NORTH DERRY BRANCH OF THE PONY CLUB
March 2016 Newsletter
Special Treat - Easter XC fun with Fiona McRobert
(Horse Sport Ireland Coach) at Cross Equestrian!!!
Easter Tuesday 29th March 16
Lessons will cater for all members (all ages and abilities). It will be small groups so plenty of attention for each member. This is good preparation for the Area 17 Eventing / Home Championships and a wonderful opportunity for the little ones to try new experiences and expose them to different disciplines in pony club!
A fun day for everyone to enjoy!
For full information check out our North Derry Web page /Facebook page.
To confirm attendance please contact Wendy on 07754836799 by Friday 11th March.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
From the beginning of February 2016, North Derry Pony Club, will have 2 new committee members – Samantha O’Neill (Treasurer) and Roisin Cartmill (Child Protection Officer). I would like to thankSamantha & Roisin and welcome them to the Committee.
William Blane FBHS – visited North Derry on the
20th February 2016 at Eglinton Equestrian Centre!!!
This was a wonderful opportunity for North Derry PC members to get a lesson from the Pony Club Chairman of Training who was visiting N. Ireland.
We had a brilliant turnout with other PC clubs joining in from The Route Hunt Branch of PC, East Donegal Branch of PC and Derry City PC Centre.
Thank you to everyone who helped on the day!! It was a great success and we are hoping to have another opportunity later in the year to have William back – We will keep you posted!
The Pony Club Grassroots Championships 2016
Overview
The Pony Club Grassroots Championships is a new entry level Team Competition in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing* reserved for the more novice Branch and Centre Members.
Each Area will hold a competition to decide which teams qualify for the Regional Championships.
Eligibility Rules
Open to any age of Member with any size of horse or pony.
Rider must not have previously represented their Branch or Centre at Novice level or above in Dressage, Show Jumping or Eventing Area Competitions.
Riders must be fully paid up Members of The Pony Club, but with no restriction on time of joining. The 14 month exclusion as part of the Transfer Rule does not apply to the Grassroots Competition.
Saddlery and Dress Rules are as per the current Discipline Rule Books.
A date has not been confirmed as yet for The Pony Club Grassroots Championship 2016. Further details will follow in due course.
HEALTH & SAFETY.
It was highlighted at a recent Pony Club meeting that there are too many travelling without passports and Branches should address this with their members. Passports were requested at the Denige Show Jumping Qualifier and not only did some not carry them, the vaccinations were not up to date. This is very important especially travelling and stabling away from home. It has been requested that members are reminded of this.
Note: Janet Currie is authorised to issue Passports should a member need that service. Contact Wendy if you would like to discuss further.
Infectious diseases – Information below, explaining the importance of vaccinations
Dates for your Diary:
MAY 13GAMES AT BALMORAL
MAY 28AREA GAMESBALMORAL PARK.KILLULTAGH
JUNE 24RDS COMBINED TRAINING QUALIFIER MOYALLON.
JULY 8AREA DRESSAGETULLYMURRYEAST DOWN
JULY 10ZONE GAMES. SCOTLAND
JULY 15 & 16AREA TETRATHLON.CRAIGANTLETNORTH DOWN
JULY 25AREA EVENTINGLOUGHANMOREEAST ANTRIM
JULY 29HOME CHAMPIONSHIPSTBCIVEAGH
JULY 31AREA SHOW JUMPINGTHE MEADOWS TULLYLAGAN & NORTH DERRY
Endurance will be combined with ILDRA and Championship will be at Bishop Burton
CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 – 23 AUGUST.
TET CHAMPIONSHIPS TBC
NEW REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP*GRASSROOTS 27 & 28TH AUGUST. IAN STARKS.SCOTLAND
DRESSAGE & SHOWJUMPING 2016
Parent’s Meeting
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY 1st JUNE 16 AT WHITE HORSE HOTEL - 7.30PM.
A reminder will go out nearer the time.
Pony Camp – Friday 1st July – Sunday 3rd July at
Eglinton Equestrian Centre
We had a fabulous Camp last year and we will be joining our friends from East Donegal this year again!! All will be discussed at Parent’s night on the 1st June.
Reminder of changes to riding hat standards:
The Pony Club will not be allowing hats which are only marked with the standard (BS)EN 1384 after 31 December 2015
The prefix ‘BS’ at the start of the EN 1384 standard does not mean the hat has undergone batch testing by the British Standards Institute and hats marked with (BS)EN 1384 and PAS 015 standards must also contain the BSI Kitemark. This is as stated in The Pony Club Yearbook.
How do we tag these hats?
In order to make the transition as smooth as possible, and to allow hats only marked with the standard (BS)EN 1384 to be clearly identifiable, the hat tagging procedure for 2015 will now be as follows:
- Any hats which are certified and only marked with the standard (BS)EN 1384 should continue to be tagged with a purple tag. Most of these hats will already have a purple tag on from previous hat tagging but in the event of one of these hats requiring a new tag only a purple tag should be used.
- Any hats which are certified and are also marked with one of the other standards permissible by the Pony Club (PAS 015, Snell E2001 and AS/NZS 3838) should be tagged with one of the new white hat tags before the 31st of December 2015. The full list of standards is as stated in The Pony Club Yearbook.
- In 2015 hats bearing either white and purple tags will be permitted in Pony Club activities. After the 31 December 2015 no hat bearing a purple tag will be permitted to be worn in Pony Club activities
Further details can be obtained from the Pony club web site:
Hat_Rule_2015_for_Website.pdf
HATS - Hat tagging is necessary for all riders’ hats and can be carried out at most rallies.
BACK PROTECTORS:
It would also be advisable to have a look at the following web link for information and guidance on the right back protector for your child.
Protector%20Guide
If you have any concerns or queries about the required standards of hats or back protectors please feel free to contact Nicola/ Wendy or any committee member for advice.
Information on all aspects of the North Derry Branch can be found at
Please feel free to contact Nicola or Wendy with any queries.
We would like to wish all our members at North Derry PC
and their families a lovely Easter!!