Reports

Oxford Riding Club AGM: Chairman's report

Tuesday 6^th December 2011 at Ludwell Farm, Glympton

Many thanks to Sally for hosting us once again and especially to Paul Scott from Seeneys for giving us such an interesting talk on feeding and the use of supplements and balancers.

It has been 55 years since Oxford Riding Club was started, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first year as chairman.

It’s been an active year…

We had five Fun Rides around this part of beautiful rural Oxfordshire, most of them included a visit to the pub and we have more planned for 2012.

Show jumping clinics have been continuing throughout the year at Tamsin Miall’s yard with instruction from Simon Nicholson. They have been very well attended and I’d like to thank Pauline for arranging these and sorting out all the times for everyone.

In March we had a “Bitting Evening” with Hilary Vernon. Over 50 came. It was a most informative talk as she’s an expert in bit design and fitting and she certainly had us all questioning what we have in our horse’s mouth.

We put on our three annual shows. The Dressage and Show Jumping Competition in the spring at Fran and Christopher Marriotts was very successful despite the ground being hard. The Dressage Show at Jean Ballard’s in the summer also went well with the riders enjoying the surface. Our Halloween Hunter Trials at the end of October were again popular. Barbara Taylor had got in the ‘big guns’ to do the course — Mike Etherington-Smith and his team as her husband was away. The day was a lot of fun and we made a good profit for the club coffers.

I’d like to say a sincere thank you to the committee and to everyone who has helped in any way with putting on these events.

The club has had a successful year with placings at the Area Qualifier competitions. We moved to Area 5 at the beginning of the year as Area 18 had been reorganised meaning we would have longer distances to travel.

The Novice Area Winter Dressage at Moreton Morrell was the first qualifier of the year. The team was Sue Ruddock, Hilary Stratton, Beverley Gould and Alice Reynolds. Alice won her section and the team was placed 6^th.

At the Indoor Novice Top Score Show Jumping at Solihull (a speed competition with each fence carrying a number of points) Louise King won and qualified for Royal Windsor Horse Show where after a further qualifying round she eventually finished 3^rd.

At the Novice Eventer Challenge run by the Atherstone Riding Club in April the team comprised Rosie Wilson, Anna Reynolds, Louise King and Sue Ruddock. The team finished 2^nd with Rosie coming 2^nd individually and Anna 3^rd.

Summer Novice Dressage saw us sending the same team as the Winter Qualifier. Sue Ruddock won her section and qualified for the championships at Lincoln and the team came 5^th.

The Summer Intermediate Show Jumping at Solihull was thankfully on a rubber surface. The team was Sue Ruddock, Alice and Anna Reynolds and Sarah Corner. We came 2^nd as a team and Sue 2^nd individually.

I’d like to say very well done to all the competitors and thank you for representing the club. I’d also like to encourage more members to come forward to be in the teams or to compete individually. We always have great fun, don’t take ourselves too seriously and go to some really nice places.

I’d love to hear of any ideas you have for activities, clinics, social events, training sessions etc. — please come and talk to me!

Congratulations…

To the Senior Intermediate Show Jumping Team who came 2^nd at the Area Qualifier on 24^th July 2011 at Solihull. The team was Sarah Corner, Sue Ruddock, Alice and Anna Reynolds. Sue was also 2^nd individually. Very well done everyone!

Novice Dressage Qualifier

Our team of Sue Ruddock, Hilary Stratton, Beverley Gould and Alice Reynolds had a very enjoyable and successful day at Princethorpe College, Warwickshire doing their tests in the shadow of an attractive bell tower.

They all performed well with Sue winning her section on a very good score and Alice coming 5^th in hers. Overall the team came 5^th. Well done Sue for qualifying for the BRC Championships at Lincoln in September.

Ditchley Park Ride 14^th May 2011

Very many thanks to Catherine Wills for taking us on a fantastic ride around Ditchley Park. Eleven ORC riders and friends enjoyed a two hour hack around some really beautiful West Oxfordshire countryside taking in an Anglo Saxon Burial mound and Grim’s Dyke. We ended by cantering up a wide ride leading right to Ditchley house and then gathered back at Model Farm where we were kindly treated us to a glass of rosé. A really good lunchtime out and many thanks to all of those who came along.

Hull Farm Dressage & Show Jumping 1^st May 2011

Dry weather, a good turnout and lots of homemade goodies all contributed to making this a very successful show at Hull Farm. Very many thanks to those willing helpers who set up and ran the event, and in particular to Christopher and Fran Marriott for once again hosting us at Hull Farm. Shows like this are not only great fun but play a vital part in raising funds for ORC — after all expenses, this year we made £643. Well done to everyone!

Eventer Challenge 10^th April 2011

This year the Atherston Riding Club in Leicesterhire put on a friendly and well-organised Eventer Challenge. Rosie Wilson, Sue Ruddock, Louise King and Anna Reynolds made up the Novice Team and all jumped clear in the show jumping. The “trappy” cross country course lead to a few penalties but nevertheless we finished second overall.

Very well done to Rosie and Bertie who finished second individually, and Anna and Jamie who came third. Sarah Corner put in clear rounds in the Open class in a very good time but unfortunately was not placed. Well done everyone and thank you for making the long journey. I am told it won’t be so far to travel next year.

Winter Dressage Qualifier 2011

Area 5 welcomed us most warmly as we arrived at Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell for the Novice Area Dressage 2011 Qualifier. Hilary Stratton, Sue Ruddock, Alice Reynolds and Beverley Gould put on their white gloves and asked the horses to perform calm and obedient tests despite the gusty conditions. Alice won the Prelim 18 class and overall the team was placed 6^th. Well done all on a difficult day that we thought we wouldn’t even get to!

Indoor Winter Show Jumping 2011

Unfortunately we were unable to send a team but Louise King travelled to Solihull on 13^th February to represent Oxford in the Top Score competition. In this new class each jump is worth a different number of points with a ‘joker’ fence carrying the highest score. Louise put in two superb rounds on Fred Astaire and won the Novice class. She has qualified for the championships which will take place at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2011. We wish her lots of luck and hope she has an amazing day.

Hunter Trials 31^st October 2010

Our Halloween Hunter Trials drew a wonderful turnout and record entries. Mrs Taylor provided three good courses so there was something for everyone and despite steady rain the ground lasted well. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the brilliant helpers who kindly gave up their time to support us on the day, without their assisstance we just couldn’t have done it. The results are here (PDF).