Announcements

Minnowburn RDA Group are having a fundraiser on the 25th February 2012 at Rockmount Golf Club. There will be a pub quiz, raffle and slave auction! The price is £7 per person. For further information please contact Jenny Richardson (02890402384) or Greg Williamson (07896866133).

Our Dressage Competition will be held in May and there are new tests for all classes this year. All of these can be accessed via the National website. Don't forget that we have qualified Dressage Judges who can come out to your Group to help with training or hold in-Group competitions. Please note that as there were timing issues with the competition last year, this year WILL BE DIFFERENT! The tests will all be starting on time. There will be no timeslot for the Countryside Challenge and the course will close at 1pm SHARP. Riders should consider doing the Countryside challenge first. Ponies can only do a total of four tests (ie. 2 dressage rides and 2 Countryside Challenge rides). Good luck!

This year's RDA participation in the Balmoral Show will take the form of a Musical Ride. As such we are limited to 8 riders and will have to accept them on a first come, first serve basis. Please note that you will have to supply a leader and any required helpers with your rider and that the leader will be required to attend a rehersal or two. For more information please contact Caroline Twemlow. For anyone not able to compete don't forget that support for the RDA would be much appreciated!

Please note that the Large Group meeting scheduled for 6th February 2012 at Longstone has had to be cancelled. There is no new date as yet but keep an eye on the website for the details.

6th Feb 2012 @ 8pm @ Longstone RDA: LArge Groups Information Evening

11th and 12th Feb 2012: UKCC Level 2 Course, Part 2

21st Feb 2012 @ 9.45am @ Birr House: Instructors'/Potential Instructors' Course (please see details in the "Documents" section)

22nd Feb 2012 @ 9.45am @ Moy Equestrian Centre: Instructors'/Potential Instructors' Course (please see details in the "Documents" section)

15th May 2012: Balmoral Show

18th- 22nd June 2012: Regional Holiday (please see NEW forms in the "Documents" section)

Happy New Year to all of our Riders and Volunteers! Several of our longest serving volunteers had their contributions recognised at a recent RDA prize lunch. Willie Hanna won the Volunteer of the Year award and three ladies won the prestigious President's Award- Joyce Dunlop, Brenda Larmour and Gwen Garrett. Congratulations to them all! For further details please see the report in the Documents Section of the website.

Coleraine Group are holding a Christmas Craft Fair on the 27th November. Please see the documents section of the website for details. There are still stalls available and if you would be interested in taking one please contact crda.manager@hotmail.com

A report by Caroline Twemlow on the Coaching Conference can be found in the documents section.

This Saturday 22nd October, there is an arts and crafts fundraiser in aid of Newtownards RDA Group featuring Magpie Belfast, upcycled crafts and homeware, and I Do Cartwheels, creative furniture design. There will be afternoon tea served and the event will be between 2.30 and 5.20pm. Please call Gillian on 07710 908 881 for more information.

The 26th September is the closing date to apply for Paralympic tickets for the 2012 Games in London. The equestrian events are sure to be popular so get in early! Good luck!!

Brenda Larmour has several paris of adult jodphurs up for grabs. You can contact Brenda directly or else through Katie Uprichard, Publicity Officer.

Publicity Officer Katie Uprichard and her friend Jenny Laverick took part in this years Lap the Lough- an 81 mile cycle around Lough Neagh (the largest Lough in the British Isles!)- to raise money for RDANI. The girls raised over £1000 and would like to thank everyone who supported and sponsored them!

The post of Sports Development Officer at Coleraine RDA has become available on a temporary basis from September 2011. Please see http://www.rdacoleraine.org/home.html for details.

A Car Boot sale is being held on the 7th July 6.30pm- 9.30pm at Laurelview Equestrian Centre. This is a great chance to clear out your tackroom and pick up some bargains! £5 for cars and £10 for vans or trailers will go to Antrim, Ballyclare, Laurelview and East Antrim Groups who use the facility.

A course is being organised by Gillian Bingham looking at the use of horses for physiotherapy. There are still places to be had on this one day course (24th June) and RDA are offering a financial contribution to physiotherapists who can offer to share their skills with local RDA groups. Please ring Julie Jordan, Regional Chairman, for details.

Congratulations to Alice Sharkey of Newtownards Group who was voted Senior Rider of the Year!

Nominations for Junior Rider of the Year are still open but please get your nominations in before 15th May 2011. Nominees must be younger than 18 on the 1st Janurary 2011. Please contact Julie Jordan for details.