A VERY SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR
& SEASON
FOR 2010
TO ALL MEMBERS
New Schedule
for 2010 available soon
2009
SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS
In-Hand Champion
Denise Berry & Flash
WHP Champion
Myles Curley & Stoak Ruth
Caroline
Booth Welsh Trophy
Hannah Jones & Gerrig Style
Junior Ridden
Champion
Rebecca Hamiton & Bexton Royal Fusilier
Senior Ridden
Champion
Stephanie Shore & Nellern Megan
VICTOR
LUDORUM
Stephanie Shore & Nellern Megan
Committee 2009
Ribble Valley
Riding Club
has been established since 1947, making it one of the oldest Riding
Clubs in the Country. Initially mainly a Club for local farmers
families, there was no fixed Showground and members used to meet
four or fve times during the summer in whichever field a farmer
had just collected the hay off in an area which covered Preston
and the Ribble Valley. Indeed some old silver trophies still bear
the legend "Preston & Ribble Valley".
There
is no record of the date when the Riding Club became established
at Witton Park, but it is over 30 years ago. The first regular
showground was off Longsight Road in Blackburn. Mr W Nicholson
was a member in those days and he has memories of Ben Harwood
meeting his wife at one of Ribble Valley's early shows, when he
borrowed a saddle from her. It was not unusal for a horse to pull
a milk cart in the morning and go and jump a round of showjumps
in the afternoon. Very few animals were kept purely for pleasure
in the early years just after the end of World War II.
Today's
Show has grown to 70 classes, which include Show Ponies, Show
Hunter Ponies, Working Hunters, In-Hand, Coloured, Cobs, Mountain
& Moorlands, Handy Pony, Young Handlers, Novelty classes and
a range of Dresage Tests from Preliminary to Elementary.
Witton
Country Park is one of the best grounds to be found. Situated
on either side of the River Darwen, the showground has lovely
level, well drained and tended grassland surrounded by woodland
areas of an outstanding natural beauty. The Working Hunter classes
include a grassy bank, lightly wooded and the chance to enter
out Working Hunter Clear Round, early in the day.
Browse through our pages which you will find both
informative and enlightening. Most of your queries should be answered
within these pages. Any further questions may be sent through
our Contacts link or by e:mailing or telephoning a committee member.
We look forward to welcoming many new members
to our Riding Club this season. Our classes are of a high standard
and it seems that both horses and riders get better every year.
That does not mean to say that if you are a new pony owner there
will be nothing for you at Ribble Valley. There are many classes
to suit a wide range of ponies and horses and all newcomers are
welcome. All riders are novices at some point in the lives and
if you have never competed at a show before, do ask a committee
member for advice, which will be willingly given. For younger
children, come and try our Handy Pony classes, one of them on
the Lead-Rein, or the Novelty classes for which you do not even
have to ride, but just lead your pony into the Ring. Or try our
Beginner's Working Hunter class, where the jumps will be very
low indeed and may be ridden on a Lead-Rein for parents or relatives
energetic enough to run round with your jocky and pony.
VICTOR
LUDORUM WINNERS
We
are completing our Roll of Honour of all past Victor Ludorum Winners
Will anyone with knowledge of names of winners from previous years
to those shown,
please let me know.
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