NEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE – MAY 2010

Bringing our riders up to date after a busy four months

Sadly, January saw the departure of Jan Taylor who stood down from the committee after serving as Chairman for many years, as did Alyson Parker and several others.  The committee had already been struggling with depleted numbers, and those people remaining had heavy hearts approaching this year's AGM.  We turned up to the venue with some trepidation as to future of the club.  Wondrously though, we witnessed a resurgence of support for the Foresters Riding Club. 

The end of the AGM saw the election of a ‘nearly all new’ committee representing a broad age range, and varying standards of riding ability - or not as some would have it!  With the injection of their enthusiasm and the breath of fresh air their input is already bringing to meetings, the future looks positive and happy for 2010.  Full details of the clubs new committee are on the Meet the Committee page of the website. 

We have been all working hard to get in line a series of events that will satisfy members, whatever their interests and reasons for joining the club.  Considerable emphasis has been place on establishing a rolling programme of quality training at affordable prices for our riders. 

Various venues have kindly discounted their hire rates to the club and also instructors have been generous with their hourly rates.  This means we are currently able to offer to our membership flatwork lessons, at between £12/15 per hour - based on two sharing and jumping lessons, based on four sharing, at £12/15 per hour.  This is without compromising either on the quality of venue or instruction.  We also recently ran a cross-country training session at Berwick Farm at cost of £27 to club members based on six sharing.  Not bad value!  This clinic would have normally cost somewhere in the region of £40 plus.

Feedback from riders has been that it has been fun to share the lessons and meet other members.  It allows for plenty of good-natured banter and camaraderie, and the opportunity to learn from others achievements – or mistakes!!  It has been lovely to see how kind and supportive the riders are to each other.  It’s what epitomises a good club and makes organising these sessions worthwhile.  Private sessions though, are always available.

If you have any suggestions with regards to trainers, venues, themes for training etc. please contact us. 

Raising the Forester’s profile at various Riding Club Events is also high on the club’s agenda for 2010.  So far this year we have entered teams for the Towerlands Team Challenge, and the riding club’s qualifier One Day Event held at Saffron Walden.  A senior team has been picked to represent the club at the area One-day Event qualifier at Keysoe and teams are being selected for the area qualifiers to be held in July at Lordsbridge. 

The committee would like to take this opportunity to stress that the club welcomes anyone to come forward if they wish to ride for the club.  Standards of riding at club level are high and competing at the finals of competitions allows you to ride with some of the best amateur riders in the country at fantastic venues.  Contact Pauline (Seniors) or Stephanie (Juniors) if you are interested.  The committee makes considerable effort to ensure that all those that are capable are able to have a go.

Fund raising is high on the club’s agenda this year particularly, as both training and competing is subsidised out of club funds.  The Quiz Night in March was a great success.  A big thank you goes to all those who organised the quiz evening, and also to those who supported the club by attending.  You helped raised a healthy profit in excess of £350. Fantastic!  Those that attended said that it was a really friendly relaxed evening and how nice it was to meet other club members away from the stress of competing and without horses for a change.  Indeed it was hard to recognise each other, we all scrubbed up pretty well for the evening!  More such events are in the pipeline and we look forward to seeing you and your friends and family there. 

So this then, is a brief recap of the past four months.  The current committee’s promise to the members is to work hard this year towards promoting a healthy future for the Foresters RC.  It is probably one of the oldest RC still running in the area and we are committed to its survival.  Please keep looking at the website for updates.  We are endeavouring to update the website as quickly as news changes.  Don’t forget, you can catch up on Facebook too.  If you are a member, do send in news of your horsy achievements and photos, we can all then enjoy your successes.  However, if you have any funny out take moments that you wish to share send those in too.

Finally, a really huge thank you to all those who have supported the club so far this year, whether it be trainers, venue owners/managers or riders or stores.  It has been really encouraging to see such commitment to keep the Foresters Riding Club going and move it forward in line with the changing times and demands of riders.  We look forward to reporting back soon.

HAPPY AND SAFE RIDING

The Committee