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Committees & Regional Secretary’s

Board of DirectorsThe Board of Directors, also known asthe Executive Committee, is an eightmember committee appointed by theNational Committee. Each member iselected to serve a three year term and iseligible for re-election. They work in avoluntary capacity and can be contactedthrough National Office.

Chairman: Tony EnnisVice Chairman: Kevin McGuinnessMembers: Dermot Brislane

Thomas Daniels, FionaFurey, Grainne Healy,Emily McDonagh &Melissa O’Connor

President: Helen ManganVice President: Gerry Thompson

National CommitteeThe National Committee comprises of 24members, three directly elected by eachregion annually.

Midlands:Ann Bloomer 087 2369522Grainne Healy 086 8374179Caroline Lynch 086 2743460North East:Louise Duffy 086 8877680Kevin McGuinness 087 6707201Louise Somers 086 2895264South East:Dympna Gibbons 086 3645432Melissa O'Connor 087 8337386Sharon O’Connor 087 2319276South Leinster:Hilary McHugh 086 8239515Jane Power 087 2626936Peter Roberts 086 6016176

South West:Jerome Foley 087 2697328Fiona Leahy 087 2622378Jane Morgan 086 2719296

West:Thomas Daniels 087 2539941John McArdle 087 9028801Kean O'Hara 086 2585946

West Leinster:Fiona Furey 087 2583928Emily McDonagh 087 2467349Karyn Jamieson 086 0239125

West Midlands:Dermot Brislane 087 6757292Tony Ennis 086 8617698Doreen Egan 086 8164205

Regional Secretary’sMidlands:Grainne Healy 086 8374179midlandsregion@airc.ieNorth East:Louise Somers 086 8952645northeastregion@airc.ieSouth East:Helen O’Byrne 086 8128959southeastregion@airc.ieSouth Leinster:Hilary MacHugh 086 8239515southleinsterregion@airc.ieSouth West:Orla O’ Kelly 086 8457862southwestregion@airc.ieWest:Patricia Warren 086 3761863westregion@airc.ieWest Leinster:Anouska Rickard 086 3663824westleinsterregion@airc.ieWest Midlands:Doreen Egan 086 8164205westmidlandsregion@airc.ie

News in Brief

A.I.R.C. to phase out EN1384standalone hat standardThe Association of Irish Riding Clubsis to phase out the use of riding hatswith the standalone (BS) EN1384standard from next year.

This follows the decision of theEuropean Union to withdrawn thehat standard from the Official Journalof the European Union.

A.I.R.C. will permit (BS) EN1384 hatsin 2015 but not thereafter. All hatswill be retagged in 2016.

If you are buying a new hat, pleasemake sure that it has the PAS 015standard mark or ASTM F1163 orSnell 2001 or AS/NZS 3838 and is kitemarked, as the EN1384 standardalone will not be approved in 2016.

Members should consult the revised2015 rule book (D04/12) when it ispublished shortly for approved hatstandards.

ISC Anti-Doping Rules applyMembers are reminded that theAssociation of Irish Riding Clubs anti-doping rules are the Irish anti-dopingrules as adopted by the Irish SportsCouncil, as amended from time totime. The rules contained in the saidIrish anti-doping rules shall haveeffect and be construed as rules of

the Association of Irish Riding Clubs.

Further information is available onthe Irish Sports Council website,www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Anti-Doping

Stay in touchHave you registered your contactinformation on your membershiponline account?

If you haven’t, you may miss out onemail or text updates on riding clubactivities.

Log onto your membership onlineaccount and update your contactinformation including postal address,mobile phone number and emailaddress to stay in the loop.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebookand follow us on Twitter, go towww.airc.ie and click on the links!

National OfficeNational Office is open Monday toFriday between 9:30am to 1:30pmand 2:00pm to 5:00pm by calling 045854 555 or emailing info@airc.ie.

Cover Photograph:A competitor taking part in a show jumping

competition at the 2005 Riding Clubs Festivalat Stradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois.

(Pic: Tony Parkes/EPS)

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Enter the RidingClubs Festival andyou could win a€250 voucher!You could win a €250 voucher, cour-tesy of Equest Pramox, just by enter-ing this years Riding Clubs Festival onSaturday 6th and Sunday 7th June atStradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois.

Equest Pramox, your completeworming dose. Offering coveragainst a broad spectrum of wormsincluding encysted small redwormand tapeworm. Now licensed inbreeding, lactating and pregnantmares.

To be in with a chance of winningthe €250 voucher for TRI Equestrian,all you have to do is enter the RidingClubs Festival. For each competitionentry received, you will be enteredinto the draw which will take place atthe Riding Clubs Festival in June.

If, for example, you enter six classesover the two days, you will beentered into the draw six times.

Only competition entries are valid forthe draw. Stable bookings are notvalid.

So get entering and you could win,with thanks to Equest Pramox.

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Team Show Jumping Championship

Championship Qualifiers 20153rd May Midlands Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Co. Westmeath10th May West Leinster Coilog Equestrian Centre, Co. Kildare10th May West Midlands Roscrea Equestrian Centre, Co. Tipperary17th May North East Kernan's Equestrian Centre, Co. Down17th May South East Barnadown Stud, Co. Wexford17th May West Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo24th May South Leinster Boswell Equestrian, Co. Wicklow24th May South West Hitchmoughs Riding School, Co. Cork

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers

Horseware TeamShow JumpingChampionshipLast year over 140 teams soughtqualification for the final of theHorseware sponsored Team ShowJumping Championship at the DublinHorse Show.

This makes it undoubtedly the mostsought after title of the Association’ssix national championships.

Teams of 3 or four members (and atleast two nominated reserves), madeup of two riders who will jump a0.90m course (these could be madeup of two Intermediate or oneIntermediate and one AdvancedIntermediate) and two riders whowill jump a course not exceeding1.00m (these could be made up ofany of the following grades:

Advanced Intermediate, Open orAdvanced Open with a maximum ofone Advanced Open. There mustalways be one Intermediate rider onthe team.

The winning team at each regionalqualifier goes forward to the finalwhile the runners-up from each qual-ifier goes through to the Wild CardQualifier at the Riding Club Festival.The winner of this goes forward tothe final on Sunday 9th August at theDublin Horse Show.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie

Greenhills Riding Club, 2014 Team Champions

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Riding Clubs Festival

Reduced entry andstable fees for 25thAnniversaryThe competition and stabling feeshave been reduced for this yearsRiding Clubs Festival to mark its 25thanniversary.

The two-day event takes place onSaturday 6th and Sunday 7th June2015 at Stradbally Hall Estate, Co.Laois.

From its beginnings at PunchestownRacecourse in 1990, it has steadilygrown to become one of Ireland’sbiggest amateur equestrian events.

Last year over 700 horses competedin over 70 competitions in dressage,showing and show jumping.

Every level, from Primary right up toAdvanced Open, is catered for with arange of competitions each day.

There are a number of changes tothe schedule this year.

The age for veteran horses in dres-sage and showing has been increasedto 18, up from 17 last year..

In showing, the IntermediatePerformance Hunter has beenreplaced with a Working Hunter class

instead while a new section has alsobeen included for Cobs and SmallHunters. In working hunter classes,only those who jump a clear roundwill go forward to phase two.

In response to feedback receivedfrom members, we’ve also provided amore detailed description for eachshowing classes.

Stabling is available from Friday 5thJune at 2pm until Sunday at 6pm atthe reduced rate of €80 per stable.

Entries have also been reduced to€15 for individuals, pairs cost €30while team entries are €60.

Postal entries close on Wednesday22nd April while online entries openon Monday 20th April until 12 noonon Wednesday 6th May.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andthen National Competitions.

The Association would like toacknowledge the following sponsorsfor their continued support:

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Saturday 6th June 2015DressagePrimary IndividualAdvanced Primary IndividualIntermediate IndividualAdvanced Intermediate Long ArenaOpen IndividualMusical RideNovice / Expert PairsYoung Horse

Show JumpingPrimary TeamsAdvanced Primary TeamsIntermediate IndividualAdvanced Intermediate IndividualOpen / Advanced Open IndividualAdv. Intermediate Power & SpeedOpen / Adv. Open Power & SpeedVeteran RidersClear Round Jumping

ShowingLightweight HunterMediumweight HunterHeavyweight HunterSide Saddle / 4 Year Old* / Mares*The Carl Geisler Memorial C’ship*Small HuntersRiding Horse (Up to 158cms)Riding Horse (Over 158cms)Cobs (Lightweight / Heavyweight / Maxi)Primary Performance HunterAdv. Primary Performance HunterWorking Hunter (Intermediate)Coloured Horse (Up to 158cms / Over158cms)Veteran Horse

This list is provided for guideline purpos-es only and must be read in conjunctionwith the event schedule on www.airc.ie.

Sunday 8th June 2015DressagePrimary / Adv. Primary Prix CaprilliIntermediate Prix CaprilliIntermediate Long ArenaAdvanced Intermediate Individual

Open Long ArenaAdvanced OpenAdvanced Open Long ArenaTeam DressageDressage to Music (AI/O/AO)Dressage to Music (P/AP/I)Fancy Dress PairsVeteran Rider / Veteran Horse

Show JumpingPrimary IndividualAdvanced Primary IndividualIntermediate Power & SpeedIntermediate TeamsAdvanced Intermediate AccumulatorOpen / Advanced Open AccumulatorTeam Show Jumping ChallengeClear Round Jumping

ShowingIrish DraughtIrish Draught Performance HunterConnemaraConnemara Performance HunterEx Racehorse / ThoroughbredEx Racehorse (Performance)Traditional Irish Cob / ArabsThe Eddie Fowler Memorial C’ship*Introduction to ShowingPrimary Showing / Novice ShowingThe Frank Mangan Memorial C’ship*Working Hunter (Cobs & Small Hunters) /(4 & 5 Year Olds) / (AI/O/AO) / C’shipRiding Club Horse Primary / Adv. Primary

* Qualification required.

Dressage Championships

Championship Qualifiers 201517th May Midlands Kilrainey Equestrian Centre, Co. Kildare24th May West Leinster Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare14th June North East Killossery Lodge Stud, Co. Dublin14th June South East Barnadown Stud, Co. Wexford21st June Kerry Faugh, Killarney, Co. Kerry21st June West Carey’s Equestrian Centre, Co. Galway28th June West Midlands Clonlara Equestrian Centre, Co. Limerick19th July South Leinster Spruce Lodge, Co. Wicklow

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers

Connolly’s Red MillsDressageChampionshipsAlmost 70 teams sought qualificationfor the Team Dressage Championshiplast year.

This is an increase of 30 teams takingpart annually since the format waschanged in 2013.

To qualify, clubs are permitted toenter teams of three or four riders.These must contain no more thantwo riders from any one grade repre-senting no less than two grades.Reserves must also be nominated inadvance of the qualifier.

The number of teams qualifying ateach regional qualifier will dependon the number of teams which start

on the day of the qualifier. One teamfor every four teams, or part thereof,will go forward to the champi-onships. Teams, however, may onlyqualify at their respective regionalqualifier.

In the individual classes, the top fourrider and horse combinations fromthe Advanced Primary, Intermediateand Advanced Intermediate classesat each qualifier will go forward tothe championships. Individuals, how-ever, may qualify at any of the quali-fiers around the country.

If an individual rider and horse com-bination has already qualified at aprevious qualifier, the next bestplaced rider will go forward.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

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Events Calendar

Make sure to visit the Events Calendar on www.airc.iefor an up-to-date list of activities happening in your area.

This list is updated daily with new event listings.

Around the Regions

Your photos fromaround the regionsWe would like to thank everyone whosent in photos from around the coun-try. Don’t forget to send in yours byemail to yourphotos@airc.ie through-out the year.

Above: Chevals Teresa Ward on YoreDiamond at Kilronan Riding Clubs DerbyShow. (Pic: ironia-art.com)Left: Friarys John Joe Grace and JaneGrace who won the Fancy Dress Pairs at

the Riding Clubs Festival last year.

Above: Thornton’sAli Curtis andHaribo enjoying arelaxing morning.

Left: BenbulbensAlayne Wells wonthe advanced pri-mary dressage onChurchmeadowMystery II atBenbulbens springshow in 2014.

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25th Anniversary

Riding ClubsFestival reachessilver anniversary!by Helen Mangan, A.I.R.C. President

As this is the 25th Anniversary of theRiding Clubs Festival it might be ofinterest to know how it all started.

The Riding Club movement in Irelandbegan in 1973 when 15 clubs joinedtogether to form the Association.We never envisaged the extent towhich the movement would growbut grow it did, and spread country-wide.

As the movement grew regionalcompetitions were held in all disci-

plines, and the Association was ableto get slots for finals at both the RDSSpring Show, which used to be heldin May and the Horse Show inAugust. The RDS were good support-ers of the Riding clubs and we werevery fortunate to be allowed to holdour Equitation Jumping and DressageChampionships in the Main Arena.

You might be wondering what all thishas to do with the Festival?

Well, as all the aforementionedevents had to be qualified for it wasfelt that we needed a national eventwhich would be available for allmembers, and so in 1990 the RidingClubs Festival was born. It was tocover all disciplines and the one stip-ulation was that it was open to all

American visitors at the 1998 Riding Clubs Festival at Tattersalls

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25th Anniversary

members – no qualification.We sent out the entry forms not surereally what reaction we would get.We were amazed, the entries pouredin, my own club Foxborough had ahundred entries. The first Festivalwas held at PunchestownRacecourse, so there was plenty ofroom. Maire Quinlan-Pluck organ-ised the dressage (and guess whostill runs it), Maureen Goodbody ranthe showing and I covered the showjumping.

The movement had great supportwithin the horse world and peoplelike Sgt. Major Steve Hickey,International Course builder, andTommy Condron who was one of thetop starters in the country weighedin behind the show jumping.

The facilities in Punchestown weregreat with the stables on site. Theweighroom and jockeys changingroom became the office, and thecommittee moved in with theirsleeping bags and stayed on site.

The committee were lucky enough tohave a fabulous chef, Bob Thompson,on the Committee and he kept uswell fed.

There was a Flying Club based atPunchestown, and they entertainedus with parachute jumps during theday.

When competitions were over every-one collected at the parade ring andwe had a Tug O’ War competition,which meant that people who werenot riding got to enter in something.This was really hotly contested andwas great fun. Evenings were round-ed off with barbeques and a disco,and of course, copious amounts ofdrink!

The committee were blown away bythe success of the first Festival andwe realised that this had to becomea permanent fixture in the calendar,and although the logistical problemsby having it open to everyone wereenormous, we knew as we staggeredout of Punchestown in 1990 that thiswas an event that would have tocontinue.

Over the years the Festival hasmoved to a number of venues includ-ing Tattersalls, Goffs and Stradbally,where it currently takes place.

Tug of war at the 1991 Riding Clubs Festival

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25th Anniversary

We had such great fun with celebrityteam show Jumping with people likeRonnie Drew and Alan Dukes takingpart, musical rides where one clubdid a Scottish theme and broughttheir own piper, Sumo wrestlingwhich nearly did away with at leastone committee member, someriotous barbecues, sing songs anddiscos.

One year we had an internationalflavour brought to the Festival by anAmerican Army Captain, RichardDyke who competed in the ShowJumping in full dress uniform. In theAmerican group that visited, therewas a New York Mounted Policemanand he came in his full New Yorkpolice uniform complete with night-stick, handcuffs, gun holster (no gun)and we borrowed a horse for himand he rode round looking absolutelyspectacular. The only thing was thehorses they ride in New York are onlyabout 15 hands high and the horsewe borrowed for him was over 16hands and he admitted that he wasquite nervous as he had never riddenanything so big!

In recent years, riding clubs from theUK competed at the Festival and thisyear current senior open show jump-ing champions, Darlington andDistrict are expected to attend.

It is wonderful to see the Festival still

going strong with members comingfrom all over the country, and greatto see everyone getting together,renewing friendships, sharing barbe-cues, and partying the night away –as well as competing, of course.Long may it last and here’s to thenext 25 year!

Visit our youtube channel to viewhighlights from the early years ofthe Riding Clubs Festival!

Greenhills members all set for theFancy Dress Pairs at the 2002 RidingClubs Festival at Goffs

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Club Excellence Award Scheme

The Club Excellence Award schemewas introduced in 2014 to recognisethe vital contribution affiliated clubsmake in the development of thesport while providing outlets for par-ticipation and promoting equestriansports at grass roots level.

Each applicant is assessed under 35different criteria in areas such as clubmanagement, club development,education and training, volunteermanagement, competition participa-tion, community development andhealth and safety.

Clubs which attain the club excel-lence standard will receive a granttowards the development of theirclub in recognition of their efforts ofbest practice. There are three levelsof award - gold €750; silver €500;bronze €250. Where clubs fail tomeet the required standard, noaward is given.

In its first year, four clubs achievedthe highest possible standard underthe Association of Irish Riding Clubsnewly introduced award scheme.

Seven clubs into total applied to thescheme when the first round of sub-missions were sought late last year.

This means that over half of theapplicants achieved the highest stan-dard while two other clubs achievedsilver with one club attaining thebronze standard.

Over €4,000 was awarded to theclubs last year and we hope toincrease this in 2015. So make sureyour club gets involved when submis-sions open later this year.

Visit www.airc.ie for further infor-mation about the scheme includingrequired criteria and an applicationform.

Club Excellence Award Results 2014:

Gold AwardCalliaghstown, Carne, Castle Hill,Waterford.

Silver AwardBoyneside, Castle Carraig

Bronze AwardTynagh

Dressage Tests

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