required!

‘Friendly’ Area 10 Team Jumping @ Eaglesfield on Sunday 10th February 2008
We have offered to host this ‘teams of three’ Jumping Competition. Each team will consist of one novice rider (not to have won more than £25), one novice horse/pony (not to have won more than £25) who both jump 2ft6, and one open horse/pony & rider combination who jump 3ft. There will also be warm up classes for juniors and seniors. We would like to field some teams for this event, so, again, if you’re interested, please let me know……we will also need lots of help, both setting up and on the day to help things run smoothly. If you can assist in any way, we would be most grateful.


Well, that’s all for this newsletter, keep your eye on the website for updates. We will report on our adventures in Lincoln next newsletter. Hope to see you at The Autumn Show,
Clare (D.D.R.C Chairperson)

FEBRUARY 2007

D.D.R.C Welcomes New Members!!

This may well be your first newsletter if you have just joined?
We seem to be recruiting a healthy new membership and ‘oldies’ renewals have also been coming in – well done and thanks – so we hope to make 2007 an enjoyable year for the club.
Please remember to do your little bit to make D.D.R.C. a friendly and successful club. As you can see from our diary dates we have a lot going on, and you are expected to help out!!! We hope to see you from time to time throughout the year at our events…..please volunteer your services….or expect to be volunteered! Setting up shows, helping on the day and packing the equipment away afterwards are all part of the members’ jobs, a ‘plea for help’ usually goes in each newsletter, followed by a ‘Hello, are you free on the ……..’ type phone call> You have been warned…….!

If there is anything you want to see the club doing, or (fingers crossed) if there is anything you would like to organise and run, please don’t hesitate to put your ideas forward.

Easter Show / Spring Show / Dressage Series – Schedules Enclosed.

Enclosed with this newsletter should be copies of the above competitions. We advise early entry to avoid disappointment (you are the first to have schedules!)
We have kept the members entry fees low, a perk of being a member.
Class sponsorship @ £25 per class is very much available, if anyone is able to help??

Rallies

General rallies on Saturday mornings at The Old Mill, Swanley with Flair Sifleet will continue this year for £10 a session. See diary for dates. Booking required. Ring 01474 708566 if you’re interested.


Specialist Clinics at Shannon Leigh, Bexley
Shannon Leigh are offering Dartford members the following weekly clinics:
Mondays 7-8p.m. Dressage with Daniel Baddely £12 per session
Thursdays 6-7p.m. Junior Rally with Daniel Baddely £12 per session.
Ring Leigh to book your place on 020 8300 7092.

Team Jumping Saturday 20th January @ Bluebarn (Colette’s Horse Show)

Team D.D.R.C. claimed another two victories at Bluebarn, and also lots of individual wins and placings.
The Novice Team – ‘Dartford Minis’ : Alina Tinson (Bally Larkin Cliff), Rachel Webb (Ziggy) and Amye Hudson-Smith (Garnavilla Trigger) all jumped double clear, and were the only novice team to do so, making them outright winners. However, they were also very speedy in their jump-offs as Alina won individually, Amye was 2nd and Rachel 4th.
Team success rounded off a very happy day for Alina, who had won both the Absolute Novice and the Novice Warm-Up classes, too. Wow! Way to go, Alina!!

Open Teams : The ‘Dartford Desroyers’ - Sarah Edmonds (Mr. Foyle Clover), Amye Hudson-Smith (Rodeo King) and Janice Rickell (The Joker) jumped well and finished 7th.
Janice was 3rd in the Open Warm Up and Sarah went on to win the 85-90c.m. Open.
The ‘Dartford Dashers’, Megan White (Miss Dynamite), Hollie Leathem (Million Dollar Pony) and Kristy Deacon (Kimba Lad) finished in 6th place. Kristy was 3rd in the 85-90c.m. Open.
The ‘Dartford Doughnuts’, Shannan Cameron (Hindleap Topnotch), Stacey Arnold (Jacko) and Emma Swarbrick (Two Tone Artist) were 3rd. Stacey won the Open Warm up and was =4th individually in the teams too.
………But ‘The Dartford Divas’ did it again, winning the team competition, with all three riders on double clear. Clare Drury (Au Contraire) was =4th individually, Jessica Lovell (Charlie) went like a rocket and won individually and Amye Hudson-Smith (Garnavilla Trigger) was 6th individually.

D.D.R.C. Clothing.

We still have some D.D.R.C. clothing available - winter jackets in adults small and medium sizes for £35. These are machine washable and are very warm. They look great over a show jacket. There are also reversible children’s jackets (fleece on one side, jacket style on the reverse) for £27 and ordinary ¾ zipper fleeces for £25.
Our cotton polo shirts are available at £12. All are in black, with our distinctive double stirrups logo in silver and gold, and ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ embroidered underneath.
See Flair at rallies or Clare at shows to order, or ‘phone 07958 617648.

Teams 2007

We are an affiliated Riding Club, which means that we are able to enter official, British Riding Club Area competitions.
These are listed in our diary dates. Our area, Area 10, has its own website www.brcarea10.org.uk which supplies all the information about competitions and training open to you as a Dartford member.
Team competitions are open to Juniors (under 17 years of age on 1st January in the current year) and Seniors, who may ride either horses or ponies.
Team members must have a valid and up-to-date certificate of Equine Influenza for the horse/pony they ride.
If you are interested in teams, please let me, Clare Drury, know as soon as possible. We will be putting in preliminary entries into H.Q. at Stoneleigh very soon, so need to know who wants to do what and when.
Basically you should be out competing at the level and discipline of the team you wish to join.
If you have any questions regarding the competitions available, the standard required or restrictions, please phone to have a chat (07958 617648).
Overleaf is a list of Area 10 Competitions, dates and venues.
Some of the restrictions may change slightly when the 2007 rule book comes out. This is available from the B.R.C. bookshop – a must for team members.

Competition Junior Senior Restrictions Date Venue
Novice S.J. (indoor) 80cm. Junior Senior Equine - no B.S.J.A. winnings 24 Feb Duckhurst
Novice S.J. (outdoor) 80cm. Junior Senior Equine - no B.S.J.A. winnings 8 July Felbridge
Intermediate S.J.(outdoor) 95cm. Senior £150 B.S.J.A. winnings allowed 8 July Felbridge
Open S.J. (outdoor) 95cm Junior £400 B.S.J.A. winnings 8 July Felbridge
Open S.J. (outdoor)
1m 10 Senior £500 B.S.J.A. winnings 8 July Felbridge
Style Jumping
85cm. Junior Senior Senior £100 B.S.J.A
Junior £50 B.S.J.A. 0-10 B.E. pnts 8 July Felbridge
Horse Trials
85cm. Junior 0 –20 B.E. points 24 June Borde Hill
Horse Trials
Novice 85cm. Senior 0 B.E. points 24 June Borde Hill
Horse Trials
Intermediate 1m. Senior May be registered with B.E. subject to 2007 rule change 24 June Borde Hill
Horse Trials
Open 1m 10 Senior 0 – 20 B.E. points 24 June Borde Hill
Hunter Trials
85c. Junior 0 – 20 B.E. points 14 Oct Lodge Farm
Hunter Trials Novice 85cm. Senior 0 – 20 B.E. points 14 Oct Lodge Farm
Hunter Trials
Open 1m. Senior Subject to 2007 rule change t.b.c. 14 Oct Lodge Farm
Dressage Team
Novice Prelim level Senior 0 British Dressage Points 17 June Risebridge Farm
Dressage Open Team Senior 3 x Novice level riders 0 – 74 B.D ponts, 1 x Elementary level rider 0 – 149 B.D. points 17 June Risebridge Farm
Dressage Team Junior 2x riders Prelim – 0 B.D. points, 2x riders Novice – up to 49 points 17 June Risebridge Farm
Dressage Medium Individual Senior Up to 249 B.D. points allowed 17 June Risebridge Farm
Dressage Pairs inc Music Pairs Senior Junior Up to 74 B.D. points allowed 17 June Risebridge Farm
Dressage to Music
Senior Junior Up to 74 B.D. points allowed 17 June Risebridge Farm
Riding Test
Novice Senior Junior 0 –5 B.D. / B.E. points allowed 17 June Risebridge Farm
Riding Test
Advanced Senior Junior 0 – 50 B.D. points / 0- 20 B.E. points allowed 17 June Risebridge Farm

We will also try to enter some ‘friendly’ team competitions as and when they arise. Keep an eye out for information on these in newsletters. D.D.R.C. pays entry fees for members representing the club, but you are expected to provide your own transport to venues. We had a great year last year, let’s hope 2007 will be just as fun!

Well, that’s all for another newsletter, hope to see you all soon,

Clare (D.D.R.C Chairperson)

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JANUARY 2007

Area 10 Competitions – keep an eye on area 10 website www.brcarea10.co.uk – vaccination card required – contact Team Organiser, Clare Drury 07958 617648




RALLIES

General rallies on Saturday mornings at The Old Mill, Swanley with Flair Sifleet will continue this year for £10 a session.
See diary for dates. Booking required. Ring 01474 708566 if you’re interested.




SPECIALIST CLINICS

Shannon Leigh Stables Bexley are offering Dartford members the following weekly clinics:
Mondays 7-8p.m. Dressage with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session
Thursdays 6-7p.m. Junior Rally with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session.
Ring Leigh to book your place and take advantage of this opportunity. www.shannonleighstables.com
on 020 8300 7092


FIRST AID COURSES

Shannon Leigh will be holding a 'Appointed Person' one day course and a 'First Aid at Work' course over 5 consecutive evenings.
'Perfect First Aid Services Ltd' is an HSE approved training company and will be at Shannon Leigh on the 3rd March 2007.
The one day 'Appointed First Aid' course on the 3rd March 2007 is designed to qualify an appointed person at the work place. The cost is £65 per person and will include certificate
The 'First Aid at Work' course over 5 consecutive evenings is TBA.
Please email Leigh at shannonleighstables@hotmail.com for details and to reserve your place.




CLINICS 2007

We will run some specialist jumping, cross country and dressage clinics this year – none are confirmed at the moment.
If anyone has any requests / ideas / preferences for particular trainers / dates / venues, then please contact a committee member.
Details will be posted on the website and sent to you in the next newsletter.




EAGLESFIELD TEAM SHOWJUMPING 12th November

The Riding Club sent four teams to this competition, hosted by Wrotham and District Riding Club. It was a great day out.

DARTFORD DAREDEVILS were 3rd in the Team Scurry.
Connor Smith – Rodeo King
Nicola Wood – Ollimore
Stacey Arnold – Jacko
Janice Rickell – The Joker

DARTFORD DESTROYERS were 4th in the Teams Class.
Dominic Franz – Secret Tango
Lacey Haward – Jack the Lad
Sara MacDonald – Kira
Emily Mason – Danny

DARTFORD DELIGHTS were 3rd in the Team Class and 2nd in the Team Scurry
Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
Megan White –Miss Dynamite
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony
Kristy Deacon – Kimba Lad

And DARTFORD DIVAS also went, but were unplaced (this time!!)
Lisa Waghorn – Sammy
Clare Drury – Au Contraire
Jessica Lovell – Charlie
Amye Hudson-Smith – Garnavilla Trigger

‘STAR JUMPERS’ were Sara on Kira, Katie on Mic and Kristy on Kimba, who all jumped three faultless rounds each.
Well done girls!!
Thanks to all ‘teamies’ and the ‘support crew’ who were brilliant all day.




CHRISTMAS SHOW Saturday 9th December

The Christmas Show was extremely well supported and it was great to see so many members competing.

Apart from the gridlocked carpark (which wasn’t fun), the day was successful.

Thank you to everyone who helped, we do appreciate the time given to help run these events, as Flair and I cannot do it alone!

There were at least 18 ponies competing in the gymkhana games, with a few riders managing to swap for different races.

The lead-reiners held their own against other riders – well done anyone who had to lead, running up and down that indoor school is a task in itself!
We had to ride everyone off in three heats before the ‘final’ for each game, but still managed to get finished on time.

The fancy dress was a wonderful sight, with a record 17 entrants.

Photofanatic were there capturing riders on film.
Their website is well worth a visit if you missed the show and want to view the pictures.

Finally, after sorting out the parking, we held the fun jumping and team competition.

We proudly used our own D.D.R.C. showjump for the first time, supplied by Sheepgate Showjumps.

The whole show managed to raise approximately £500 for the club, so the hard work was definitely worth it!

We will run a similar event at Easter, so get your thinking caps on for the fancy dress, and get into training for the gymkhana and the jumping.

Results of the Christmas show were as follows:

Fancy Dress
1st Bayliss ‘Family’ on Molly
2nd Jasmine Ricard on Bramble
3rd Robing Young on Flossy
4th Niamh Duffy on Kipper
5th Danielle Clark on Touch of Luck
6th Sharee Watson on Anock Ter Burcht

Class 1 Pudding Pairs
1st Louisa Jennings & Vicky Cooper on Irish Jackpot
2nd Sarah Edmonds & Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony
3rd Abbey Hendrick & Amye Smith on Garnavilla Trigger
4th Sara Payne & Ellie Valentine on My Destiny
5th Georgia Edwards & Olivia Nutman on Amber
6th Clare Drury & Sara Mac Donald on Au Contraire

Class 2 Holly Horse and Hound
1st Megan White on Miss Dynamite with ‘Dog’
2nd Louisa Jennings on Irish Jackpot with ‘Megan’
3rd Francesca Baylis on Molly with ‘Leo’
4th Olivia Nutman on Amber with ‘Benji’
5th Danielle Clarke on Touch of Luck with ‘Dog’
6th Clare Drury on Au Contraire with ‘Kougar’

Class 3 Turkey Scurry
1st Megan White with Miss Dynamite
2nd Sophie Edwards on Owen
3rd Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony
4th Louisa Jennings on Irish Jackpot
5th Jodi Collett on She’s a Lady
6th Ellie Valentine on My Destiny

Class 4 Tinsel Teams of Three
1st Amye Smith on Rodeo King
Natasha Samson on Captain Jack
Abbey Hendrick on Garnavilla Trigger
2nd Clare Drury on Au Contraire
Megan White on Miss Dynamite
Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony
3rd Sara Payne on My Precious Amber
Ellie Valentine on My Destiny
Sophia Edwards on Owen





D.D.R.C. CLOTHING.

We still have some D.D.R.C. clothing available - winter jackets in adults small and medium sizes for £35.
These are machine washable and are very warm. They look great over a show jacket.
There are also reversible children’s jackets (fleece on one side, jacket style on the reverse) for £27 and ordinary ¾ zipper fleeces for £25.
Our cotton polo shirts are available at £12.
All are in black, with our distinctive double stirrups logo in silver and gold, and ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ embroidered underneath.
See Flair at rallies or Clare at shows to order, or ‘phone 07958 617648.





MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL.

Sorry……it’s that time of year again when I have to remind you that your membership is up for renewal.
Unless you joined after September 2006 (around the time of the Autumn Show or after) in which case you are already a 2007 member, you will need to rejoin.
If you are in any doubt, please ring our membership secretary, Kim Atkinson, on 01474 703063.
Membership rates will remain the same – a form has been enclosed in this newsletter. Remember that membership entitles you to vastly reduced entries to our own competitions, a chance to compete on D.D.R.C. teams with entries paid for, regular rallies and clinics, and great (!) newsletters!!

Kim would appreciate any renewals, at the latest by the end of February.
Members hoping to represent the club on Area 10 teams must be members by this time.
We hope that you will rejoin, and, as always, we are happy to hear from you regarding ideas for future ventures for the club.

Wishing you a happy, safe and successful new year!

Clare :-)
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NOVEMBER 2006

DIARY DATES 2006.

Sunday 12th November
Indoor Teams Showjumping Wrotham and District R.C @ Eaglesfield E.C.

Saturday 9th December
D.D.R.C. Christmas Show
Gymkhana, Fancy Dress, Showjumping The Old Mill Equestrian Centre, Swanley

Sunday 28th January
Junior and Senior
Teams of Three Showjumping Area 10 Liason Committee
@The Golden Cross


D.D.R.C. denotes Dartford and District Riding Club events -
contact Club Secretary Flair Sifleet 01474 708566

Area 10 Competitions – vaccination card required –
contact Team Organiser, Clare Drury 07958 617648



DRESSAGE SERIES.

The final dressage show of our series ran on 1st October and awards were given out at the A.G.M. Thank you to all that helped throughout the year and especially to Flair who organised each competition (and won most of it!!).

The Dressage Champions 2006 were:
Series A (Walk and Trot / Prelim) Flair Sifleet -Tresaison Zodiac

Series B (Prelim ) Donna De’Ath- Madison

Series C (Novice ) Flair Sifleet- The Lone Brigadiar

Series D (Elementary) =Emma Jane McGarth- Duke of Wellington
=Flair Sifleet- The Lone Brigadiar

Junior Champion Hannah Lewis- Pondhead Oliver

Senior and Overall Champion Flair Sifleet- The Lone Brigadiar


NEW D.D.R.C. WEBSITE www.dartfordanddistrictridingclub.com

We have a new and updated website, created for us by Leigh Ann Kerr, ‘technological computer wizard’ (a.k.a. Hobbit Woman!!).
It is easy to navigate and will be a means of keeping our members informed as to what’s going on in between newsletters.
There’s lots of information about the club, its aims, achievements and members.
There is a page for members’ photos, so please get yourself on the web to show just how lovely our members are!!!
But….Please don’t bother to look at the Lincoln piccies as there are some very embarrassing ones of the ‘National Teamies’ trying to do the Macarena (o.k?)

Thanks must go to Michelle Hudson, who created our original website.
Thank you for all of your hard work, Michelle.



RALLIES

Rallies continue every fortnight on Saturday mornings at The Old Mill, Swanley with Flair Sifleet for £10 a session. Booking required. Ring 01474 708566 if you’re interested.




TERRIFIC ‘Teamies’ Triumph!! (…..Again!!)

The London and South East Championships were held in Henley-on-Thames on the 8th October.
We had qualified three senior teams for this through the summer – one in Dressage, one in the Riding Test and one in Horse Trials.
Because of the strangles outbreak in the local area, two of our riders were on voluntary quarantine, so, with a last minute S.O.S. call to a few members to ride in their places, we managed to field our teams….just!
I’m not quite sure how it all worked out but somehow 5 riders managed to ride on 3 teams. Usually the teams are made up of 4 riders with the worst score being dropped, but that wasn’t an option so we made do with 3 riders, all scores to count!!
The Horse Trials was fun and the cross country course especially twisty.
Sara MacDonald riding Kira was placed 6th individually, mainly due to bombing round the xc like a woman possessed (everyone else seemed to have had time faults).
In the dressage, ‘last minute’ team member Debbi Gilbert riding Paddy was 4th individually and in the Riding Test Clare Drury riding Au Contraire was also 4th individually (made up for the 41 time penalties in the cross country!!).
So, all in all, a successful day for the club.
Thanks also to team members Flair Sifleet riding The Lone Brigadiar and Emma Swarbrick riding Two Tone Artist for competing too.
We hardly saw each other all day as we were too busy running from arena to arena, going off to ride different tests, walking courses….etc….but had all managed to park up together, so as far as I could make out, everyone went home happy!

We sent a team of three showjumpers down to Bluebarn on 15th September to compete in Canterbury Riding Club’s Teams of 3 Competition.

Members Stacey Arnold riding Jacko, Nicola Wood riding Ollimore and Janice Rickell riding The Joker all jumped superbly, clear, then clear and fast in the jump off, to secure a brilliant first place for D.D.R.C. Well done girls!!!

Inspired by this achievement, we then sent one Novice team and two Open teams to the Blackhorse Teams of 3 Jumping Competition, again held at Bluebarn on 15th October.

The Novice team (‘Dartford Delights’) were all juniors – Megan White riding Miss Dynamite, Jade Cauldfield riding Jade’s Promise and Holly Bunting riding Ghost.
They were not placed in the teams, but Megan was 2nd individually in the warm up and Jade 7th. In the Open competition, the two teams were:
‘Dartford Destroyers’ - Sara MacDonald riding Kira, Emily Mason riding Danny and Kristy Deacon riding Kimba Lad and ‘Dartford Divas’- Jessica Lovell riding Charlie, Amye Hudson-Smith riding Garnavilla Trigger and Clare Drury riding Au Contraire.
In the first round, everyone jumped clear.
Four teams then went through to the jump off on a zero score.
After some amazingly tight turns, Dartford Divas came out top, and Dartford Destroyers were 4th. The winners all received super rosettes, trophies and a plaque for the best riding club AND really great sashes!!!
Thank you to everyone who jumped and supported our teams at Bluebarn, it was a very enjoyable day.



AUTUMN SHOW @Warrigal Farm on Sunday 24th September

A big thank you to everyone who came to help and ride at our Autumn Show.
We were very pleased with the turnout and managed to make a profit of around £2000 for the club.
We will be donating a sum of money to Demelza House, a local respite centre for very sick children, after the Christmas Show.

Results of the Autumn Show were as follows:

Class 1 Minimus Jumping
1st Emily Gunn- Oak Thunder
2nd Arther Galvin- Champ
3rd Connor Smith- Rodeo King
4th Phoebe Smith- Bay Light Star
5th Rachel Stewart- Sasha
6th Nikki Simpson- Gentleman Jack

Class 2 Novice Jumping
1st Ellie Chambers- Limited Edition
2nd Shannan Cameron- Hindleap Topnotch
3rd Shannan Cameron- Ronnie Rocket
4th Emily Gunn- Oak Thunder
5th Holly Bunting- Ghost
6th Arther Galvin- Champ

Class 3 Pairs Jumping
1st Kristy Deacon- Kimba Lad
Shannan Cameron- Rocket Ronnie
2nd Jessica Lovell- Charlie
Amye Smith- Prince
3rd Kristy Deacon - Silver Lining
Shannan Cameron- Hindleap Topnotch
4th Emily Mason- Hot Gossip
Sarah Edmonds- Mr. Foyle Clover
5th Stacey Arnold- Jacko
Nicola Wood- Olllimore
6th Annabel Middleton- Romeo
Frankie Szkoda- Casper

Class 4 Intermediate Jumping
1st Emily Mason - Danny
2nd Kristy Deacon- Silver Lining
3rd Kristy Deacon- Kimba Lad
4th Demi Pitt- Stiggy
5th Stacey Arnold- Jacko
6th Amye Smith- Prince

Class 5 Open Jumping
1st Dan Sharpe- Sidney Pink
2nd Kristy Deacon- Kmba Lad
3rd Emily Mason- Danny
4th Stacey Arnold- Jacko
5th Emily Mason- Hot Gossip
6th Nicola Wood- Ollimore

Class 6 Working Hunter Horse
1st Dan Sharpe- Sidney Pink
2nd Ian Gordon- Kay
3rd Sara Jane Perera- Loch Perseverance
4th Lionel Rummell- Onzio
5th Jenny Illing- Dollar
6th Elizabeth West- Magic Moment

Class 7 Working Hunter Pony
1st Emily Gunn- Oak Thunder
2nd Karen - India
3rd Alina Tinson- Bally
4th Emily Basten- Misty

Class 8 Senior Open Riding
1st Emma Northwood- Farwinds Tamara
2nd Nicola Cruttenden- Dessy
3rd Sue Lawrence - The Grey Guy
4th Fay Lofts- Ramona

Class 9 Bst Ridden Horse
1st Sue Lawrence- The Grey Guy
2nd Nicola Samson- Elkie
3rd Clare Haynes- Magic
4th Kathy Cousins- Golden Vine

Class 10 Best Ridden Pony
1st Nicola Cruttenden- Dessy
2nd Emma Northwood- Farwinds Tamara
3rd Hannah Lewis- Pondhead Oliver
4th Emily Basten- Misty
5th Lauren Lazell- Winter Sky
6th Hannah Knight- Shades of Grey

Class 11 Lead Rein / First Ridden
1st Liam Northwood- Revel Mink
2nd Jennifer White- Masselwech Model
3rd Richard Morgan- Arnie
4th Ellie Buckham- Tetley
5th James Bartar- Primrose
6th Maisie Morgan- Ghost


Class 12 Junior Open Riding
1st Lauren Lazell- Winter Sky
2nd Hannah Lewis- Pondhead Oliver
3rd Hannah Knight- Shades of Grey
4th Jordana Madely- Missy
5th Kayleigh Beer- Magic

Class 13 Welsh (A & B)
1st Ceinfryd Stud- Dukeshill Dimarco
2nd Yasmin Nancourou- Ernie
3rd C England- Ben
4th Donna Denman- Paddy
5th C Linsdell- Joey
6th Josie Hoorington- Cavey’s Little Diamond

Class 14 Welsh (C & D)
1st John Nicholls- Ricochet
2nd Nicols Cruttenden- Dessy
3rd Lucy- Red
4th Gemma Burley- London Tipsy Sailor
5th J Stevenson- Barn Meadow Rhianwen
6th Kerry Little- Criteriou Tiger Lilly

Class 15 Mountain and Moorland
1st Hayley Greenwood- Finch
2nd Victoria Charles- N&M Naughty but Nice

Class 16 Youngstock
1st Aaron Byers- Aston Simynt
2nd Sarah Marney- Ernie
3rd Hannah Knight- Woody
4th Hayley Greenwood- Finch
5th Gemma Burley- London Tipsy Sailor
6th Kerry Little- Criterion Tiger Lilly

Class 17 Coloureds
1st Jen Murphy- Haysden Nirvana
2nd Sarah Marney- Ernie
3rd Vicki Payne- Mickey
4th Kate Carey- Jacob
5th Valda Salisbury- Neville
6th Rachel Webb- Ziggy

Class 18 Best Pony (13.2 and Under)
1st C Linsdell- Joey
2nd Yasmin Nancron- Ernie
3rd C England- Ben
4th Chrissy Evans- Primrose
5th Victoria Charles- N&M Naughty but Nice

Class 19 Best Pony (13.2-15hh)
1st Sam Edmed- Irish Prince
2nd Nicole Lansdell- Woodview Magical Mirage
3rd Victoria Charles- N&M Naughty but Nice

Class 20 Young Handler
1st Joshua Lansdell- Woodview Magical Mirage
2nd Emily Gunn- Oak Thunder
3rd Lydia Smith- Timmy
4th C Datlen- Ben
5th Geena Beddoes- All Jazzed Up
6th Jack Barwick- Jasper

Class 21 Potential Competition Horse/Pony
1st Jen Murphy- Haysden Nirvana
2nd Susan Ede- Rocko
3rd Hannah Knight- Woody
4th Jode Lefevre- Supreme Vienna

Class 22 Best Horse
1st Jen Murphy- Haysden Nirvana
2nd Susan Ede- Rocko
3rd Valda Salisbury- Neville
4th Kate Carey- Jacob
5th Kathy Cousins- Golden Vine

Class 23 Adult Handler
Cancelled

Class 24 Arabs
Cancelled

Class 25 Marvellous Mare
1st Nicole Lansdell- Woodview Magical Mirage
2nd Emily Rose- Fiery Fenelk
3rd Kerry Little- Criterion Tiger Lilly
4th Rosie Little- Lautine Lucky Lady
5th Lauren Clark- Mega
6th Yvette Baldwin- Chocolate

Class 26 Gorgeous Gelding
1st Lydia Smith- Timmy
2nd Danielle Clarke- Major Finesse
3rd Briony Sprooles- Tetley
4th Megan Barwick- Jasper C
5th Valda Salisbury- Neville
6th Emily Gunn- Oak Thunder

Class 27 Veteran (20years and over)
1st Jayne Matthews- Flight of Fancy
2nd Victoria Charles- N&M Charles

IN-HAND CHAMPION
Jen Murphy- Haysden Nirvana
RESERVE
Aaron Byers- Aston Simynt

RIDDEN CHAMPION
Nicole Cruttenden- Dessy
RESERVE
Lauren Lazell- Winter Sky



SHOW JUMPING POINTS
CHAMPION 2006
1st Emily Mason- Danny
=2nd Kendelle Hendreson- Polo
=2nd Amye Smith- Prince Charming
=2nd Emily Gunn- Oak Thunder
=2nd Kristy Deacon- Kimba Lad
6th Kristy Deacon- Silver Lining



Specialist Clinics at Shannon Leigh, Bexley
Shannon Leigh are offering Dartford members the following weekly clinics:
Mondays 7-8p.m. Dressage with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session
Wednesdays 7-8p.m. Jumping with Roger Browne £16 per session.
Thursdays 6-7p.m. Junior Rally with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session.
Ring Leigh to book your place and take advantage of this opportunity
on 020 8300 7092.



DRESSAGE SERIES at Shannon Leigh
A schedule for Shannon Leigh’s new dressage series is enclosed in this newsletter. The dates are as follows;
26th November, 17th December, 21st January, 18th February, 18th March
and 22nd April.
Classes range from Walk and Trot up to Elementary. Please do try and support this venture if you can. More details are on the Shannon Leigh website www.shannonleighstables.com



Eaglesfield Team Showjumping 12th November
The Riding Club will be sending four teams to this competition, hosted by Wrotham and District Riding Club. It is always lots of fun and usually attracts good entries. There will be a ‘normal’ teams of 4, where the best three rounds for each team count and in the event of a tie, everyone jumps off against the clock, followed by a team scurry, where each round is timed and knock downs incur 4 faults. Again, the three best scores count and are added together to find the winners. Jumping for Dartford will be:

Dartford Daredevils
Connor Smith – Rodeo King
Nicola Wood – Ollimore
Stacey Arnold – Jacko
Janice Rickell – The Joker

Dartford Destroyers
Dominic Franz – Secret Tango
Lacey Haward – Jack the Lad
Sara MacDonald – Kira
Emily Mason – Danny

Dartford Divas
Lisa Waghorn – Sammy
Clare Drury – Au Contraire
Jessica Lovell – Charlie
Amye Hudson-Smith – Garnavilla Trigger

Dartford Delights
Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber
Megan White –Miss Dynamite
Hollie Leathem – Million Dollar Pony
Kristy Deacon – Kimba Lad

If you’re free, please do come and support us, we hope to do well (!!) A report on how we fair will be posted on the website, and will be in the next newsletter.


Christmas Show Saturday 9th December
The Christmas Show is fast looming….a schedule is enclosed in this newsletter. Please do come and support us, either by riding or helping. We need someone to organise the car-park (and this is not a pleasant job for one person to do all day…many hands make light work!!), to help set up the jumps, to open and close the school door and to be our arena party. If you haven’t helped all year then you should certainly volunteer yourself for this one! It’s actually a lot of fun, and you might even get to wear one of Santa’s Little Helpers Hats!!



D.D.R.C. Clothing.
You may have noticed that the trendiest (and warmest!) riders this autumn are sporting the range of clothing from D.D.R.C. We have winter jackets in adults small and medium sizes for £35. These are machine washable and are very warm. They look great over a show jacket. There are also reversible children’s jackets (fleece on one side, jacket style on the reverse) for £27 and ordinary ¾ zipper fleeces for £25. Our cotton polo shirts are available at £12. All are in black, with our distinctive double stirrups logo in silver and gold, and ‘Dartford and District Riding Club’ embroidered underneath. A selection of these will be on sale at the Eaglesfield team jumping and at our Christmas Show, or you can order your size by telephoning 07958 617648.



B.R.C. Area 10 Liason Committee Indoor Jumping Competition
This friendly teams jumping is being hosted by Hailsham Riding Club on Sunday 28th January at The Golden Cross. Juniors and Senior Teams are run separately, with a warm up class before hand. Any D.D.R.C. members who wish to jump, should contact Clare. The restrictions are as follows:
Section 1 (2ft6”) Novice Rider – rider not to have won a total of more than £25 in the past 2 years in showjumping.
Section 2 (2ft6”) Novice Horse/Pony – horse/pony not to have won a total of more than £25 in the past 2 years in showjumping.
Section 3 (3ft) Open – no restriction.



D.D.R.C. Annual General Meeting & Prize Giving
Thanks to everyone who came to our A.G.M. on Wednesday 18th October at The Old Mill. Congratulations to everyone who took home trophies and rosettes for their jumping or dressage achievements this year. The committee all agreed to stand again for 2007 and their ‘jobs’ will be…
Chair ~ Clare Drury
Secretary / Shows ~ Flair Sifleet
Treasurer ~ Michelle Walsh
Safety Officer ~ Sara MacDonald
Training Officer ~ Katie Sanders
Website ~ Leigh Ann Kerr
Membership ~ Kim Atkinson
Minutes Secretary ~ Mandy Giles

We are a rapidly expanding riding club now with just over 70 members.
We have established ourselves as a force to be reckoned with this year and are looking forward to even bigger and better things next year. Have a great winter!

Clare :-)

AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2006
Dressage Series.
The first of our series of dressage competitions took place at The Old Mill in March and was extremely popular, running all day and into the evening.
Thanks to all of you who came to compete and even greater thanks to those who helped….it was a long and exhausting day.
Flair Sifleet and Michelle Walsh in particular deserve much praise as they saw to things running so smoothly.
The next dressage event on Sunday 11th June was as equally well supported, again with super entries.
Results of these two competitions and the points situation so far are on the website.
The last dressage competition in the series is on Sunday 1st October. Please enter early to avoid disappointment as classes will close when full.

Showjumping Clinic with Graham Fletcher.
This clinic filled very quickly and was a great success.
Graham’s approach was to bring it right down to basics and he had most of his groups cantering over poles before attempting any fences.
This was not as easy as it sounds but produced a forward, rhythmical canter, which was ideal to jump from.
Graham’s most repeated phrase was ‘chill within yourself’ which helped calm anxious riders.
I’m not sure if he was impressed by our riding and horses, but I thought everyone was very well turned out and a credit to the club!!
Hopefully Graham will come back for another clinic in the summer holidays.
Please keep an eye on the website for details.

Thanks to Kim Atkinson for organising the clinic.

Easter Fun Show at The Old Mill Friday 14th April.
The Fun Show was well attended generally, although gymkhana entries were down on previous fun shows.
Photographs are available from Anna Jackson of Photofanatic.
The results of the jumping classes were as follows:

Class 1. Pairs – Two Riders / One Horse/Pony
1st Sarah Edmonds and Clare Drury on
Mr. Foyle Clover
2nd Louisa Jennings and Vicky Cooper on Irish Jackpot
3rd Louisa Jennings and Vicky Cooper on Cornmill Bright Spark
4th Kristy Deacon and Shannon Cameron on Parsley
5th Holly Pearson and Clare Drury on Sammy
6th Stacey Arnold and Jessica Sifleet on Jacko

Class 2. Horse and Hound
1st Vicky Cooper on Irish Jackpot with Megan
2nd Megan White on Miss Dynamite with Tye
3rd Sarah Reed on Milenska with ‘Dog’
4th Louisa Jennings on Cornmill Bright Spark with Megan
5th Kristy Deacon on Parsley with Megan
6th Jade Caulfield on Lady Roulette with Tye

Class 3. Scurry
1st Megan White with Miss Dynamite
2nd Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony
3rd Julie Diamond on Milenska
4th Stacey Arnold on Jacko
5th Kristy Deacon on Parsley
6th Grace Duffy on JoJo

Class 4. Teams of Three.
1st Sarah Edmonds on Mr. Foyle Clover
Stacey Arnold on Jacko
Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony
2nd Jasmine Wilks on Don’t Stop Rupert
Grace Duffy on JoJo
Jessica Duffy on Millie
3rd Sara MacDonald on Silver Lining
Kristy Deacon on Parsley
Shannon Cameron on Ronnie
4th Louisa Jennings on Irish Jackpot
Vicky Cooper on Cornmill Bright Spark
Chloe Burge on Funky Feebie

Spring Show at Warrigal Farm on Sunday 23rd April.
The weather was not at all kind to us for our lovely Spring Show and it drizzled all day. Competitors were not deterred though, and entries were still good, making a healthy profit for the club.
Results are, again, on our website and Quantumn Photographic got lots of great photos, especially in the jumping ring.
Thanks to all that helped and attended….you all got out of the lorry park eventually as no-one was still stuck when we left….and the following week the grass was growing back fine.

Rallies
Rallies continue every fortnight on Saturday mornings at The Old Mill, Swanley with Flair Sifleet for £10 a session. Booking required. Ring 01474 708566 if you’re interested.

Terrific ‘Teamies’ Triumph!!
Saturday 20th May saw The Senior Horse Trials team of Katie Sanders on Mr. Micawber, Sara Mac Donald on Kira, Emma Swarbrick on Two Tone Artist and me, Clare Drury, on Au Contraire compete at Ardingly.
The team finished a very creditable 3rd, qualifying them for the London and South East Championships, but best of all, Katie won in her arena and had the highest overall score of all the arenas, so will go to the National Championships at Offchurch in August. The club wishes her every success…hopefully a report is to follow!

Then on Sunday 25th June we sent two senior teams and one junior team to The Kent County Showground at Detling for The Area 10 Dressage and Riding Test Qualifier.
First to go were Leigh Ann Kerr riding Point Scally and Katie Sanders riding Mr. Micawber taking part in the Pairs Dressage class.
This consists of a four minute choreographed test of Novice standard.
Movements were ridden both side by side and apart and their routine was lovely to watch.
The two chestnuts were very well matched and Leigh and Katie came 4th.

The junior team was Jessica Sifleet riding No-one’s Perfect, Shannon Cameron riding Cotterell Riverdance, Hannah Lewis riding Pondhead Oliver and Hannah Knight riding Sapphire.
The Novice 26, ridden by Hannah (Lewis) and Shannon was very close, with Hannah leading for most of the class. Eventually they came 3rd and 5th individually, and their team was 6th.

The riding test differs from the dressage in that the rider is awarded points for each movement, for setting it up, clear aiding and generally having an effective and tidy position. The junior team came 4th in the Riding Test teams. Well done girls, you were all a credit to the club.

The two senior Dressage / Riding Test teams, and their individual results (as far as I can remember, it all got very confusing in the end…sorry!!), were as follows:

‘A’ team Flair Sifleet – The Lone Brigadier – 2nd D
Clare Drury – Au Contraire – 7th D / 5th RT
Katie Sanders – Mr. Micawber – 6th D/3rd RT
Leigh Ann Kerr – Point Scally – 6th D/3rd RT
‘B’ Team Dany Cocklin – Boris – 3rd D
Emma Swarbrick – Two Tone Artist – 1st!!!!! D
Virginia Rider – Operation Chance – 3rd D
Stacey Ravell – ‘U’ (a.k.a Gadget)


In the dressage, out of 27 teams, the ‘B’ team won!!!!! – FANTASTIC!!!...…this qualifies them for the Nationals at Lincoln – and the ‘A’ team were third, qualifying them for The London and South East Championships.
The ‘A’ team were also 3rd in the Riding Test, so qualified in that, too, for the L. & S.E. Champs. Phew!!

Finally, the last Area 10 qualifier saw two senior teams going down to Felbridge for the Show Jumping and Equitation Jumping.
The Senior Novice team of Sarah Edmonds riding Mr. Foyle Clover, Jackie Liddell riding Brownbread Raven and Courtney Escudier riding Top Tip jumped two rounds each.
They were not placed, but rode well, despite the blistering heat.
The other senior team (Me again on Au Contraire, Leigh Ann Kerr on Point Scally, Katie Sanders on Mr. Micawber and Sara MacDonald on Kira) jumped both the Intermediate jumping, where we came 5th, and the Equitation Jumping.
The latter consists of entering the ring, halting and saluting the judge, showing canter on both reins and then jumping round a course of showjumps.
Marks are awarded like in Dressage for style and performance and deducted for knock downs.
You also have to ride in a snaffle with no martingales or spurs allowed.
So stripped of our usual ‘gear’ we all jumped round without too much of a problem….and were staggered to find that we had won the team competition!!!!!!! So that means another Lincoln qualification!

This completed our most successful year teamwise, with teams qualifying in every discipline. We still have some ‘friendlies’ coming up (see Diary of Events) for both Juniors and Seniors, and will continue to get as many team members out to fly the Dartford Flag in the future.
If you are wanting to join any of our teams, you should be out competing reasonably successfully, and for Area competitions must have an up-to-date ‘flu vaccination card. Other than that, keenness is the only other essential attribute. Contact Clare Drury or talk to any of the committee at our shows and we’ll point you in the ‘team’ direction.

Kent Riding Club of the Year
Recently we entered this competition, set by Speedgate Saddlery.
We submitted a portfolio of our aims and achievements as a club and managed to secure the runners up position, behind Bradbourne Riding Club.
Our prize was £100 in Speedgate vouchers, which we’re very grateful for.
We have spent some of this on a Buccas Rug which will be awarded for the Senior Riding Class Winner at our Autumn Show and have had two Speedgate ‘goody boxes’ made up for the winners of the Junior Riding and Lead Rein/First Ridden Classes.

Autumn Show @Warrigal Farm on Sunday 24th September….be there!!
Enclosed with this newsletter should be a schedule for our forthcoming Autumn Show. Hopefully there will be some classes to tempt you to come and compete.
We have moved the date to avoid the clash with the Molash Ride and the Lodge Farm show.
Fingers crossed it will be as successful as last year and thanks to everyone who has sponsored the classes.
This year we will donate a percentage of our proceeds to The Demelza House Children’s Hospice, a very worthwhile local charity.
As usual, we really need lots of help, on the Saturday to set the rings up, on the day to run the show and afterwards to clear away.
None of this is particularly painful when lots of people share the work, so please offer your services (or your mum’s/dad’s/nan’s/aunt’s/brother’s/boyfriend’s etc).
As a member, you have actually agreed to helping out at at least one of our competitions (have you?) so beware….if its always the same people, then those same people will get fed up.
Sorry, moan over...we do have a really good band of loyal helpers who turn up and help out….it would be really great if we could clone them and keep them in the container ‘till show weekends!!!

Specialist Clinics at Shannon Leigh, Bexley

Shannon Leigh are offering Dartford members the following weekly clinics:

Mondays 7-8p.m. Dressage with Daniel Baddeley £12 per session

Wednesdays 7-8p.m. Jumping with Roger Browne £16 per session.

Thursdays 6-7p.m. Junior Rally with Dan Baddeley £12 per session.

Shannon Leigh has a newly built, MASSIVE, sandschool and these are both great trainers, so ring Leigh to book your place and take advantage of this opportunity on 020 8300 7092.

Well. That’s it for another newsletter. Hope you’re all having a good summer! Clare :-)

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April 2009...

Well the New Year for Dartford and District Riding Club is certainly well underway. We have already been out and about with our teams, have run the Area 10 Friendly Teams of Three Show jumping at Eaglesfield and are gearing up for the first of our Dressage series, and, of course, the Spring Show. If you have just joined, WELCOME…. please come to our events, making the most of your reduced members’ entry fees, and we hope that you enjoy yourself.

Area 10 Friendly Team Showjumping, hosted by D.D.R.C. at Eaglesfield – Sunday 29th March.
We ran this competition on behalf of Area 10 at the newly refurbished Eaglesfield with its lovely new surface. Members got to jump for free and Dartford members did us proud! The four classes were the Junior Warm Up, the Junior Teams, the Senior Warm Up and finally the Senior Teams. Thank you to everyone who helped – we kept things running smoothly all day and that is no mean feat. I received some very warm and positive comments from other riding clubs, who were most impressed with the facilities and the organization ☺ Megan White with Miss Dynamite got things off to a flying start with a fast clear round to win the opening warm up class. Hollie Leathem and Million Dollar Pony were 2nd, Jasmine Wilkes on Diamond Lady were 5th and Hollie was also 6th on Go Bananas. There were 28 riders in this class. Elize Zelenka on Honey Dew and Kristy Deacon on Bellagio Breeze also produced nice clears. Then onto the Junior Teams. 13 teams took part. All three scores for each team had to count so clear rounds were vital. The full results were as follows:
Rider Horse/Pony Faults Time Place
Moat View

101 * Lucy Brachet Dec 4 40.99
102 * Taylor Collip Honey 4 48.81
103 * Holly Brown Duke 4 40.53
12 130.33 4th
Dartford
Damsels
104 * Kristy Deacon Bellagio Breeze 0 50.90
105 * Hollie Leathem Go Bananas 4 39.32
106 * Claire Tottman Ti Amo Tango 0 45.41
JO = 0 – 27.82 4 135.63 1st
Royal Oak
107 * Ricky Collip Olympus 0 46.22
108 * Grace Kean Cassie 4 41.80
109 * Georgia Davey Easter Rose 0 45.92
JO = 4 – 23.43 4 133.94 2nd
Honnington Red
110 Paige Wolfe Bronte E
111 Phoebe Turl Taffy E
112 Katie Hill Katie 8 81.81
Honnington Blue
113 Paige Wolfe Sam E
114 India Birch Succondy E
115 Robyn Turl Casper 4
Honnington Yellow
116 Rachel Tysh Crumble 0 47.71
117 Gemma Freeman Apache E
118 Abby Wilson Rosey 12 86.50

Joydens A
119 * Harry Cannaford Jerri 0 32.57 (ind 1st)
120 * Elise Pilbeam Gucci Rush 4 92.58
121 * Rebecca Dighton Cherry 8 65.52
12 190.67 6th
Joydens B
122 * Lauren Hutchings Silver Streak 12 62.60
123 * Nicole Harper Chantilly Lace 8 39.87
124 * Ruby Fryer Sky 0 44.75
20 147.22 8th

Chelsham
125 Conor Fitzgerald Golden Sovereign 8 56.61
126 Natasha Brassett Tess 4 62.44
127 Stephanie Bishop Getaway Girl 4 60.65
16 179.70 7th
Dartford Dollybirds
128 Ellie Bryant Bam Bam E
129 * Mollie Copus As Good As it Gets 0 47.15
130 * Hollie Leathem Million Dollar Pony 0 34.36 (ind 1st)
Dartford Dazzlers
131 Jessica Sifleet No-One’s Perfect 0 48.93
132 * Louisa Jennings Irish Jackpot 12 78.28
133 * Jasmine Wilks Diamond Lady 0 49.01
12 176.22 5th
Dartford Darlings
134 Anna Liggins Twinkle Toes E
135 Elize Zelenka Honey Dew 0 50.62
136 Kristy Deacon Kimba Lad 0 41.94
Dartford Dynamos
137 Conor Hudson-Smith Kiera Royalle 4 53.39
138 * Megan White Miss Dynamite 0 32.83
139 * Amye Hudson-Smith Garnavilla Trigger 4 61.22
8 3rd
With no teams on a zero score after the first rounds had been jumped, it was the Dartford Damsels against Royal Oak in the jump off, as both teams had finished on 4 faults. The Open riders only had to jump off. The Moat view rider went first and scorched round, but lowered a pole. It was up to Claire on Ti Amo Tango to win for her team. This she did quite easily with a beautiful clear round. So well done Damsels!!! The team class also incorporated the Royal Windsor Horse Show Qualifier. Hollie Leathem on Million Dollar Pony was the fastest first round clear, so has secured her place at the final. We wish Hollie and ‘Ebony’ every success at Windsor in the Intermediate class. Then it was onto the Seniors. In the warm up class Jade Caulfield riding Gabriel was 3rd, Flair Sifleet was 4th on Lasna Buachaill and 5th on Tresiaison Zodiac, and Adam Trew was 8th on Springwood Blues. Victoria McCabe on Just a Monkey and Claire Carter on Come What May also went clear. There were 35 entrants in this class. 15 Senior teams were competing in the final class. The full results were as follows:
Rider Horse / Pony Faults Time Place
Bradbourne
140 * Carole Cook (ind) Budding Annie W.D.
141 * Marisa Turner (ind) Danny’s Limerick 0 42.06
Dartford Dingbats
142 Flair Sifleet Tresiaison Zodiac 0 55.56
143 Jade Caulfield Gabriel 0 40.78
144 Lisa Waghorn Baby Badger 0 60.39
0 156.73 1st
Chelsham 1
145 Ann Kinahan Indiana 28 E
146 Chris Wells Laddie 0 81.46
147 Julie Sinclair Brennan 8 57.86
36
Joydens 1
148 * Michael Phillips Toby 8 57.01
149 * Toni Burrows Tipster 4 40.67
150 * Hayley Watchorn Hector 0 35.93 (ind 1st)
12 133.61 8th
Joydens 2
151 * Louise Burrows Bomber 4 40.98
152 * Grace Barnes Son of Sovereign 0 37.30 (ind 1st)
153 * Heather Watchorn Becks W.D.
Honnington
154 Melissa Tysh Crumble 4 56.57
155 Hattie Plummer Bronte 4 48.44
156 Vicky Langstaff Succondy 12 64.38
20 169.39
Limpsfield
157 Carly Perkins A Drop of the Irish 0 55.99
158 Samantha Green Tango Charlie 0 58.97
159 Harriet Westgate Fluorescent Star 4 60.55
4 175.51 3rd
Dartford Delinquents
160 Adam Trew Tia 8 75.62
161 Alex Hudson Toby 0 62.78
162 * Sara MacDonald Kira 0 45.29
8 183.69 7th
Faversham 1
163 Debbie Smith Moonbeam 4 56.40
164 Tony Allen Mary Ellen 0 58.01
165 Liz Roberts Buzzlines Master H 4 62.13
8 176.54 6th
Faversham 2
166 Anne Adams Kilcannon Diamond 28 E
167 Janice Vant Silky 4 72.27
168 Jason Hart Oscar Dee 32 E
Royal Oak
169 * Carly McWinnie Jenny 4 58.63
170 * Kim Farren Maximus 8 52.20
171 * Heather Green Isanappolosa 4 60.48
16 171.31
Warlingham
172 * Kim Deakin Emerald Isle 0 59.50
173 * Chris Zahner Suki 0 48.33
174 * Mary Gee-Smith The Poacher 4 51.82
4 159.65 2nd
Chelsham 2
175 Penny Weatherell Tia 8 92.43
176 Terry New Grondals Laurendo 4 69.43
177 Susie Hall de Silva Tomas 32 E
Moat View
178 * Buddy Williams Old Park Rose 8 39.09
179 * Jo Sheehy Mr Bombastic 4 41.85
180 * Cathy Wildish Finn 4 53.03
16 133.97
Dartford Dipsticks
181 Victoria McCabe Just a Monkey 0 62.22
182 Claire Carter Come What May 4 56.46
183 Emma Swarbrick Two Tone Artist 0 56.90
4 175.58 4th
Dartford Doughnuts
184 Adam Trew Springwood Blues 0 58.10
185 Flair Sifleet Lasna Buachail 0 49.21
186 * Sarah Edmonds Mr. Foyle Clover 8 57.07
8 164.38 5th
As you can see, the Dartford Dingbats (Flair on Zoe, Jade on Gabriel and Lisa on Badger) were the only team to finish the first round on a zero score, so they didn’t even have to jump off to secure their win. The other two Dartford teams were placed 4th and 5th….a great result. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who jumped – I hope you will want to repeat the experience again and join D.D.R.C. in future team endeavours. Huge thanks also must go to Vic (Flair’s dad) and Keith (Megan’s dad) who stewarded the car park ALL DAY, and had everyone parked safely and happily. Thanks chaps!

Colette’s Easter Team Challenge. Dressage and Showjumping @ Bluebarn on Monday 13th April.
We sent four ‘Teamies’ down to Bluebarn to have a crack at the Combined Training Team Challenge. In each team, two riders had to do dressage and two had to complete two rounds of showjumping each. There were 12 teams entered, two of them Dartford teams. Many other clubs sent their dressage specialists and their jumping specialists (i.e. four riders per team) but in true D.D.R.C. tradition our dressage riders also jumped! The teams were ‘The Sifleets’ – Flair riding Zoe and Jessica riding Alfie (Team B) and Team A, myself riding Tiny and Victoria McCabe riding Willow. The dressage section went well – we were all placed. I was 2nd, Jessica was 3rd and Flair and Victoria finished on exactly the same score for 8th place. Then onto the jumping. Jessica had a very unlucky pole down in her second round but apart from this, we all went double clear. We had to wait quite a while whilst the other teams finished their dressage tests and then the scores were tallied. To our delight we discovered that Victoria and I had won and Flair and Jessica were 2nd!! So another very successful and happy day. Colette said she will run another Team Challenge in the Autumn……please let me know if you would like to take part next time.

D.D.R.C Dressage @ Warrigal Farm on Sunday 26th April.
Included with this newsletter should be another copy of the dressage series schedule. There is something, we feel, for everyone with 4 different levels of test at each show - Walk and Trot, Prelim, Novice and Elementary. There will be three shows in this year’s series, with points awarded leading to the championship prizes. We have kept members entries at only £5 per class…so what are you waiting for??? Get yourself entered!!!! At the moment we have very few entries and this competition will run at a loss or not at all if we don’t get more entries! If you are new to dressage we will try to help you – please ask if you need some guidance…tests can all be commanded and some of us have very loud, encouraging voices for this task!! We also need lots of help on the day, there is no heavy lifting involved and you may even get fed!! It’s a great way of learning. We need judges’ writers, warm up stewards and scorers.

D.D.R.C. Spring Show @ Warrigal Farm on Sunday 3rd May.
Preparations for this year’s Spring Show are being made and it is fast approaching!! A schedule is also enclosed. We have separated the ridden classes to provide two championships this year – the ‘fun’ classes and the more ‘serious’ classes and also there will be a separate Riding Class Championship. As always, there will be all day Clear Round and our usual jumping ring, too. Please get your entries in to take advantage of your £5 entry fee and spread the word about the show to all your friends. This is an important day for us as a club and it is important that our members help out to make the show a success. If you are competing (we hope so!) then you should offer your services to help set up on the Saturday before the show. We will meet at Warrigal at 10am. If you are not competing then why not come and help on the day? Or get your parents/friends to help on your behalf? We desperately need helpers for the mad rush of late entries in the secretaries tent from 8.30am for an hour or so, stewards in the showing classes (a great way of learning from our judging and seeing exactly how showing is done!), a jumping arena party – to help adjust the course and put up fallen fences, and someone to run the Clear Round. I know many of you are most helpful and loyal helpers already…….its really easy when everyone pulls together, so PLEASE HELP!!!!

Happy Hackers??? Part 2!!!
I have had no response to my fantastic idea so far!!! Is anyone out there? The idea is to have a group hack, perhaps once a month, somewhere off road. We would decide on some dates and venues, pay any fees applicable ….and meet up! There are a few places around Kent that offer free riding routes. Ideas already suggested have been beech rides and a trip to Lingfield Racecourse where you can have a blast around the all-weather track. Does this sound like fun? What we need is a ‘willing volunteer’ to co-ordinate this! The hacks would go in newsletters and be posted on the website to keep everyone informed. If anyone would be willing to help, or has any ideas as to where we could go, then please contact a member of the committee.

Committee Members.
Contact details for our fantastic committee are below should you wish to get in touch:
Chairperson/Schedules/Newsletters: Clare Drury 07958 617648 clare.drury@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary/Health and Safety Officer/Minutes Secretary: Sara MacDonald sara.mac@virgin.net
Show Secretary/Rallies: Flair Sifleet 07957765964 f.sifleet@btinternet.com
Training Officer: Katie Sanders ksanders12@hotmail.com
Website: Leigh Ann Kerr shannonleighstables@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Michelle Walsh michwalsh@blueyonder.co.uk

Well, that’s it for this newsletter, the Spring grass is coming through and the lighter evenings make more riding possible. Hurray! Please do be on Laminitis watch though, even if you think your grazing is not particularly rich, as it can creep up unexpectedly! I will be thinking about Area 10 teams very soon (as the preliminary entries have to be sent off) and also the club wishes to compete at Kent County and Hickstead in the Riding Club Jumping. So if this interests you, please make a note of the dates in your diary and also make sure that I know that you wish to compete!

Hope to see you at either at our Dressage Competition or at The Spring Show….but preferably at both!


Clare