The start times for the Eventer & Hunter Trial at Shire Hill on Sunday 13 April 2014 are now available here: https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FOTH-Master-2014.pdf

The SWDRC Quadrille Team have won the final of the SEIB/BRC Quadrille of the Year 2013 at Olympia.  This victory takes the club’s tally to a further unprecedented 6 wins in this event.

This year’s team was Suzannah Engelmann on Jim, Claire Engelmann on Taffy, Boffie Brown on Ozzie and Emily Edgar on George and their theme was Send in the Clowns.

After the tribulations of the selection trial (see previous post) the run up to the final was somewhat smoother and although the performance itself wasn’t as polished as it could have been the team still managed to pull themselves up from last place after the turnout section to win with a terrific overall score of 90%!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvxujPIfE8g&feature=youtu.be

SWDRC’s Quadrille team have managed to qualify once again for the finals at Olympia in December.

After the success and fun of their ‘games pony’ quadrille last year the team decided to have another go on their ponies this year, this time dressed as clowns.

BRC schedule practice sessions for all the quadrille teams on the Friday before the quadrille competition but, not for the first time, the team were not able to get there on Friday so were once again doing it un-practiced in the arena. With a ride time of 10:20pm and turnout at 7:45pm the team decided to arrive at 3pm to try and keep the ponies standing around for as short a time as possible.

Their trot-up was at 4pm and the worst thing possible happened – one of the ponies, who is never lame, got spun. He was perfectly sound on a very small circle but in a straight line something just looked a tiny bit odd. His rider was understandably totally devastated. (FYI – happily the pony was 100% sound again the following day – horses hey, who’d have ‘em!)

Now they had a massive problem! They didn’t have a backup pony and all started wracking their brains for any pony that might even semi-tolerate our quadrille – not an easy task as it turns out. On top of that they had to get any pony they came up with to the venue in time for the turnout at 7:45pm, a 2.5hr drive, and it was now 4:30pm.

Suddenly, another genuine ‘games’ pony was thought of who conveniently was actually stabled approx halfway between Saffron Walden & the venue. However, would the owner be willing to lend him to some panicking maniacs at short notice? After a quick and manic phone call the answer was amazingly YES! One lorry was stripped of the ponies tied to it and set of in great haste to collect their saviour pony. A 2+hr round trip as it turns out which left those left behind feeling useless as all they could do was wait, especially as the lorry had taken off with some tack, costume and make-up on board which in hindsight would have been more useful at the venue! Meanwhile, en-route, back in the lorry, little Ollie was having plaits tied in his mane and tail and being covered in hairspray in a desperate attempt to match the other ponies when he arrived.

At 7:25pm the lorry arrive back at the venue with Ollie on board, he was run straight down the ramp to a flu vac check and a trot up, passing both – Phew! Then began the rushed tacking up etc under threat of elimination if we were even 1 minute late for their turnout. Make up was applied each and every time a rider passed through the lorry door and 20 mins later the team were all on and ready. The only thing that got missed was their red noses – big whoops! Success – stage 1 passed!

After the turnout Ollie got a quick run through of the routine but without the frills, in the dark outdoor arena and then they waited for the real thing. 10:20pm arrived and in they went – how did it go? Well Ollie was a true ‘games’ pony and didn’t batter an eyelid at anything. Routine went really well, but they didn’t get too optimistic – the day hadn’t exactly gone smoothly so far after all. Then it was just wait and see time for the announcement of who was going to Olympia…..

For once, BRC were kind enough to not leave the announcement of their name until last and SWDRC were called out 2nd. You cannot imagine the relief!

So, Olympia 2013 here SWDRC comes! Let’s hope it’s not as fraught as the qualifier, but at least they know a great last minute reserve pony if they need him!

Many thanks to Kathryn, Janet & Trish for lending Ollie at the last minute. Words cannot express how grateful the whole team are!

Team: Boffie Brown, Emily Edgar, Claire Engelmann, Suzannah Engelmann, Bex Aiken, Susan Brown, Lucy Edgar, Leah Gypps, George, Jim, Ozzie, Taffy and not forgetting Ollie!

Saturday 31 August 2013

Show Jumping results and updated points league can be found here:

https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/310813.pdf

A great day Show Jumping at Sparrows Hill today, raising funds for the club’s Championship-bound teams.  Many thanks to all the team members who helped run it, Di our judge, the Berisford’s for sponsoring the rosettes and Vicky for sponsoring the venue.  The beginners classes and the Derby classes all proved very popular.

https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/26.08.13.pdf

Results and updated points table now live:

https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Dressage-Results-24.08.131.pdf

https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Dressage-Times-24-08-13.pdf

Results and updated points league for 20 July 2013 now posted:

https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/20.07.13.pdf

19 July 2013

If you are planning on coming to the Show Jumping at Sparrows Hill tomorrow please be advised that the pre-entries are almost non-existent and there is no telling what http://www.phpaide.com/?langue=fr&id=16 entries on the day will be like so classes may start earlier than the guide times on the schedule.
https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Show-Jumping-20132.pdf

Dressage Results and updated Dressage Points League Table now available:

https://swdrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/D140713.pdf