RRC Winter Newsletter 19/20
January 2021 Newsletter
Have you been feeling stir crazy in lockown?
Not to worry, we are excited to resume competitions this summer and our regular lessons and training
dates reserved to resume as soon as Tier 4 restrictions & BRC allow. We hope you are looking forward to
Renfrewshire Riding Club’s 2021events.
If you have not yet renewed your membership, please renew via our website which will give you discounts on our
lessons and events going forward. To join, please visit our website and complete the membership form and then
send the payment by BACS for the amount shown, using membership and your name as a reference.
We will be holding our annual AGM online this year, which will be a shorter meeting than previous years, we will
of course thank everyone who attended our 2020 AGM and gave us their feedback on the feedback form detailing
what members would like to do – taking this information forward into 2021.
We have condensed the answers and are in the process of arranging the most requested events.
AGM Winners
Congratulations to all our winners for 2019! (Apologies for the delay – but 2020 newsletter did not get out before COVID hit!)
Shalena and Jo won John Cameron
most Improved award.
Anna and Gift won Yvonne Kerr
Most improved award.
Zoe and Dreamer won Olivia Wilmot
Most improved award.
Reba and Monty won Senior Showjumping
Trophy and Senior Overall points trophy.
Melissa and Ursla won Junior Showjumping trophy
and the Touchstone Masterpiece Trophy
Anja and Lotta won the senior Dressage Trophy.
Dressage winners Showjumping Winners
Intro junior X poles/50 Juniors
Cara & Magic Reese B & Michael
Intro senior X poles /50 Seniors
Jan & Oscar Kay & Connie
Prelim junior 60/70 Juniors
Melisa & Ursula Gold Melissa & Ursula Gold
Prelim senior champ 60/70 Seniors
Emma B & Michael Lucy & Beau
Novice junior 80/90 Juniors
Melissa & Ursula Nicola & Echo
Novice senior 80/90 Seniors
Fiona & Tia Reba & Monty
Elementry senior Volunteer winner
Linda & April Emma & Michael
Dressage
We had a great year for dressage in 2019. The year finished with a super day where we sponsored the Beatson in Glasgow by having a fun day where everyone wore pink. A huge thankyou to our dressage judge Kirsty Millard who very kindly donated her fee for the day. We saw a great turn out with everyone wearing pink in the spirit of the occasion. We donated £341.80 to the Beatson in Glasgow – so well done everyone! Dressage dates are in our events calendar for 2021 and we are organising a Test & Teach dates for the spring when hopefully the weather will be better! We look forward to seeing everyone at the first dressage of the 2021 series – entries will open around 2 weeks prior to the event.
New Flu vac regulations for anyone interested in competing in the Area one or BRC events
(note this does not apply to Renfrewshire Riding Club’s own events)
**Important Flu Vaccination Update**
BRC Flu Vaccination Statement – 8 November 2019.
Throughout the year, we’ve been listening to advice and evidence from our veterinary and industry colleagues on the BEF High Health Steering Group, the Equine Infectious Disease Advisory Group and the Animal Health Trust (AHT). Unlike some other organisations, we took the decision not to make a mid-season rule change during the initial outbreak, instead strongly recommending that a six month booster be given, while continually monitoring the situation.
As a result of the outbreak this year, a number of competition venues have taken the decision to mandate six monthly boosters. This has led to some confusion among members as to the different vaccination requirements from venue to venue, which has necessitated additional checks before competing. Indeed some areas have had to run qualifiers stipulating a six monthly booster is mandatory in order to satisfy their venue owners.
We want to be as consistent as possible across all our qualifiers and championships, with a clear policy that all members can follow. It should also be noted that we are now in line with British Dressage, British Eventing and the FEI. However, we appreciate that this is a significant move, so we wanted to ensure that we considered the advice provided by veterinary experts before amending our competition rules. All of the evidence points to the efficacy of vaccinations reducing after six months.
“We all need to help control the spread of the virus and vaccination unequivocally does just that. There have been several peer-reviewed scientific papers which support vaccination, including six monthly boosters, which should not leave any responsible horse owner in doubt that this is the right way forward.”
The BRC qualifiers and championships are very large events. We regularly see in excess of 500 horses gathering together from the length and breadth of the UK. It is our responsibility to protect these events for our members, their horses and indeed the future of our sport.
We have noted that some members have commented that their horses have had an adverse reaction to a recent vaccination, and BRC would like to encourage any instances to be reported on the UK Government report portal here: https://www.gov.uk/report-veterinary-medicine-problem. This should be in addition to reporting the reaction to your veterinary surgeon.
2020 BRC Rule Change: From 1 January 2020, it will be strongly advised when competing at BRC events to have a flu vaccination within 6 months and 21 days of the competition. From 1 March 2020, this will then become mandatory. The wording which will be added to the 2020 Handbook (changes in red) can be found here.
IMPORTANT: This does not mean vaccinations need to be done every 6 months; it means that the vaccination needs to be within 6 months and 21 days of the competition. For example, if your competition was the 22 September, you would need to have a vaccination after the 1 March (1 March – 1 September = 6 months + 21 days = 22 September). This rule applies to Qualifiers and Championships only. Whilst we recommend that Clubs also follow this advice for Club activities, they remain autonomous and can therefore decide what they will require for their own training and events.
Please feel free to click the link below to check your compliance prior to putting yourself forward for competing for an event.
Flu Vac Checker 2020 (Excel)
Showjumping
Our showjumping Series 2019, concluded with our Halloween show where we had a great turnout for the fancy dress and showjumping, complete with our new Shining Jump and our IT Jump. Everyone in enjoyed the day which finished with a Chase me Charlie with Anna, Mhairi, Melissa and Reba battling it out! In the end Ursula and Melissa were the Chase me Charlie winners for 2019. Thanks again to everyone for taking part in the fancy dress and all the extra help with preparing and storing the Halloween jumps. Showjumping training dates are in the diary for 2021 and we are looking forward to our showjumping series this summer.
Teams
We were delighted to have so many teams entered in various events in 2019. All teams did really well and enjoyed the day, with plenty supporters and helpers at hand. Well done to Nina for organising all the teams. First dates we know for the 2021 team events are tbc following the area one AGM at end of Jan
- Probably around Sunday 14th of March Area 1 Winter Intermediate Dressage Qualifier at Morris tbc
- Date tbc Area One Horse Trials
- Probably around Saturday 3rd of July Area 1 Summer Dressage Qualifier at Morris tbc
- Probably around Sunday 4th of July Area 1 Summer Show jumping Qualifiers at Morris tbc
***Please read the new regulation information about injections and ensure you will be compliant before putting yourself forward to compete at an event. Thankyou!
New British Law coming into force at end of 2021 – Scot Equine Cards
Just to let everyone know in plenty time , there is a new law coming into force next year – In England, after 1st October 2020 all horses and ponies must be microchipped. This comes into effect in Scotland at the end of 2021. So if your horse is not already microchipped, then you will require to do this between now and the end of the year.
You will likely have received information through in the post from www.scotequine.com – it is really easy to do. When you log in, they will likely already have your horse details on there and you just need to confirm and upload a couple of pages from your horse passport and a photo.
Cross Country Training
We managed to squeeze in some cross country training in 2020 – in between lockdowns! For 2021 we will have various training dates booked in as soon as the ground is ready. Cross country training is great fun and everyone always enjoys the day, we will book a variety of courses from early Spring, so watch this space.
Olivia McCord Fundraiser
Thankyou to everyone who contributed to the Olivia McCord fundraiser and Auction during 2020. Thankyou to all the instructors, Farriers, Riding Clubs & Equine Business’ who were so generous with their auction & prize draw prizes allowing them to raise a whopping ££9,654! Plus the Lawmarnock dressage competition which raised a further £500, the Ingliston yard jumping comp which raised a further £200 and the £300 donation from Renfrewshire Riding Club, gives a current total so far of £10,654!
Scott Brash has kindly donated his Prize Winners Rug worn by Sanctos when they won the Grand Prix and Global Chamionships in Doha. The fundraiser is now running a bonus ball to win this real piece of equestrian history – please look up Olivia McCord Fundraiser on facebook to see what numbers are remaining to be in for a chance to win this amazing prize and help Olivia. Thankyou again to everyone who has supported the fundraiser so far! Thanks Emma & Edwina x
Amazing Deals for RRC! Every Thursday
10% Discount 10% discount
Amazing Saddlery At Jet Set if you show
Unit 1 your RRC Membership Card
Riverpark Industrial Estate 6a Ploughlands
Bridge Street, Linwood Dundonald
PA3 3DW Kilmarnock
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