Entries are now being accepted on Nominate
Follow this link: https://www.nominate.com.au/equestdn/Event.aspx?event=7419&eventlist=1 to see the schedule.
The FEI schedule is currently awaiting approval and will be posted shortly.
Presidents report for the 15/16 year.
NCHTA – 2015-16 President’s Report
It’s been a great privilege to serve as NCHTA President again this year.
I want to start by thanking all NCHTA committee members for their support and patience with a largely absent President. As always, Kate Mackenzie has carried a huge load as event secretary and also as keeper of the club’s social media presence and coordinator of many other club matters (not to mention running the Sam Lyle and other clinics that members have enjoyed). Also particular thanks to NCHTA Secretary Jackie Szczepanik and to Ben Smith for keeping the books in order.
The major activities of the year, of course, were the events in October 2015 and March 2016. Both were extremely successful. We had great coverage of the October event, which yet again attracted a number of Olympians and other top flight riders. Thanks to Fiona Gruen for the great media work!
Also a massive thanks to the 100+ volunteers and officials who make our CIC and CNC events possible – too many to name, but we couldn’t do it without you all. And finally in the thank you stakes, to our sponsors, who provide such valuable support in so many ways.
The March event was rather more sombre, being only a week after Olivia Inglis’ fatal accident at Scone. The organising committee was seriously impressed with the mature and thoughtful way our younger members marked this tragedy, offering black stars for riders to wear on their sleeves and saddle-cloths, and creating a condolence book for the Inglis family. Thank you to Tori Doak, Katy Doak, Hannah Klep and Kelsey Szczepanik – we’re really proud of your sportsmanship, as well as your impressive achievements on board your beloved ponies.
Unfortunately, our planned Eventer Trial in June had to be cancelled, due to the recent wet weather. However, I’d like to make special mention of the fact that a heap of people turned up to help flag the course the weekend before the first scheduled date. The job was done in record time, proving that many hands do indeed make light work!
On another positive note, we received grants from the ACT Government and Eventing NSW for NCHTA to buy its own set of quality showjumps from our great sponsor Over the Top – enough for a CIC*** event. This will make life much easier for organisers of events and training days, reducing our reliance on ACT Showjumping Club, and enabling us to be more independent and flexible. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Jump Club for their support over many years. They’ve been great partners, and I’m sure we will continue to share equipment and volunteers in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, the cross country course becomes more impressive at every event, thanks largely to Ben Smith’s tireless efforts. I don’t know where we would be without him! Last year we were also fortunate to have a visit from renowned international course designer, Mike Etherington-Smith, as well as a change in the course plan to remove the first creek crossing, thanks to our new course designer, Vince Roche. We also welcomed back the charming Dan Olson from Sweden, who has been a fantastic addition to our course design and building team for a few years now. The change in course also meant a new start box, complete with a plaque to commemorate the life of Alan De Courcy Ellis, who spent so many years keeping us all calm as he counted us down, wished us luck and reminded us to enjoy the ride. He is sadly missed in the Secretary’s office!
This time last year, we were in the midst of discussions with the ACT Heritage Council about a proposed listing of the Yarralumla Woolshed that included most of the cross country course as “rural landscape”. While we couldn’t convince the Heritage Council that the course shouldn’t be included in the listing, I’m pleased to report that it is now specifically recognised in the provisional registration documents. That wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and persistence of Christine Lawrence (President of ACTEA) and the support of the equestrian community. I’d like to particularly thank Grant Johnston, who mobilised national and international support (including the aforementioned Mike E-S) to ensure the Heritage Council understood just what it take to develop and maintain a cross country course, and how important ours is to the sport.
So, all in all, it’s been another busy year and we’ve successfully muddled through again. I wish the new committee all the very best with the year ahead.
Rachel Stephen-Smith
3 August 2016
XC clinic with Charlie Brister
Charlie will be coaching at Equestrian Park on the 27th August.
Entries on nominate. Click here for the link
Announcing our CIC3* and 2* class sponsors
We are very grateful to Karl from OTT for his ongoing sponsorship of our events. This year our 3* class is being sponsored by OTT.
Horseland Canberra have also been a long term sponsor of Equestrian sports in the ACT and NCHTA is proud to continue our relationship with the store. They are sponsoring the 2* class. They are planning to bring their mobile store to the event.
Both Karl and staff from Horseland Canberra will be at the event so don’t forget to drop in and say thank you to them, without the support of generous sponsors such as these, our sport would not be able to progress as it does.
Postpone, cancel, postpone snow!
It’s been a very wet and wild winter so far! We chose to postpone the Eventer Trial in June due to the forecasted heavy rain, and in hindsight we probably should have just run it, as the weather afterwards has been quite ordinary. We rescheduled it for the 10th of July, but felt that the grounds on the grassed area for the showjumping wouldn’t cope so we cancelled. The clinic with Sam Lyle has been altered due to the crazy weather this week, and a few hardened souls will be out training tomorrow (Thursday 14 July).
In other news, the AGM is due next month, so if anyone wants to join our small and dedicated team in running several events then come along to the Yowani Club in Lyneham on the 3rd August at 730pm.
A reminder that memberships are due again, please follow this link to renew or join – discounts are available for all members as well as priority entry for clinics.
Eventer Trial Draw available
The draw for the Eventer Trial is now available: Eventer Trial 2016.
Please note that the notes say the incorrect date! But it’s definitely on the 19 June. We will be setting up from 10am on the grass flat area on Saturday, many hands make light work so your help will be appreciated.
The local pony club will be running a canteen and coffee will again be supplied by our long term sponsor Funky Brew.
We are looking forward to seeing you all!
Eventer trial entries open
Entries are open on nominate and will close on the 3rd June.
The first competition will be a pairs cross country. The course will be quite short, with the fences having various height options so that all pairs can be catered for. There will be three “dressing fences” which the two horses must jump as a pair (ie side by side). Points will be given for these fences and penalties deducted for refusals and falls. There will also be an optimum time. The winning pair will be the one that goes clear with the most points for style over the dressing fences. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the pair closest to (and under) the optimum time.
The other competition will be the Eventer Trials. They will consist of a round of showjumping followed immediately by a timed obstacle course (testing the all round handiness of the horse and rider) and then (immediately again) by a cross country course. There will be four classes: 60cm, 80cm, 95cm and 105cm.
Any horse may compete in the pairs competition as well as one class of the Eventer Trial competition.
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Class
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Description
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Price
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1
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Pairs Cross Country
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$40 ph
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2
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60cm Eventer Trial (Prize money and Ribbons to 8th)
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$80
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3
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80cm Eventer Trial (Prize money and Ribbons to 8th)
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$80
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4
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95cm Eventer Trial (Prize money and Ribbons to 8th)
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$80
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5
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105cm Eventer Trial (Prize money and Ribbons to 8th)
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$80
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Fancy dress is encouraged and there will be a prize for the best fancy-dressed pair. However, please note that this competition is to be run under the relevant EFA rules. In particular, it is the responsibility of each competitor to ensure that they wear the correct safety helmets.
On Saturday, NCEC are running a dressage protocol day at Equestrian Park, so why not enter that and make a real weekend of it! Details for entering are on global entries
National Capital Horse Trials Association 