F & I Association Newsletter April 2016
As I start to write this newsletter I realise today is Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, what a fantastic woman for such a great age, and I understand still riding out in Windsor Great Park. I am lucky enough to be coming across to Royal Windsor Horse Show on Sunday 13th May with my very dear friend Joan, (she who has sponsored F&I on Ladies Day at Royal Dublin Horse Show). So you may just get a report of that day at the BHS lunch, of us in all our finery.
Our Association continues to bloom despite the wet and long winter we appear to have had. There has been some respite over the past few days but the nights here in Co. Wexford are still very cold and the grass is slow to grow for my neighbours’ young stock and new foals. I know it is just as bad across the UK, I am that person who watches BBC Breakfast news early in the morning with Carol telling us about the weather with her cheerful “Good Morning” – next time you see Sandra Morrison ask her to give you her ‘Carol’ greeting. Enough of this, I hear you say, OK down to business. What a brilliant Annual Course, so much has already been said but I think we are allowed to remind ourselves of the knowledge we all gained and the fun we all had. Again, a big thank you to the main instigators, Ann Bostock for her usual efficient organisation of the two days, along with David Sherrin & Sam York who got us all into party mode for the celebrations of our 30th year. I feel it was a fitting tribute to Sue Payne FBHS that she took home the Pat Smallwood Award, the beautiful trophy sculpted by another of our senior Fellows Jo Knowles. Sue has now ensured that a plaque has been added to ‘Wistfull’s’ plinth recognising Jo’s talent.
Those two days at the beginning of January were swiftly followed by an excellent training day with Pammy Hutton FBHS at Talland, and since then there have been a variety of impressive days presented to us across the regions. This includes a first for Scotland when our new Scottish Representative, Erik McKechnie, used the talents from one of our new Fellows Nick Gauntlet. Also our other new Fellow, Danny Anholt, gave an informative insight at Millfield School into preparing for the Fellowship examination. Wellington also ran an excellent day with Richard Waygood, with many F&I members taking advantage of great jumping opportunities. Unfortunately not all the proposed days have come to fruition, despite the work put into planning them, and I’d like to thank those people who put in the initial work towards those days. Not wasted I’m sure – the right time for those events will come!
Looking ahead, May is a busy month.
We start at Badminton Horse Trials with our annual Course Walk on the Friday 6th May, organised by Ann Bostock, with Eric Smiley FBHS. Contact Ann on 07889 648478 to book places and she’ll let you know start time and the fence at which to meet.
Monday 9th May the Annual ‘Judy Harvey FBHS training day, always an enjoyable coaching and riding day. Contact Ann Bostock on 07889 648478 for riding, coaching, spectating.
On May 12th & 23rd David Pincus will be coaching at Carol Bennitt’s yard and F&I members are welcome to come and share David’s work with horses at varying levels including preparation towards piaffe ridden and in hand. Contact Carol on 07802 438049
FUTURE DATES:
RIHS Hickstead Thursday July 28th for the Eventers’ Challenge and the wonderful BHS hospitality. Details will be available shortly from Karen at the BHS and we’ll email them to everyone.
September 1st – 4th Burghley Horse Trials – Ann has a Course Walk on the Friday with Nick Turner FBHS.
Tuesday October 4th A morning with Carl Hester organised by Andrew Fletcher 07779 799590 – details have already gone out on email to everyone and numbers will be strictly limited, so if you haven’t already applied, send your cheques to Andrew quickly! PLEASE NOTE corrected fees members £40 & non members £45 the same price as 2015.
HOYS 5th & 6th October – my spies tell me there’s a chance of some tickets on the first two days, contact Simon Somers 07831 781377
Russell Guire, Centaur Biomechanics, in Warwickshire – any lucky people who attended Russell’s superb BD Sports Science Day presentation a year ago, or saw him in Scotland for the BHS / F&I at Blair Europeans, will tell you this is not to be missed. This day will be organised by Mandy Luesley 07941 116498
Sue Ricketts & Linda De Matteo have some days planned in the North of England:
22nd July training day with Richard Carruthers at Delamere, Cheshire. Group sessions for Arena XC. Jane Carruthers will lead the coaching focus sessions with the spectators. Further XC sessions will then be arranged at Kelsall, Cheshire. Contact Sue on 07775 733518
A day at Ingestre later in the year is in the throes of being planned by Linda de Matteo on 07798 676769
IRELAND
Faith Ponsonby has been busy and we will see some of you at The Punchestown Festival on April 26th
June 30th Coolmore Stud has invited us back. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the greatest stallion in the world Galileo along with Australia and many more. This will be followed by lunch at the award winning pub McCarthy’s in Fethard Co. Tipperary. Then onto Aiden O’Brien’s yard to see racehorses galore & his state of the art facilities.
August 24/25th a Course Walk at Millstreet International Horse Trials Co. Cork with the course designer Mike Etherington Smith – not to be missed.
For all the above contact Faith on 00353 872929449 (mobile) or better email on kilcooly@indigo.ie
If I have missed any other dates then please email them with the information to our secretary Di Roberts who will send them out to all members including Sally Newcomb (web page) and Sam Champney Warrener (Facebook).
DON’T FORGET the 2017 Annual Course, on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th January, will be a culmination of our 30th year celebrations with Christoph Hess and Chris Bartle as our tutors at Addington EC. Following the Rio Olympics this will prove to be very informative two days. Booking details will be sent out later in the year.
I think all that remains is to welcome our new members and returning members and to wish you all well for the rest of the summer with your horses, competitions and clients.
Best Wishes
Jillie.
Jillie Rogers BHSI, Chairman of The Fellows & Instructors Association