Brent Knoll Riding Club
April/May Newsletter
The Inter Club Skittles night was well supported by all 4 clubs, BK, Woodspring, Wessex and Blackdown Mendip at the Walnut Tree pub in Hutton. We had over 40 people altogether, with each club fielding 2 teams of 4 players. Blackdown Mendip B were the winning team and they all seemed very happy with their fab winner rosettes. We had the player with the highest individual score, Claire Nightingale, so well done to her. The supper was very good and had to be done in shifts! Thanks to all who came, either to play, to be social, to eat and drink or to do all three!
Mike Tyrers Showing Clinic, held at Vine Cottage Clevedon, was very popular with 19 people braving the cold, even though we were indoors. Mike is very entertaining and gave out loads of good tips and ideas, not to mention how to be correct with dress, tack, quarter marks and your show. We had a few guinea pigs, Mike brought 2 ponies from his yard, I took Tom and Steph rode for me and Tara brought Arachnophobia, her mother was called spider! Shows need to be short and have a bit of everything in them and not bore the judge to death! A couple of people had a go at plaiting up, there are several ways to do plaits to get the best out of your horses neck. It was a very entertaining evening, the light refreshments/hot drinks were much needed by all as it was really quite cold. The evening started at 7.30 and finished after 10pm so value for money I think. It was great fun loading up in the dark and getting home after 11pm! Thanks to all those who came, you will now know where you are going for the Members Dressage Day at the end of this month.
We were worried that the Spring Show at The Hand wouldn't cover it's costs, (as it's very expensive to hire!) but being brave and giving it a go proved to be the right thing to do as those of you who went will know just how busy it was. We had lots of entries and the quality of horses and ponies, something all 3 judges commented on, was very good too. The judges were all new to BK and came from Wiltshire, Malmsbury and Axbridge. The dressage was run on grass (as the outdoor arena isn't finished yet possibly because it's so big!) and was well supported with 55 entries and the going was extremely good. People were still ringing Beverly on Saturday night to see if there were any places available. It was a long day as we were there for 8am and didn't leave until 7.30pm but I think it was good PR for the club. As the ridden classes were well supported we may do 2 rings if we run it next year to keep it all moving. It was nice to see members out with their horses supporting the club and doing very well. Members who did well either winning or being placed in the showing were, Tara Millard & Arachnophobia, Pat and John Drinkwater & Janson of Joppa, Dot Godfrey & Claverdon Couragous , Stephanie Wilkinson & Rainbow Faer, Bryony Allen & Auction Boy, Lisa Lawrence & Celeste Belladonna, Celia Lewis & Charltons Rosewood, Fran Ford & Waterleigh Victoria Plum. Congratulations to Sophie Bridges & Lapis Lazuli who took the Championship in Ring 2. On the dressage front, Martine Hazelton & Infinite Risk, Rachel Frost & Hans, Amanda Jarvis& Harry, Pippa Dors & Mulberry, Sally Webb & Grace and all went home with at least one rosette. Doing well in both the showing and the dressage were Carrie Cavill & Calypso Stephanie Wilkinson & Rainbow Faer and Laura Cavill & Frankie, Congratulations to all, hope you enjoyed your day. A big Thank You to members Claire Nightingale and her daughter Fea, for doing stewarding and scoring for the dressage and to Rhona Glynn for stewarding in Ring 1. Also a big thank you to Sophie Passey from my yard who was there for most of the day helping take entries.
The Members Only Dressage at Vine Cottage, Clevedon, is running this Saturday 28th, if you haven't entered and want to, call me ASAP, before 3pm Friday on 07703 289129.
Paul Nicholls yard visit, this Sunday 29th I'm waiting for Sarah to get back, but I'll call/email time/directions as soon as I have them to those who said they wanted to go.
May Sat 26th we are running the Andrea Sexton Dressage Clinic, we have still to finalise venue, but it'll be £25 hr for members, 2 or 3 in a group, if spaces are available we will open it up, so if you are interested I need to know by Friday 4th, send cheque to me for £25 pay BKRC. Get in touch with me next week for venue, will put it on the web site for those who use it.
Gill Ray is coming to do a demo/talk on The Alexander Technique on Tuesday 29th 7.30 pm at Beverley house in Brent Knoll. We need a nice horse to use for the demo, it won't be doing very much, just something useful/easy Gill can use to help/lunge explain how it all works, so any offers? The talk is about an hour, cost £6pp (£8 non BKRC). Gill said she'll arrange to do a workshop at her yard near Clevedon if any of us would like to have a go.
June 24th sees the Members Only Show at Lympsham. Please come and support the show, it's a nice friendly and relaxed show with plenty of room. Entry fees are low as the club subsidises them and we all help to run it. The Schedule is enclosed and this year we have Championships, to make use of our Trophies. Wednesday after the show we will be having a Fun in the Field on the show ground, to make use of the arena and show jumps, if enough interest we can do refreshments/bbq.
The Area 12 Festival of Show jumping & Dressage at The Bath & West show ground is on 16th & 17th June, including Area qualifiers and Championships, plus Open to all ie non RC members classes in dressage, SJ and showing. The area 12 web site has details, www.brcarea12.org.uk we haven't received a schedule as yet, but there are lots of classes over the 2 days. I'm not sure when the closing date is. We are running the dressage on one day, Sunday most likely and will need lots of help with writers/stewards as there are about 12 classes, so PLEASE let me know if you can come and help. Those who want to represent BK in any of the events over the weekend need to get in touch with Laura as entries need to be in to Stoneleigh by about the 18th May. You can do the showing and open classes in sj & dressage without going through Laura, just enter as normal.
The Dressage Show is the next Open event, this is at the Hand on Sunday 8th July . We will be needing writers for the 9 dressage classes, so please if you can, come and help, before or after your test is fine!!!. If you haven't wrote before the walk & trot test is a fab one to start with as it's not very fast, ie no canter! We have a member, Maggie Fawcett who does lots of writing for the affiliated and she has offered to have people sit in with her to learn/have a go so if interested let me know. Schedules will be out next month, both in shops and on the web site.
The Badminton Horse Feeds Dressage Championships at Badminton are holding a class for Riding Clubs, team of 3, Thursday July 19th anyone interested in being on the team, please get in touch with Laura by next Wednesday as they are limiting entries!
The Open Show is a week earlier than normal, Sunday 29th July at Lympsham due to clashing with 2 other shows, we will be looking for help as usual, with 6 rings to steward and dressage to run.
There will be an evening ride from Burrington Coombe with BBQ afterwards, open to members, family and friends. Hubby might just want to come for supper, saves you cooking!
Woodspring RC are going to Stockland Lovell for camp, Sat 25th Aug, until Thursday 30th, 6 days 5 nights if we wanted to join them. The plan was teaching, 1 day dressage, 1 day sj, 1 xcountry, 1 day mini competition, I think. The price £200/225 depending on numbers includes sj & xc but not dressage. Some of us would like to just have a couple of days messing about, using facilities, but very casual, so I'm waiting for SL to get back re dates free for August, if you are interested.
More lessons have been booked with Mary see Diary Dates. The SJ lessons are on hold at the moment the arena at Lympsham needs TLC. We may be able to have them elsewhere for now.
Well, that's about it from me, hope to see you all somewhere soon,
Hilary.
Diary Dates
April
Saturday 28th Members Only Dressage Day At Vine Cottage Clevedon Hilary 07703 2891229
Saturday 29th Visit to Paul Nicholls racing yard at Shepton Mallet
May
Thursday 3rd Mary Skelly 7 to 8pm Book for Mary with Bev 07770 930067
Saturday 5th Mary Skelly 10.30
Thursday 10th Mary Skelly 6 - 7pm
Saturday 12th Mary Skelly 10.30
Saturday 26th Andrea Sexton Dressage Clinic Book with Hilary 07703 289129
June
Sat/Sun 16th & 17th Area 12 Festival at Bath & West show ground.
Contact Laura re entries 07752 859839 or Hilary re helping 07703 289129
Sunday 24th Members Only Show at Lympsham 12 for 1pm start.
Wednesday 27th from 6.00 Fun in the Field, use of sj and dressage arena for members.
Tuesday 29th Alexander Technique with Gill Ray at Brent Knoll 7.30 £6pp (£8 non BKRC)
to include light refreshments, contact Hilary 07703 289129
July
Sunday 8th Open Dressage Show to include Dressage to music at Hand EC Clevedon
Thursday 19th Dressage at Badminton contact Laura 07752 859839
Sunday 29th Open Show at Lympsham
August
BBQ Ride meet Burrington Combe £5 members £7.50 non TBA
Camp at Stockland Lovell 2 nights/3days if poss. TBA