Just a taste of what we've been up to in the club over the past two years

2011

Vale of Usk AGM

It was a lovely evening with talks from Dengie and Diana McCrea from Help For Heroes. Special mention to Donna Harris who won the Vale of Usk Rider 2011 Award. Congratulations to the two runners up Rhian Baugh and Maria Stephens.The prize was kindly donated by Wards Animal Feeds, of Croespenmaen.

Vale of Usk Showjumping

Our showjumping competition was a great success, the sun shone and everyone had a great time. Thanks to our hosts at Ty Freeman Farm, Usk, and all the volunteers who made it possible. Photos available to order onhttp://ezeparty.co.uk/content/photographs-2/sport/ full results on competition results page, but special mention to 22-year-old Pablo and rider Phillipa Richardson who won the 2ft 3in and the 2ft 6in class. Next year promises to be even bigger and better!

 

Help For Heroes Charity Dressage Competition

What a great day that raised an amazing £1,200 for Help For Heroes. Thank you to everyone who helped out and who took part for an amazing cause - special thanks to Jonathan Lucas, John Croft and Kevin Stankiewicz for all their hard work. Top placings are on the results page.

 

 

Endurance

Congratulations to club members Claire Nowicka-Price and Phillipa Cherryson for completing the 35km novice CR ride at the Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, at Builth Wells, on possibly the hotest day of the year, on September 30th.

Badminton

Vale of Usk members competed at the Inter Riding Club dressage event at Badminton on July 20th. Team members Anna Tucker and Benson, Alison Payne on Arumba and Kate McDonald and Murphy. The team came 5th in their section. Kate got the top mark and went through to the championship class and was 10th. A fun day was had by all

 

Training at Leyland Court

Club members recently enjoyed XC training at Leyland Court, Bristol. The venue has excellent facilities and we are organising a rally day there for members. There will be XC, show jumping and dressage training with three different instructors. Below is a photo of member Emma Cottrell enjoying our last training day there.

Side saddle success

After a succesful Side-Saddle taster evening members have been enjoying getting to grips with this elegant form of riding. Pictured Patsy Ward.

ODE regional qualifier

Only one member was able to attend this years ODE area qualifier, at Sapey. Anna Tucker won the novice qualified for the national finals. A fantastic achievement.

 

Summer Dressage area qualifier 

The novice team dropped a member at the last minute but the three remaining, Nikki Watson, Sarah Everett and Donna Harris all completed with credible scores. Sarah met her ride, Judith Powell's Langarth Eric, for the first time on the day. Donna rode her young up and coming horse in his first event.

While in the open team Alison Payne, Judith Powell and Maria Stephens rode Novice and Liz Lucas took on Elementary. VOU triumphed with a spectacular win. Alison took first place in her section, Maria Stephen was second in her arena and Judith Powell third in hers. Liz won the elementary section. The team are through to the Lincoln Summer Championships in September. There were also individual wins for Judith Powell in the Riding tests class, and Alison in individual Novice Section.  We're all incredibly proud of them.

 

 

Congratulations

To our team who came 6th at the BRC Winter Dressage National Championships, at Hartpury. Judith Powell was 4th, Maria Stephens was 6th, Nikki Watson 12th and Liz Lucas 16th. Well done from everyone in the club

VOU merchandise for sale 

If anyone wants Vale of Usk polo shirts and dressage saddle cloths for sale. Contact Liz for further information.

 

Congratulations!

To VOU secretary Liz Lucas who received the British Dressage Wales Senior Rider for 2010 award. Liz is pictured below receiving the award from Stephen Arnett, chairman of BDW.

 

2010

Blenheim RC Eventers Challenge

We had our first ever team at Blenheim last month for the RC Eventers Challenge. Everyone had a good time, even though we weren't placed. It was a challenging course, of about 150 rounds, only thirteen managed a clear!  Still, we will be working for it again for next year..... (more photos on gallery)

National championships in Lincoln

Congratulations to our Novice Dressage team of Kate McDonald, Liz Lucas, Donna Harris and Judith Powell who went to The National Championships in Lincoln last weekend; In their arenas Judith was 5th with Llangarth Eric, Kate was 9th with Ronnie and Donna was 15th in Prelim 12 and the team was 12th overall. Kate also competed in The Open Dressage, as an individual, with Murphy and was 9th in Novice 24. It was a fun but exhausting 36 hours in Lincoln and our thanks to Ruth Gregory and Jonathan Lucas for all their help and support while we were there.

Showjumping

Our team had team had a mixed day at the regional qualifiers. It was great to see Donna and Zoe Harris, Rhian Bough, Maxine Barnes and Claire Nowicka-Price representing our club. Claire and Oz pictured below.

Cross Country training

What a fantastic day we had at Cilwych, Bwlch. Thanks again to our hosts and instructor and those of you who came along to have a go. There's more photos on the gallery page.

 

Dressage Competition

We had a lovely day, calm, sunny and warm. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and compete and thanks again to our judge and volunteers. 

(left Donna Harris winner of Class Three, right Sheila Macmillan, winner of Class Two)

 

Show Jumping training 

Another succesful day's training and thanks again to Rupert Humphreys. Watch this space for the next date.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our team consisting of Ruth Gregory, Judith Powell, Liz Lucas and Kate McDonald who came 9th at the championships last Saturday; Kate McDonald and Murphy were 7th in the prelim section (pictured below) and Judith Powell was 11th in the novice section.

 

photo courtesy of Chris Lax Events Photography

 

2009

We had a great end to 2009 with a successful dressage competition. more than 70 riders competed and we had to turn many more away.

At our AGM Kate Jones from NAF taught us so much about horse nutrition and club members Liz Lucas and Alison Payne talked about what its like to compete in BD's Welsh dressage team.

In September we had another successful dressage competition.

Club members Liz Lucas and Ruth Gregory won at the Dressage Championship, Sunnybank Farm. Ruth won the overall Prelim section.  Liz Lucas won Novice and Elementary sections.  Ellie Jones (junior) won the overall championship with Liz Lucas and Thinking about Thinking coming 2nd and Ruth Gregory and Kilconnie 3rd.  There was only one point between Liz and Ruth.   

 

Claire Nowika Price won the overall showjumping championship for 2'"6 and was 2nd in the 2'9" also at Sunnybank Equestrian Centre.

During the year members made their first steps into Dressage to Music. Member Ruth's arena was a fantastic setting for some of the training sessions.

 

 

Members also did well in area qualifiers, especially in dressage.

During the summer we had a great visit to Jareta Stud, near Monmouth. More than 50 members came along to see the stud with its beautiful PRE foals, mares and stallions.

 

Dressage training was popular too and members enjoyed `how to ride a dressage test' session among many others. 

 

 Showjumping training has been really popular too.