Ayr Riding Club - Members Achievements - Archive 2005-2006
Culzean BE - Ayr RC members - September 2006
Ayr Riding Club were well represented at this local event, no less than 18 members took part on Sunday. Many of you there on Sunday would have been thrilled to see Franki McInnes and Amber Clover back on the circuit. Franki has made a fantastic ongoing recovery from her accident 18 months ago and it has been through pure determination and guts that she has fought her way back. Congratulations to you and your team of helpers, I look forward to having you in the ‘Teams’ next year again Franki.
Rachel Rodman had a good day with a 4th on The Likely Lad and a 5th on Jaffa. in the OPN. The Evans family (Neah and Ros) were going well on the day. Caroline Cameron and General Montgomery 11 had a good 16th placing in section A. The Intro B section had a large chunk of Ayr Riding Club in it. Well done to Francis Pearson on Erica with a fine second. Close on her heels Elizabeth Muirhead on her lovely Time to Rise. Jennifer Smail and Storytime were going really well over jump 12 ( I was Jump judging there) and Jennifer looked happy and relaxed. Emma McGlinchey had her second outing on her new horse and was delighted with her and Talkatives performance. I was so pleased to see Margot Hendrie on Diamond Red out on the XC course. This fantastic little horse was loving every minute and I am sure Margot was by the end. It was nice to see Holly Rivett and Spruce Goose out again after their success at Off-Church bury, where they won the Racehorse Class, this little horse has a wonderful future and such a talented jockey. Fiona Alexander was taking Misty Daze round in between helping her mum and dad keep the show on the road.
The Pre-novice section saw Trish Hunter placed 6th on Stravaigin. Mandy McConechy had her young horse Imposing and Kirstin Fyfe and Kinobi were stretching there legs and enjoying the outing in the PN section. Mandy was placed 4th on G.West Goldrush and Kara Craig 10th on Sir Andromedor in the OPN.
After a wet start the day turned out really fine and I thoroughly enjoyed jump judging and watching you all enjoying yourselves.
Cathy Rawson
Off-Church Bury
British Riding Club National Championship Horse Trials
August 4th 5th and 6th
Two lorries set off early on Thursday 3rd August, Fiona Rawson, Holly Rivett and Kimberely Valance in one with Harvey and Sonny. Alison Morrisey, Mrs Montgomerie with Billy and Hank in the other. Cathy Rawson and Ben in the car in pursuit. The drive down was uneventful but we were not on site more than half an hour when Ben the Vizsla pup was attacked by two black Labradors and three Jack Russell dogs. First port of call the local vets. As Cathy was dealing with Ben the girls were getting the horses settled and were planning the programme of events.
Dinner was fun as we had to uncover the ingredients used in Mrs. M’s chicken dish.
After dinner everyone walked the Roads and tracks and Cross Country for the first time, an exercise that was repeated several times more for good measure. Mrs. M. had the girls not only knowing the jump but the materials in the construction.
Friday saw all the team doing really good Dressage tests ranging from a 30 from Hank to a 39 from Billy. Harvey and Sonny putting in a good show in both there rings. Friday night was party night and people were beginning to let their hair down, the weather was warm and dry, some had the BBQ’s on and the music could be heard all over the site. The mood was upbeat.
The ground was very hard and Hank found this difficult and was unfortunately eliminated in the Showjumping. Both Billy and Harvey had three down with only Holly and Sonny going clear. Saturday night saw a change in Billy and he had developed a cough after eating his straw bed. We were all very concerned about him and thought he wouldn’t be able to run on the Sunday. The weather was so hot and humid. Billy was examined by the Vet on Sunday and after treatment was passed fit to run. Fiona Boyne arrived to help in the 10 minute box. We were all placed strategically on the course, Kimberely at the start of A, Kate at the start of C and Cathy Fiona and Mrs. M. in the 10 minute Box. Fiona Rawson was first away on Harvey, when he arrived in the 10minute box he was so laid back we weren’t sure it was the right horse we thought he would get fired up. He looked great as he left on the Cross Country going clear and coming back within the time. Alison was next on Billy who was nursed round nice and steady, he went clear but had time penalties. Holly and Sonny had never done Roads and Tracks so we were all wishing them on, Sonny took the steeple chase like the true racehorse he is. He is so laid back he is horizontal, he started the Cross Country like a pro but his inexperience had him having two looks at a ditch. Nevertheless, he was well ahead of his nearest rival in the Racehorse Class and he won easily.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the trip south representing the club and on the way home that MacDonalds was delicious. Cathy Rawson
Elana & Oakey - September 2006
Elana Chilton and Oakey finished off a great season by successfully completing the CCI* at Blair Castle Horse Trials. Oakey has had several placings this season at Novice Level - 3rd at Floors, 3rd Auchinleck; 7th at Burgie, 1st Strathallan and 9th out of 50 in his first Intermediate class at Houston.
Well done Oakey!!
He had to step up to number one horse this season when his stable mate Willow was sidelined with a minor injury and Oakey has certainly risen to the challange.
Not wanting to relinquish top spot, Oakey is now carefully keeping an eye on Willow who is getting fit now for the 2007 season.
The picture is of Oakey competing in the Open-Intermediate class at Houston this year.
Vicki - July 2006
Vicky Dalrymple started the summer off well with a significant achievement for herself and Chicago Bay winning the Champion Working Hunter at Ayr show in May.
Vicky was aiming for the Strathallan 3 Day Event at the end of July and having expended a huge amount of energy and cash preparing for Scotland's first and only PN 3DE was VERY disappointed to find that it's been cancelled for lack of interest! Vicky's reaction in true Victor Meldrew style was "I don't believe it!"
Report from Burgie RC 3 Day Event - June 2006
Several Ayr RC members recently went to the RC 3 Day Event at Burgie, Kerrie has written a report to sum up how the week went! 
"Friday was dressage day... Bonnie wouldn’t walk past an old tyre jump at the side of the arena (cross country horse!!)..."
Click here to read the full report
Gillian Rosebury and Burnock Exclusively Done
Gillian Rosebury and her 5 year old dun stallion, Burnock Exclusively Done have started off the 2006 event season very well indeed. Gill and Duncan went down to Stafford on 1st April to compete at Intro level. They came home with a very respectible 3rd place having gone double clear, ending on their dressage score. At Kirriemuir on 15th April, Gill and Duncan competed again at Intro level and, with another double clear went one better than Stafford and were placed second.
Gill hopes to continue Duncan's eventing career this season moving up to Pre-Novice once he gains more confidence at Intro level. Duncan will also be covering mares this spring/summer. He has recently become a daddy again, producing a lovely bouncing baby dun foal for the second time in his young stud career.
Well done to Gill and Duncan and we wish you great success in the season ahead!
March / April 2006
Congratulations to Fiona Rawson and her young horse Iolaire for coming 7th in an Intro class at Kirriemuir. Also to Alison Newton and Piroc for 8th place and Fiona Alexander and Blossom Hill for their 10th placing in a Pre Novice class. Elana Chilton's horse Absolute Pride was second in a Pre Novice class, being ridden by Lousia Milne Home while Elana is recovering from a shoulder injury. Well done to Angus Macara and Still Speedy for completing their first ODE at Kirriemuir.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Muirhead and her horse Time to Rise who placed third in the Scottish Farmer Prelim Final on Sunday 19th March. That is a super result for all the hard work that they put in.
Best Wishes to Vicky Dalrymple who has been hindered by a broken leg over the last few weeks…not due to a riding accident! Vicky was due to be free of her stooky this week and we hope that she will be back in the saddle and competing again soon.
Congratulations to Lorraine Young who recently gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. We hope to see you out and about with the horses again soon.
Well done to the five Ayr Riding Club members took part in a First Aid day held at Muirmill by the St Andrews Ambulance Association. The members that gained their Equine Specific First Aid Training were Lorraine Young, Lillias McKirdy, Fiona Rawson, Mugs Montgomerie and Linda McFadzean. Well done to them for taking the time to do the course.
Vicky and Chicago Bay
BSJA Success
Long time Ayr Riding Club member Vicky Dalrymple, and her horse Chicago Bay had great success at their second BSJA Show at the beginning of January. The duo won the British Novice class and was second in the Discovery class.
Vicky was particularly pleased as show jumping is her and "Charlie's" least established phase in Horse Trials. Vicky and Charlie have been training reguarly with Isobel McGeogh and Vicky feels that this training has been invaluable experience.
GOOD LUCK VICKY at your next BSJA outing!
October 2005
Rachael Rodman @ HOYS
Horse of the Year Show 2005 was held at the NEC, Birmingham.
Rachael qualified for 2 working hunter classes at HOYS this year on her horse Silk Cut at the BSPS Winter Championships and Cheshire County.
Rachael she finished 9th in the 153cm class having had 2 fences down in the jumping section.
Rachael then went on to compete in the Intermediate Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship unfortunately she had a fence down again, but finished 7th in the Intermediate winning £75.
Not members but from the local Pony Club, Eglinton had a games team qualified in the national championships - they won! - see full details on Eglinton PC's site
Kevin @ Gleneagles Hunter Trials
Kevin [Watson] has only been riding for 18 months and has been persevering and taking Hector out and about as regularly as possible. He loves his show jumping is getting quite keen on cross country (now that he has stopped launching himself out of the saddle and falling off Frankie Datorie style sorry Frankie if that is the wrong spelling. Kevin seems to have mastered/discovered the sport of Jump Cross and has been going for training sessions when they come up. He has also realised that what he thought was a gallop on Hector was actually just a slightly faster Canter because with much cajolling from me (his loving wife, he will call it nagging) during the time I was grooming with one arm cause the other one was broken he finally kicked on and has discovered the GALLOP!!!!
However, now I come to the point. Kevin had Hector out at Jump Cross, Drumclog on September the 11th and out of about 35 competitors he came 4th in the 2'6 - 2'9 class. He was of course absolutley delighted with this but more recently at Gleneagles on Sunday the 9th of October he went along for the Hunter Trials and got 3rd equal in the novice Hunter Trials having gone clear with a time of 4.18 the optimum time being 4.23. There were 57 in his class. Kevin is quite modest but I am really proud of him for these achievements and I really think they are worthy of a mention.
September 2005
Vicky and Chicago Bay @ Aske Hall Horse Trials
Vicky and Chicago Bay completed the Pre Novice class at Aske Horse Trials in Yorkshire last week (24-25 Sept). Along with other ARC members (whose results were more impressive) your pensioner representative managed a clear XC, two fences down in the SJ section, and a fair dressage mark with rather interesting collective marks - 9 for horse; 6 for rider!!! Vicky and Chicago Bay narrowly missed out on a place through being too careful on the XC phase and incurring time penalties. Better to be steady and accurate and get s few time penalties than get expensive XC jump faults.
Vicky thoroughly recommends this event especially because the cross country stewards kindly lopped branches off the tree overhanging fence two when Vicky pointed out that on a 17.1 horse she would probably end up suspended or indeed decapitated!!!
Well done Vicky for ending the season on a good note.
Stephen MacGregor
Stephen MacGregor competed at the Kirkintilloch and Campsie Cross Country on 4th September 2005 at Crofthead, Bishopbriggs. This was Stephen and Ben's first XC event together. They came 4th in the Riding Club Novice class.
Stephen is fairly new to this riding lark and only really started competing last year, coming to Combined Training competitions during the winter.
Well done Stephen and Ben!!
We hope to see more of you around this winter.
Gleneagles Success
Several Ayr RC members travelled to Gleneagles on September 4th to compete at the annual British Eventing One Day Event. Some were established 'eventers' taking part in the Pre Novice and Novice classes.
Mandy McConechy, Elana Chilton, Alison Newton and Elizabeth Muirhead were all placed in Pre Novice sections, while Fiona Rawson and Usqueba were second in the Open Novice section. Alison Bouge, Pat Sommerville and Vicky Dalrymple also completed in Pre Novice.
Jill Offer and her young mare, Blind Date, were 10th in one Intro section, while Kerry Chalmers took 4th place on Bulmer Bay in another Intro section. Emma McGlinchey and Lough Neenagh had an all time best dressage score while competing HC in Intro. Others completing their first BE affiliated event were Caroline Quarm on Fiddlers Fancy and Caroline Cameron on General Montgomerie. Very well done girls!
Its brilliant to see so many Riding Club members doing well in their chosen discipline especially those that are new to the sport.
August 2005
Mandy Qualifies for PAVO Breeding Championships
My baby horse (High Cavalier) qualified for the PAVO breeding championships at Tweseldown in October. He won the only PAVO 5yr old qualifier in Scotland by 10.5 penalty marks finishing on his dressage score of 30. We are planning to go down to the championships and give it a go as he is a fabulous horse that already has his own personal fan club! He was also 5th at Houston and has gone clear at every event (of course jockey has made a few errors here and there so it aint recorded as that!) xc. He was bought from Billy Stewart in Lesmahagow and is by High Roller (Grand sire is Cavalier Royale who had offspring at badminton and Rolex this year). Oh and of course he is sponsored by Neddys breeches too.
Another horse, G-West Goldrush was 2nd on his 1st ever outing, the PN at Houston!
Sponsorship: ARC member and event rider Mandy McConechy has recently received sponsorship from an American company, Neddys. Mandy is currently competing four horses from Pre Novice to Intermediate level at local events and others throughout Scotland and England. The sponsorship is a minimum six month deal providing the essential riding wear Mandy requires to compete regularly. As we all know breeches and other riding gear is rather expensive therefore Mandy can concentrate on using funds for ever increasing training and entry costs. More details on Mandy's equine and event career can be seen on the Neddys website.
Neddys sell quality breeches at an affordable price. They sell a variety of breeches available in side or front opening and clarion knee patches or full seat. They are also available in mens and womens styles. Prices range from $59.99. For more details and to purchase go to their website.
The picture on the homepage shows Mandy riding Creag Tara at Auchinleck this year in the Novice section while wearing her Neddys breeches. Anyone ordering from Neddys should let them know that they heard about the breeches from Mandy.
Elana @ Thirlstane Castle
Thanks to Kirstine for starting us off with a report on Elana:
Elana Chilton and Absolute Honour finished off a successful season by securing 4th place in the strongly contested Novice Championship at Thirlestane Castle Horse Trials. A solid dressage test and clear round cross country, over what can be described as an up-to height, bold, attacking course, saw them lying in a good position for the Show-Jumping phase which took place in reverse order.
Willow jumped a super clear to move up 3 places to 4th position. Absolute Honour has been placed in almost every outing this year finishing 8th at Scone, 7th Hexham, 3rd at Eglinton, 3rd at Hopetoun and has recently upgraded to Intermediate at Auchinleck where he finishing 4th.
Elana’s young horse Absolute Pride has also been in the placings, taking 2nd in a Pre-Novice at Auchinleck and winning a Pre-Novice section at Hendersyde.