Competition Rules - Ribble Valley Riding Club

NEWSLETTER

URGENT WARNING ********

Horses thieves are about in East Lancashire and have been visiting yards and showground to view horses to steal to order (it is thought). Please be aware and DO NOT LEAVE your horse unattended on a showground. Horses stolen have been mainly coloured cobs (on their way to Appleby perhaps?) but last weekend 2 hunters have also been stolen. The thieves are men of eastern European origin and have three vehicles. A white van/horsebox registration N253 XAJ, a Toyota car registration B253 RBB and a red Nissan four wheel drive for which I do not have a registration number. The police are aware of the situation but the number plates are likely to be false. Please telephone police immediately if you see characters in these vehicles anywhere.

Will Charlotte Coop, (also known as Charlotte Moore), late of Billington, Blackburn, please return the three trophies in her possession and belonging to Ribble Valley Riding Club. Two trophies are from Presentation 2006 and one is from the Trophy Show 2006. All are for dressage.

All members undertake to return their trophies (which are only on loan for one year) in plenty of time for the winner of the trophy for the following year. This has not happened with these three trophies, so there are three very disappointed members still not able to have their well deserved trophies.

PRICE INCREASE
Please note that clear round jumping will require a voucher (£3 per round) which can be obtained from the secretary's office. i.e. the caravan. No cash will be taken at the ringside.

A.G.M.
Held 13th January, at the Fernhurst Hotel, Ewood, Blackburn.
Chairman: Margery Comer (& Treasurer)
Hon. Secretary: Maggie Lyness
Vice chairman: Alex Townsend
Trophy Secretary: Anne Gresty
Rosettes and Sponsors: Alison Curley

There will be no Junior Jesters Committee this year. However, gymkhana classes will still be held in the ring next to the Handy Pony ring. These will be organised and judged by a new recruit, Norman, with the assistance of Alison. The Handy Pony Ring will commence at 12.30 pm.

The WHP Clear Round will commence at 9.00 am with the first 3/4 hour for jumps at 1 foot high. The second 3/4 hour will be for competitors wishing to jump 2 feet in height. Please note as above, that cash will no longer be accepted at the Ringside. Instead, competitors will collect vouchers from the Secretary (caravan) for each round. The price remains the same at a very reasonable £2 per entry. You may have as many vouchers as you wish.

Cancelled 1st July Show

At a Committee Meeting on 3rd July, it was agreed that the cancelled July Show would not be re-scheduled and the next show would be the August show on 5th, which would now become the Special Diamond Jubilee Show. There will be trophies to the first prize winners of all classes with extra special rosettes to fourth place and for Lead Rein classes and in the Junior Jester Ring, there will be teddy bears given out to all competitors.

Maggie Lyness, will take over as our new Cup Secretary. Will all winners of trophies from the September Show of 2006, please return their trophies to our August Show on 5th or telephone Maggie 07944 574092 to arrange.

Meeting 22nd May, 2007

More jumps have been ordered for the Working Hunter Ring, which will bring us back up to the number required.

We have had a written letter from the Parks Department regarding the parking of trailers and lorries ont he football pitches. Photographs of those vehicles concerned accompanied the letter. The Committee were not aware of this and steps will be taken to ensure that this does not happen again. The Parks Department will errect a sign. It will still be difficult for visitors to know that football pitches are there as there is now no fencing or goal posts. Trailers are allowed across the river to park. Lorries are not. It is hoped that the post on the bridge will be moved a foot to allow better access.

RVRC Club pens will be on sale at 50p each towards Club Funds. The Junior Jesters will sell some if they have time. They will also be on sale at the caravan.

Two judges have had to cancel and replacements will be arranged.

Meeting 25th April, 2007

The Working Hunter ring was far too small at the last show. Arrangements have been made for it to be much enlarged and improved by May 6th. Two new fences will be added and it is possible that the banking will be utilised. The area of the ring will be much bigger, giving far more space.

Our resident photographer has agreed to sponsor some prizes at Presentation Evening. These will be in the form of vouchers which will allow the winners to have an enlargement and frame of any photograph of their choice.

Alicia Leaver, from, "Rugs by Design" will also be sponsoring our show by giving 5 beautiful rugs, size of the winners' choice at the Presentation Evening. Thanks are due to Alison for working so hard in gaining sponsors for Ribble Valley.

Our Junior Jesters will be wearing pale blue polo shirts on the showground soon. They will be running the Junior Jester's Ring and also walking around the showground selling raffle tickets for Club funds.

The committee will meet at 6 pm on Saturday, 5th May to put out the next show. Please try to come along and help. It should take approx 1 - 2 hours depending on numbers.

First Show - 15th April

Wow! What a wonderful day with the weather. Never has Ribble Valley's first show of the season been so warm and the ground so good.

There was a superb turn-out of horses and ponies, in spite of some conpetition with other clubs and qualifiers. Well done to all successful competitors and a special thank you to all who entered our classes with such well behaved animals and helped to make the show such a success. To those people who have never been to Ribble Valley before, a belated "Welcome!". We hope you enjoyed your day and look forward to seeing you at our shows for the rest of the season.

We had some problems with the Novelty classes starting so late. We apologise unreservedly for this. It will not happen again. At all future shows, the Handy Pony classes will run between 1 pm and 2.30 pm ONLY. The Novelties will follow on at 2.30 pm precisely. These will be followed by the rest of the classes organised and run by the Junior Jesters.

The raffle raised £57 which was excellent work from the Junior Committee. I think they are planning to purchase some more gymkhana equipment for your enjoyment and so should be able to have more varied games by the next show in May. Please do come and support them. Several seniors have promised to join in next time. All very good fun!

Meeting 26th January

We have received an announcement this morning that Osbaldeston will no longer be holding the Derby House Dressage Championships. It is with regret that we hear this, but as Janet Bargh explains, "times move on and things change".

Our new Junior Committee met for the first time and made an excellent start by making a decision to run their own ring. They will also be organising other activities. Click on the link on the Home Page to find out who these members are and what they are planning.

There was a great deal of discussion regarding classes clashing, particularly lead-rein and classes for small riders. Several attempts were made to remedy this but each time the result led to more problems. We shall however, endeavour to try to persuade all judges to wait for missing competitors, providing a message has been given to the steward of the relevant ring in time.

As this is our Diamond Jubilee Year, July will be dedicated as a Special Show to celebrate this. Look our for special sashes and rosettes. We also hope to present replica trophies to all winners at the Trophy Show which will now be held on 16th September.

A.G.M. 2007

A good attendance at the AGM resulted in a very interested group of members volunteering to become committee members for 2007. A full list of these will be published shortly.

After 15 years as President, Margery had decided that it was time to stand down from that position and therefore David Horsfield accepted this honour with quiet pleasure. We also said a sad farewell to chairman, Tony Seal, who was standing down due to business commitments. Tony, however, will be coming along on as many pre-show Saturdays as possible to help put out the equipment. He will also help on showdays whenever possible, after the first show day on 15th April. Margery will now take over as chairman; there is no vice-chairman; Anne Gresty will carry on an excellent post as Secretary. In the absence of a Treasurer, Margery will carry on for another year in a dual role. Alison Curley will act as Social Secretary and is persuading many local businesses to become Sponsors for this year. Please check out the "Sponsors" button on the Home Page.

A Junior Committee will be reformed from several young members expressing an interest in helping Ribble Valley in this capacity. We now have, for 2007, a re-vitalised senior and junior committee all hoping that our Diamond Jubilee Year will be a special one. It was agreed that Ribble Valley is the absolute best of all the riding clubs and this tradition will be continued under this enthusiastic selection of members.

Apart from the addition of a Beginners Dressage class, the Schedule will remain similar to 2006, except that afternoon classes will restart at 1 pm.

Affiliated BSPS and Ponies UK classes will be incorporated into the April and May shows and a special page in the Schedule 2007 will highlight these and any rules relating to qualifying classes.

A member from the floor enquired about the possibility of photos in a Photo Gallery for 2007. With a small committee over the previous few years it has been very difficult to find time to take any pictures on a show day. However, as many members and guests will have taken their own photographs, we would be delighted to publish these if they can be e-mailed to Margery at any time. So please bear this in mind for this season. Let us have your photos. Also we are hoping for a more regular attendance by a professional photographer.

Very sadly, there will be no Classics Championships this year. After some wonderful years with this competition, the Bargh family of Osbaldeston have announced that they will not be producing this show again, although there may be a show jumping competition on one day. This is a great pity as the atmosphere at this championship show was always excellent, but the amount of work put in by the Bargh family has been proving to be just too much to carry it on. Our Secretary has affiliated Ribble Valley to a Championship at Croft Top for 2007. More information will be published in the Schedule 2007.

Will any member having any contact with possible advertisers in the new Schedule, please contact Margery as soon as possible?

The meeting closed at 9.10 pm and was followed by a complimentary supper for all.

Meeting , 10th January, 2007

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Monday, 15th January at the Fernhurst Hotel, Ewood.

It was decided that for this season, entry fees for members will remain the same, although there will be a slight increase for non-members. The cost of joining is reduced for 2007, to £20 - £13 if paid before 25th March. Family membership will be £60 - £40 if paid before 25th March. It definitely pays to send in your Appication Form early this year. Forms may be printed off from "Memberships",

Members will also benefit by 25p per class from posting entries to arrive before the Thursday previous to a show day. This does not apply to dressage classes.

The new Dressage classes will, it is hoped, encourage more children to start dressage classes. It is a good discipline for improving your pony and also your riding. The tests are very simple. The first test has no cantering in it at all.

Alison Curley, who is taking over as Social Secretary, has been very busy getting sponsors for many of the classes at each show this season. A page will be opened on this site to show all sponsors.

The borough council is increasing the Park Fees yet again this year and also introducing a £500 bond which will have to be paid at the beginning of the season and will be forfeited if the ground becomes churned up requiring rolling and also if litter is left on the Showground. The litter problem reared it's head last year for the first time. Your committee spend some time collecting as much as possible after each show, but if visitors would only take all their litter home with them, as all responsible citizens would do anyway, then we will create a much better impression that we did in 2006. We will be watching for litter louts this year.

There will be a new Tack Stall on the Showground this season. The Stables, from Great Harwood will be setting up a stall at each show.

There will not be an Annual Show in 2007 but there will be qualifying classes for both Ponies UK and for BSPS at the April and May shows. Make sure you read the Special Dates page in your Schedule to clarify the classes and rules.

The dates for 2007 will follow a slightly different pattern in that the first show will take place on Sunday, 15th April and the Trophy show will be on 26th August. Hopefully this change will give a little longer for the ground to dry out from this very wet winter and the change from September to the last Sunday in August will avoid clashing with BHS NW Counties Championships and also with the NCPA Championships.

PRESENTATION EVENING 2006

Another successful Presentation Evening was held on Saturday, 28th October. The format this year, was slightly different in that we had an entertainment troup to help the evening go with a swing. Mr W Nicholson presented the trophies and told thse present that Ribble Valley is still the best Club Show there is. The replicas trophies were silver photo frames, which were very popular with members. Farewell gifts were presented to Carol Hanley, Ann Smith and Lynn Scott who had retired at the end of 2005.

Retiring this year will be our chairman, Tony Seal and Jayne Granby. The vice chairman, David Horsfield gave thanks for their dedicated service over the past four years.

Gary Tench and his energetic team of dancers took us through the rest of the evening until 1 am with pleny of fun and dancing all the way. All our female guests wore their best dresses - a very few of the young men could take note, please, and make sure that they also wear smart gear for next year. - ie. shirt and tie. Our Presentation Evenings are semi-formal, not casual.

Raffle prizes were superb and ranged from a CD player (for horsebox) and a rechargeable vacuum cleaner, to a wheel clamp and large plastic skips full of carrots. There were at least a dozen prizes all told. The tombola stall had lots of good prizes on offer and all prizes were claimed by 11 pm. Dave Bonny from Dbi Imaging was taking photographs from guests entering until they departed. He was very much in demand for private photographs of small groups and individuals. Photos could be purchased on the night. If you didn't manage to buy yours, or if you would like to buy another one of any part of the festivities, you should be able to find them on his web page very soon. (There is a link from our "Links" page to help you find him).

See Photo Gallery 2006

CLASSICS

Good Luck to all Ribble Valley Members riding int he Classic Championships at Osbaldeston, on Saturday and Sunday, 16th & 17th September. We have an excellent team and hope for good weather so that you can all enjoy your day. Don't forget the Hospitality tent. Do call in for refreshments during the day. Also keep you eye on the Notice Board on Sunday afternoon for the results.

Meeting 6th June, 2006

Presentation Evening
Some discussion took place regarding the venue for the Presentation Evening for this year. The Premier Suite at Blackburn Rovers is booked again for ovember, but it seems some members have been complaining about the price of the drinks at this venue. The drinks are expensive in comparison with pub prices. However, this reflects the quality of the place and if the bar prices were less, then the room price would be much more expensive and therefore ticket prices would have to rise accordingly.

But would members prefer a different type of venue where bar prices are more in line with pub prices?
This is a question that needs to be put to the members to find out just what people would prefer. To find a venue seating a minimum of 250 can be a problem. Or would members not mind standing if there were not enough seats to go round? But then, there is no room to put your trophies and your drinks whilst you are dancing.

Would members please let us have your views? Either publish a message on the Guest Book page or write or telephone a committee member.

If the venue at the Rovers does go ahead, it is planned to have a professional entertainer and DJ this year. Ideas for a Guest Speaker would also be welcome. Bear in mind, please that some of these can be very expensive, so whilst your favourite TV star might be your idea of perfection, we have to consider whether or not it is possible. However, let us know, and we will try to arrange contact and find out the cost.

Trophies will be as originally planned for last year. An idea which had to be abandonned when the warehouse caught fire and the company were unable to deliver the order. This will be a secret, but we can promise they will be special.

Practice Sessions
A suggestion was made to have training sessions and practise nights during the summer weeks. These would be at Witton Park if possible. Working Hunter training was one idea and also a showing night.
The club would look into the cost of hiring the ground and also a trainer. Again, please let us know your views on this and also any ideas.

Meeting, 31st January, 2006

It was decided that competitors in either ridden or in-hand classes should have a reduction of 25p per class (not dressage) if they send a postal entry and cheque to Mrs Anne Gresty which is received by Thursday prior to showdays. Come on members, take advantage of this offer. It can make quite a difference if you are entering a few classes and also it saves you a lot of time on showdays as you can go straight into your class. You will receive your number prior to the start of the season along with your Schedule 2006. Do not lose this number, You will retain it for the whole of the season.

Some members are getting very excited about the coming season if the Guest Book page is anything to go by. Please could we make a suggestion? Please put your messge into English and not text - save that for your mobile phone.

Good Luck to all. We hope that you have a successful season. We look forward to seeing you on 2nd April at our first show.

Members who sent a stamped addressed envelope with their photographs for this year's schedule, will received theit photos back soon.

A.G.M.2006

The Annual General Meeting of the Club took place on 16th January, at the Fernhurst Hotel, Ewood, Blackburn.

Nursery Stakes class will be withdrawn due to insufficient entries. Young riders on working hunter ponies will be able to enter the 13 WHP. Medium dressage will also be withdrawn because of lack of entries.

A proposal was put forward to elect two former members of the Club, who have achieved great success nationally and internationally to Honary Members. Angela Crane and Jeanette Breakwell were voted to be invited to Honary Membership in recognition of their success. Other past members who have risen to the top of their profession will be honoured at the AGM 2007.

Sadley, the Club is losing three committee members this year. Our Treasurer, Ann Smith who is retiring, and Carol Hanley and her sister Lynn Scott. Carol has served many years in several capacities and has done an excellent and efficient job in caring for and arranging trophies, rosettes, catering and other duties. Lynn took over the organising of the 13th Annual Show and last year organised the rosettes for all shows. Ann Smith has been in charge of the Club's finances for the past two years, volunteering initially for an interim period of ine year. This leaves the Club without a treasurer for the time being. It is probable the committee will look after the finances jointly for the time being.

We welcome back to our committee, Sharon Borg (nee Webster). Another past committee member, Mrs Jean Nightingale will be assisting with booking-in this season in the secretary's caravan.

The Meeting discussed such issues as members arriving late for classes (in various circumstances) - it was agreed that the committee will look at this issue and possibly make a ruling on this. Providing the member or non-member had informed the steward of the ring that they were held up in another class, a late entry has, in the past, been allowed, but only at the discretion of the judge. Some judges will not allow this at all. It would help if the policy was clarified. Another issue was the Victor Ludorum prize. One member suggested that having once having won the top honour it should be withheld from that member in the future.

It was agreed that the Guest Book page would remain for the time being as it is now possible to trace all messages received and comments from undesirables have been written out by the Programmer.

The AGM will be held on Monday, 16th January, 2006, at the Fernhurst Hotel, Bolton Road, Ewood, at 7.30 pm.

It was agreed that the Club would enter members in the UK Showing Championships (Festival of Champions) at Myerscough in 2006 at the end of the season. The Club would also be sending members to the Classic Championships at Osbaldeston in September. There will be qualifying classes for UK Showing at Myerscough (July) at our May show, for the NCPA (Somerford Park) at our June Show and for BHS North West Counties (Somerford Park) at our July Show.

There have been insufficient entries in Nursery Stakes and 13 hh WHP classes. These will now be amalgamated into the one 13 hh WHP class for 2006.

Dressage Day in 2006 may be incorprated into our Annual Show on 21st May, 2006, with two arenas, one a 20 m x 40m and one arena 20m x 60 m.

Photographs for the 2006 Schedule will be required by Margery by the AGM at the latest. Junior Points, Senior Points, In Hand and the Victor Ludorum will again be free of charge. All others £10 each photograph.

12th November in the Premier Suite at Blackburn Rovers was an occasion for Ribble Valley members, guests and friends to dress up in their finery and let down their hair for another excellent evening of prize giving and entertainment.

The start of the evening is the dinner and this year there was nothing but praise for the quality and quantity of the meals. There were some misgivings with the vegetarian section (which we have been promised will be addressed for next year) but both the steak and mushroom pie and the lasagne were hot, plentiful and very tasty.

President, Margery Comer, spoke about how the Club was formed in 1947. Our Honorary member, Mr W Nicholson was a competitor in those days. So Ribble Valley is 58 years old this year.

Jeanette Breakwell returned to the Club as Guest Speaker, to talk about her beginnings at Ribble Valley as a young girl on her 12.2hh pony Bijoux, then her career since, up to her success in 3 day eventing at the last two Olympics on her horse "Over to You", taking the Team Silver and also as European Silver Medallist. Many of our senior members remember her well and competed with her in the 80's, so reminiscences were many. Jeanette had brought along some old photographs of past Presentation Evenings at Martholme Grange at Altham.

The Prize Giving was followed by the RAFFLE. This is quite famous now because of the quality of the prizes on offer - thanks to our chairman, Tony Seal. There were two new bicycles, servicing for lorry or car, a mobile phone, radio, tool kits and many more items eagerly snapped up by winners on the night. Stand Up Bingo followed. This has been a tradition for many years now and always puts everyone in the mood. Even our honorary guests joined in with enthusiasm although they had to sit down again fairly soon as their number was called.

The Great Martini was back by popular demand, amazing everyone with his magic, performed at each of the tables in the room. I know one or two people determined to catch him out this year - but they were delighted to be as surprised as everyone else when they were just as puzzled as ever.

Dancing the night away until 1 pm in the morning, there was a great atmosphere of camaraderie and fun.
The music of our Disc Jockey kept us all on the floor all evening.

Our chairman reminded members of the date of the AGM, 16th January, 2006 at the Fernhurst Hotel. We look forward to seeing as many members as possible on that occasion. Come and have your say!

photographs by dbjimaging.co.uk - see links page.
(where you will be able to click on any photo to enlarge it or order direct from photographer)

Well done to Ribble Valley competitors at the Classics Championships, at Osbaldeston on Saturday and Sunday, 17th & 18th September. The Club won the day on Sunday and were third overall from the weekend. Three of our members put in a very good effort on the Saturday, riding show jumping courses, which was very brave of them as this is not their usual class. We were 70 points behind the winning club at the start of the Sunday classes, so did absolutely brilliantly to gain so much ground and come third out of 25 Riding Clubs.

Our thanks go to Anne Gresty who organised the teams and to all our members and their families who tried so hard and put in so much effort. We must also thank Norman and Janet Bargh for the wonderfully organised event that was a pleasure to attend. Not fogetting Molly, of course, and her kitchen staff who were prepareing bacon at 6.30 on that morning ready for the onslought! The weather kept fine and warmer than during the week, so altogether an excellent day.

PRESENTATION EVENING
Saturday, 12th November, 2005
at
the Premier Suite, Blackburn Rovers

GUEST SPEAKER - JEANETTE BRAKEWELL
(Olympic 3-day event rider and past member of Ribble Valley)

Trophies at Presentation will already have been engraved with winner's names. £3.50 per engraving will be required as you sign for your tropies. It would be a tremendous help if members had their cash/cheque ready as they enter the room. Correct change, please for cash. A total sum for all winning trophies is acceptable where members have won more than one. Members will need to make sure that the spelling on the Winners LIst, sent out two weeks ago, is the correct one. If there is an error, please telephone 01254 702647, 07808 065606, or e-mail margerycomer@earnsdalefarm.com or anne.gresty@yahoo2002.co.uk

Presentation Evening: The supper this year will cost £14.25 per head. This amount will be subsidised by the Club and members and friends will pay £13.95 each. The Club will subsidise meals for members and guests and also cover the disco charges and room costs. Choice of menu will be:

a) Steak and mushroom pie
b) Lasagne.

Dress to Impress will again be the code for the evening. No casual wear. Raffle and Tombola to take place.
Tickets will be printed and be on sale for the August Show.

The Dog Show Schedules for the September Show will also be available for August. "Best Coloured Dog" class will replace "Dog Showing Best Trick".

July Show Parking: This was very much improved, thanks to the common sense of members at the July Show. This gave the north side of the river a feeling of spaciousness for the classes there. There were misgivings over the lorry on the new hardstanding which had two ponies tied up outside it with haynets, which left a lot of hay/haylage on the floor and copious piles of droppings. This will be a bone of contention with park users. Members will need to be more aware of the need to be clean and tidy and respect their surroundings.

Trophy Award for the member overcoming other problems to succeed in their sport: Carol Hanley would like to receive nominations for this award to be given at Presentation Evening. Members, please write to Carol at: Kays Cottage, Sheep Hey Farm, Leaches Lane, Shuttleworth, Bury, Lancs. BL0 0ND

Parking
There is a good deal of concern within the Parks Department about the parking of lorries and trailers on the Showground. Some money has been allocated to making a larger area of hard standing to allow approximately 30 lorries to park in organised lines. It has been reported that some competitors have been ignoring requests to be parked up by our steward and thereby jeopodising our usage of the Park. Any driver refusing to park where directed will be asked to leave the showground.

There are many diverse users of the Park and most of them have their own committees and discussion groups. Although Ribble Valley is probably the oldest user with the exception of walkers, we still have an obligation to be aware of others and their requirements. It seems that the group called "Friends of Witton Park" have been voicing loud protests lately about various matters. First of all, they are concerned that vehicles are still driving along the cycleway. It may be difficult to avoid but care must be taken to avoid it where possible. A further area of hard standing is planned at the back of the ground where our containers stand. There is also concern about vehicles parking on top of the disabled parking lots. This area is a no go area for our vehicles, so please be aware of this.

Trophies
The job of Cup Secretary is the one that everyone dreads. Persuading competitors to return their trophies in time for their re-allocation is a nightmare. A few competitors just refuse to co-operate at all. It has to be stressed that when a competitor accepts a trophy at a show, they then have an obligation to return it by the requested date. All trophies won at the Cup Show last September will need to be returned to Mrs Barbara Gordon at the July Show. If you cannot attend this show, will you either pass it to another member to return on your behalf or telephone Barbara and arrange to deliver it to her house in Tockholes. Tel: 01254 873818.

Our Engraver will be on the showground in September. The charge for engraving will be £3.75 per tropy, to be paid for on collection.

Guest Book
Anonymous entries on the Guest Book page and/or vindictive criticism of judges or other competitors will be removed from the page immediately.

Closure of Birchinley Manor
This has thrown the competitors for the All British Riding Club Championships into some turmoil for those early qualifying shows, such as the one at Ribble Valley in April. In fact, as a Club, we have not been informed of this officially at all. It seems that cheques have been returned to competitors with an explanatory note. We were then informed at the Show on Sunday, that a show to replace it has been booked at Myerscough for the end of July. Then, we were informed that instead of competitors dealing with their own entries and cheques, the whole responisibility falls on the Club. Of course, membership of a Club was not a pre-requisite for qualifying for the All British so Ribble Valley would not be able to contact non-members who qualified in April. After a great deal of discussion it was decided that Ribble Valley would not be supporting this new show. If members would like to attend then please contact the organisers and arrange your entries through them. 2nd placings are also able to qualify.

There are several rumours concerning the Festival of Champions and only time will resolve this. The Committee feels that there are too many individuals ready to take on this event to make money on a commercial basis and at the moment reserve judgement pending developments.

Important Notice
There were some complaints about use of bad language on the Showground at the May show. The Committee would like to let those responsible know that this will not be tolerated. Those concerned know whom this item refers to and we ask them to take steps to ensure that this does not happen again - under any circumstances. Any further contrevention of this notice will result in the withdrawel of memberships for at least the rest of the season. They would then have to ask permission from the committee to visit the showground in the future.

Classes
There were some sxcellent classes at the May Show with the Large Breeds Ridden taking up to a Sheet and a half of competitors. This will stand all our competitors in very good stead for county and agricultural shows and is good training for riders and equines alike. The standard of animals at Ribble Valley is superb. The committee hopes to see most of you at the Annual Show this Saturday at Witton Country Park. See "Annual Show" for schedule.

We hope that you have noted that the date of the Annual Show has had to be changed from Sunday to Saturday, 14th May, 2005 because of the availablilty of judges.

The Schedule for this is being prepared now.
(A draft dan be printed from "Annual Show" on this web site).
Sponsors are requested for this Show. The cost will be £25 per sponsor. Acknowledgements of
sponsors will be shown in the full Schedule. Please contact Lynn Scott, on telephone 01706 822226 or 07810 545280 as soon as possible.

There is a change of Judges for this season. Ian Dickinson and Debra Chadwick have exchanged their dates, Please see our "Judges" page to view full chart.

Carol Hanley will be running a SECOND HAND TACK & CLOTHING STALL at each show. This will take place at the Secretary's caravan after the early morning rush is over. Approximate time of starting will be 11.30 am. If you have any outgrown clothing or unwanted tack, please make sure that iit is clearly marked with your name and telephone number and price requested. There will be a charge of 10% to Club funds on sale of your items. Don't forget to make a visit to the caravan before you leave the showground to check if your goods have been sold and collect your cash or any unsold items.

Please note that this year, the 13th Annual Show will be on Saturday, 14th May, and not Sunday, 15th as originally planned. The Schedule may be printed from the web page, or may be obtained by sending a
s.a.e. to: Mrs Lynn Scott, Fishrake Farm, Fishrake Lane, Rossendale, BB4 7AH.
We have affiliations to BSPS/Ponies UK/CHAPS/NCPA/FPS/VHS/British Hack Cob & Riding Horse.

Dressage: We would like to encourage more members to try the elementary tests this season. With this in mind, it has been decided that competitors may do three tests on the same horse as long as one of the tests is NOT a Prelim test. i.e. Competitors will be very welcome to ride a Novice, Elementary and Medium test on the same horse. Please be aware of the British Dressage Points restrictions.

About 50 members attended the A.G.M. at the Fernhurst Hotel, Ewood, on Monday, 17th January.

Sadly, our Secretary for the past two years, Kathryn Walsh, has retired. The President thanked Kathryn for her excellent and efficient work in her time in office. We are delighted to welcome Anne Gresty as Ribble Valley's new Secretary. Anne brings years of experience in the equestrian world and a good knowledge of her subject.

The rest of the committee of 2004 were re-elected for 2005 and Barbara Gordon has returned to the committee after two years absence. Barbara will take over the resposibility for trophies. Carol Hanley will be arranging the judges for this season's classes, with Margery Comer arranging for the dressage judges with the help of Mary Stubbs.

It is always very much appreciated when members turn up on the showground at 6 pm the evening before a Show Day and help with the putting out of the working hunter jumps and the roping off of the rings. There were two volunteers to do this this season. More volunteers would be a great help as would members staying on after a show for an hour to help put everything away again. Please, if you were not able to come to the AGM, please try and take a small share in helping with this vital work for YOUR Club and try to make it your resolution for 2005 to come along and help at one show per season.

It was agreed that the Lunch Break in Ring 1 will be changed to after class 6, to prevent the First Ridden M & M Class from clashing with Beginners Equitation.

There was a discussion on restricting trophies at the Trophy Show to members only. This would make it a little easier to get them returned the following year. It would, however, lose the Club some revenue as non members pay double entry fees at this show. We would like to have members' views on this. Please insert your thoughts on our Guest Book page.

Last season saw a reduction in our contingency fund due to the purchase of a complete new set of working hunter jumps. This capital expenditure will not be necessary for many years to come, so hopefully, 2005 should see an increase in our balance at the bank to enable the Club to continue to improve facilities for members and competitors and to maintain our subsidy of the Presentation Evening.

Entry fees for classes have been increased for 2005. Membership fees have also been increased unless you send in your Application Form before 25th March. You can save £10 by doing this. Due to the inadequacy of our First Aid cover it has been decided that this must be upgraded to give members (and your committee) peace of mind. Your contribution has therefore been increased to £2 per competitor per day.

We hope that you all have an excellent season for 2005 and we look forward to seeing you on 3rd April for our first show.