notice board

Eventing whose origins lie in competitions between cavalrymen is the ultimate test of allround equestrian ability. General public interest is generated by the TV coverage given to Badminton and Burghley . As with other discplines many riders have used the club as preparation and training for affiliated events.

Although training concentrates on dressage and SJ X-country clinics take place on an ad Hoc arrangement, usually as a preparation for the horse trials and hunter trials qualifiers. Anybody interested in x-country practises should keep an eye on the website and the newsletters for details.

I will take a liberty and include information on this page about other activities that take place in open country e.g. fun rides that have a high participation within the club membership.

Contents About SDRC Notice Board Training Competitions
Cross Country	Cross Country Eventing whose origins lie in competitions between cavalrymen is the ultimate test of allround equestrian ability. General public interest is generated by the TV coverage given to Badminton and Burghley . As with other discplines many riders have used the club as preparation and training for affiliated events. Although training concentrates on dressage and SJ X-country clinics take place on an ad Hoc arrangement, usually as a preparation for the horse trials and hunter trials qualifiers. Anybody interested in x-country practises should keep an eye on the website and the newsletters for details. I will take a liberty and include information on this page about other activities that take place in open country e.g. fun rides that have a high participation within the club membership. .HILLTOP CROSS COUNTRY- LEDBURY Cross country training , facilities and events All our schedules go on the website www.hilltopxcledbury.co.uk as soon as they are available. The course is endorsed by Lucinda Green, Leslie Law, Matt Ryan (see testimonials on website), built to BE standards and has over 100 jumps inc. two water complexes. See photos of our course on our website - Picture Gallery and Course Walk. We are easy to get to - see map and directions on website. You can also see a video of a Lucinda Green clinic - follow link from website. Festival of the Hunter - Aston Le Walls 29th /30th May 2009 Friday afternoon and the sun was shining we left for Aston Le Walls for the Hunter Trials championships. We arrived rather late after Syliva the Sat Nav decided to take us on a detour, this turned out to be an advantage as Joan already had the beer chilling in her “big black thing”. After setting up camp and chilling in the sun until the others arrived we went to the event venue to walk the course. There was a good turn out from Shrewsbury with an Open team consisting of: Vikki Cliffe riding Farnaby, Nick Furniss riding Tilly Simone Cooper riding Dylan. There was myself as an individual in the novice class Louise Roberts Riding Pat A pair who were: Helen Ratcliff riding Jack Beryl Matthews Riding Boela However we had the bad news on Friday morning that Beryl and Boo would not be able to attend due to Boo having a suspected snake bite which resulted in a swollen sore knee. So I volunteered myself and Pat to stand in. The event had changed format this year. It involved starting with a Show Jumping course then you continue straight onto the XC course. SJ was against the clock faster the better and XC was optimum time. So Saturday we were up early and raring to go the sun was shining and it was hot! unlike the very soggy qualifiers back in October. Vikki was first to go with Farnaby and was tested at the double in the SJ which was almost a £250 you've been framed moment I'm told! Next to go for the Open Team was Simone and Dylan who were going great guns until they made a slight detour missing a fence out. Oops! Where was Sylvia Sat Nav when you need her? The last to go for the open Team was Nick and Tilly. We then had a long wait until myself and Pats round for the Individual Novice. Pat and I went round the SJ course rather loudly after taking song requests the night before but managed to keep all poles up! and proceeded onto the XC course for our favourite part, We finished with 0 penalties and managed to get 6 th place, No time to relax yet as next up was the pairs, A quick cool off for Pat and she was raring to go again. Helen still had the image of the Dreaded corner fence in her mind from walking the course and it was playing on her mind. In the warm up we had planned to try and jump a fence side by side to practise for the dressing fences but it was far too busy so off we went without any practise together. Pat and I went first in the SJ which was a relay format for the pairs followed by Helen who produced a cracking clear round and straight onto the XC course together we flew round over all 3 dressing fences side by side incurring 0 penalties! Now up to the last combination of the course which Helen had been dreading, the corner conundrum. With little time left to do the alternative Helen kicked on and Jack flew it no questions asked Helen was so pleased she was celebrating before even jumping the second part of the combination, through the finish incurring 0 penalties for our XC time too. After washing horses down and putting them back on the lorry we found out we had come 3 rd and had to do mounted presentation so rush back to the lorry to tack up quickly, Pat thought she was going round again! After a long hot successful day we had a BBQ and had a celebratory drink or two! A big well done to all the SDRC competitors and a thank you to all the helpers. I had a fantastic weekend. Louise Roberts
Related Weblinks www.horseandhound.co.uk www.britisheventing.co.uk www.eventriders.com www.funrides.co.uk www.jumpcross.com www.flintanddenbighfunrides.com X-Country Training Venues Hadley Farm 01948780300 Mitchells Equestrian (Fruit Farm) Smallwood 01477500605 Llanymynech Somerford Park Kelsall Hill Hadley Farm Hadley Farm have improved their facilities by building a 60 by 30 sand/plastic arena with showjumps. The rates are X-country £10 per horse (unlimited time) £15 X-Country and Show Jumps(1 hour). Show jumps- £10 per hour Group show jumping (1 hour)- 1st horse £10 plus £5 for each extra horse Phone number 01948 780300 Prices are my understanding please check on booking Berriewood X Country course now open for training Get a feel of an event by checking out pictures from the one day event at Kelsall
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Festival of the Hunter - Aston Le Walls

29th /30th May 2009

Friday afternoon and the sun was shining we left for Aston Le Walls for the Hunter Trials championships. We arrived rather late after Syliva the Sat Nav decided to take us on a detour, this turned out to be an advantage as Joan already had the beer chilling in her “big black thing”. After setting up camp and chilling in the sun until the others arrived we went to the event venue to walk the course. There was a good turn out from Shrewsbury with an Open team consisting of:

Vikki Cliffe riding Farnaby,
Nick Furniss riding Tilly
Simone Cooper riding Dylan.

There was myself as an individual in the novice class

Louise Roberts Riding Pat

A pair who were:

Helen Ratcliff riding Jack
Beryl Matthews Riding Boela

However we had the bad news on Friday morning that Beryl and Boo would not be able to attend due to Boo having a suspected snake bite which resulted in a swollen sore knee. So I volunteered myself and Pat to stand in.

The event had changed format this year. It involved starting with a Show Jumping course then you continue straight onto the XC course. SJ was against the clock faster the better and XC was optimum time.

So Saturday we were up early and raring to go the sun was shining and it was hot! unlike the very soggy qualifiers back in October. Vikki was first to go with Farnaby and was tested at the double in the SJ which was almost a £250 you've been framed moment I'm told! Next to go for the Open Team was Simone and Dylan who were going great guns until they made a slight detour missing a fence out. Oops! Where was Sylvia Sat Nav when you need her? The last to go for the open Team was Nick and Tilly. We then had a long wait until myself and Pats round for the Individual Novice.

Pat and I went round the SJ course rather loudly after taking song requests the night before but managed to keep all poles up! and proceeded onto the XC course for our favourite part, We finished with 0 penalties and managed to get 6 th place, No time to relax yet as next up was the pairs, A quick cool off for Pat and she was raring to go again. Helen still had the image of the Dreaded corner fence in her mind from walking the course and it was playing on her mind. In the warm up we had planned to try and jump a fence side by side to practise for the dressing fences but it was far too busy so off we went without any practise together. Pat and I went first in the SJ which was a relay format for the pairs followed by Helen who produced a cracking clear round and straight onto the XC course together we flew round over all 3 dressing fences side by side incurring 0 penalties! Now up to the last combination of the course which Helen had been dreading, the corner conundrum. With little time left to do the alternative Helen kicked on and Jack flew it no questions asked Helen was so pleased she was celebrating before even jumping the second part of the combination, through the finish incurring 0 penalties for our XC time too. After washing horses down and putting them back on the lorry we found out we had come 3 rd and had to do mounted presentation so rush back to the lorry to tack up quickly, Pat thought she was going round again!

After a long hot successful day we had a BBQ and had a celebratory drink or two! A big well done to all the SDRC competitors and a thank you to all the helpers. I had a fantastic weekend.

Louise Roberts