Meet The Team!

Ever wondered who those wild-eyed purple-clad folks you see in the cabin are? Here's a quick rundown of a few of those faces... more snaps to follow from next show!

Our leader, Ann. Currently suffering fron laryngitis, so it's lovely and quiet.

Barbara "Granny B" Dibbits. If a job needs doing, Granny B'll make sure it gets done.

Field manager Darren "Tea two" Gowland. He's a Geordie, so we can provide a translator if you don't quite understand where he's telling you to park.

Treasurer Liz "Mother" Mottershead. Adding some much-needed glamour to proceedings.

Chief hooter boy Rob Penny. Never knowlingly overworked.... (Sorry Rob!)

Of course, we also have a little help of the four-legged kind who are always happy to play with new volunteers, and occasionally drag a rope across the field as they "assist" with setting up...

Lucky makes a surprisingly good van driver.

Holly adds an extra element of hyperactivity to the team.

Sasha thinks cuddles are much more important than hammering in stakes

We always need volunteers to help set up, car park and steward. If you are interested in helping out just pop by and see us in the cabin.

Phew!

Where on earth has the season gone? It doesn't seem like five minutes since we were worrying over whether the fields would be dry enough for the first show - and now it's May bank holiday!

Don't forget, this weekend's show will be your last chance to qualify with us for the Ponies (UK) sumemr champs, and is also a BSPS championship qualifier and area 2a points show. I've been looking round the websites of other clubs recently and I believe that we offer the widest selection of qualifiers anywhere in the North West - although if you know of one we've missed then let us know!

Still to come are more Equifest and UK Showing qualifiers, CHAPS, TARRA (for retired racehorses), plus more opportunities to qualify for the North West showjumping and working hunter championships before Ponies (UK) winter qualifiers at the end of summer.

Sunday's show will also have a working hunter ring, with clear round until 11am. For logistical reasons the working hunter is NOT on the main show field - unlike some shows we don't believe it's fair to ask 15 section Ds to gallop round a 20 by 20 ring! If you cross out of the show field by the bottom gate and go across the flat field (spare car parking) you will come to our beautiful, professionally built workers course. It jumped really well at the show at the beginning of the month, so we hope you will come and give it a go.

As ever, more details are available on our website, or you can leave a comment or email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk with your thoughts.

See you on Sunday!

Dressage points champions

Congratulations to all the competitors who took part in our winter dressage series.
Holly Watson took the beginners junior champion title with her very cute little pony Carrwood Goldleaf, and Karen Calderbank took the senior beginners title on her pony Gigman Sandypipit, who was originally bought for Karen's daughter Abbey, but commandeered by mum!
There were double winners in both the junior and senior prelim and novice sections. Abi Lilley won both titles with her pony Euphoria Queen. Abi says she will be trying her hand at elementary level next year.
Debbie Dobson won the senior prelim and novice sections on her "gentle giant", the part-bred Shire My Gentleman. Look out for Debbie and "Sheldon" as he is known at home in our new heavy horse showing classes, which we have introduced this year.
The open elementary champion was Jackie Fare on her chestnut gelding Oskar. Jackie had to ride some particularly difficult tests to win this season, including the fiendish elementary 49 - sorry Jackie!
Special mention also goes to Savannah McMullen, who was our most improved junior rider, and Karen Calderbank who was our most improved senior. And Abi Lilley won the highest score award for getting a massive 72% in the prelim 13.
It was also great to see some veteran horses showing the youngsters how it's done as they competed for the qualifying spots for this year's Veteran Horse Society dressage championships. Congratulations to everyone who got through - they now go on to the regional finals, where they will be battling for the chance to go to the VHS dressage national championships! The dressage gala day on July 3rd will also be a VHS qualifier, so if you missed out this time make sure you enter in time - and hope for sunshine as we will be venturing out of the indoor arena.

Dressage results and fabulous gala day!

**** February results ****

After the postponement of the January dressage competition due to the heavy snowfall, we were thrilled to see that competitors braved the cold for Leigh's February dressage competition.

Karen Calderbank won the senior beginners' class on her pony, Gigman Sandypipit, while Holly Watson took junior honours on Carrwood Goldleaf.

The open prelim class was won by Debbie Dobson on her shire cross, My Gentleman. Abi Lilley and Euphoria Queen won both the junior prelim and novice classes. The elementary winner was Jackie Fare on Oskar.

Katie Hodson won the prix caprilli (dressage with jumping) on her Connemara pony, A Bouncing Star.

**** March dressage ****

The final dressage competition of the winter series will take place on March 20. The classes will be beginners prelim 4, open prelim 13, novice 30 and elementary 49. The competition will be a qualifier for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships - currently the only qualifier for the champs in this region.

**** Dressage Gala Day ****

The dressage committee have just announced that they will be holding a Dressage Gala Day on July 3rd.

Riders will have the chance to improve their dressage scores in clinics with British Dressage listed judge Jenny Johnson, followed by classes in the afternoon including lead rein, young horse, beginners and prix caprilli, plus prelim, novice and elementary classes.

The day will also have qualifiers for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships and the UK Riders dressage championships.

Details and entry forms are available on the Leigh and District website, http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk

Winter Dressage - February 13th

Yep, after some snow-induced confusion we are back with the second to last of our Winter Dressage series. December's tests have now become February's tests to keep the increase in difficulty as gentle as possible.

Tests are:

BEGINNERS: Prelim 1

OPEN: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49

PLUS! Prix Caprilli 2 (dressage with jumping)

There are several Prix Caprilli tests floating around on the internet. The CORRECT Prix Caprilli 2 is available to download and print off from the Leigh and District website.More details and entry forms are available from http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday, February 10th. Please ring between 8 and 10pm on Friday, February 12th for times.

We are also thinking about holding adressage day in July with qualifiers for VHS dressage and possibly the Fearns Farm Dressage Championships, plus two dressage clinics and potentially a chance to try your hand at medium level. If you like the idea of this and it could potentially be something you would be interested in, or you have any other ideas of what you would like to see included in a dressage day, please message me or email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk.

Show clinics and dressage

There are no more places left for the January clinic with Julie Templetone. If you have paid for a place but haven't heard about what time your slot is yet, please email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk

Places for the February clinic are also going fast! You can download a booking form from the Leigh and District website but if you are an M&M owner I would recommend texting first to check there are spaces available. Absolutely no calls before 6pm on weekdays please!

We are also now taking entries for the next dressage competition on February 13. Again, you can find more details from the Leigh and District website. It's a great chance to come and try your hand at dressage, and we have classes for everyone, from beginners to elementary.

For the March competition and the dressage day in July (details yet to be announced) I am considering holding a VHS dressage champs qualifier if enough people are interested. Please comment below to let me know your thoughts.

I am also thinking of organising two one-hour clinics at the July event if there is enough interest - again, comments below please!

Important notice - dressage cancelled

IMPORTANT NOTICE - DRESSAGE CANCELLED

Due to the frozen and icy conditions we have decided to cancel the dressage on Saturday, January 9.

An extra dressage competition will be held on Saturday, March 20.

This means there will be some changes to next month's tests

2010 tests will now be:

FEBRUARY: Beginners: Prelim 1, Op...en: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49, Prix Caprilli 2

MARCH: Beginners: Prelim 4; Open: Prelim 13, Novice 30, Elementary 49