Link Up 2014

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Committees & Regional Secretary’s

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ise. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors, also known asthe Executive Committee, is an eightmember committee appointed by theNational Committee. Each member iselected to serve a three year term and iseligible for re-election. They work in avoluntary capacity and can be contactedthrough National Office.

Current Members:Chairman: Tony EnnisVice Chairman: Kevin McGuinnessMembers: Dermot BrislaneThomas Daniels, Fiona Furey, DympnaGibbons, Grainne Healy, Emily McDonaghPresident: Helen ManganVice President: Gerry Thompson

National CommitteeThe National Committee comprises of 24members, three directly elected by eachregion annually. It meets 4 to 5 times ayear.

Current Members:Midlands:Ann Bloomer 087 2369522Grainne Healy 086 8374179Caroline Lynch 086 2743460

North East:Louise Duffy 086 8877680Kevin McGuinness 087 6707201Louise Somers 086 2895264South East:Dympna Gibbons 086 3645432Melissa O'Connor 087 8337386Claire Nulty 087 6108944South Leinster:Hilary McHugh 086 8239515Jane Power 087 2626936

Peter Roberts 086 6016176

South West:Mike Hurrell 086 2475506Fiona Leahy 087 2622378Jane Morgan 086 2719296

West:Thomas Daniels 087 2539941John McArdle 087 9028801Kean O'Hara 086 2585946

West Leinster:Fiona Furey 087 2583928Emily McDonagh 087 2467349Karyn Jamieson 086 0239125

West Midlands:Dermot Brislane 087 6757292Tony Ennis 086 8617698Doreen Egan 086 8164205

Regional Secretary’sMidlands:Grainne Healy 086 [email protected] East:Louise Duffy 086 [email protected] East:Helen O’Byrne 086 [email protected] Leinster:Hilary MacHugh 086 [email protected] West:Orla O’ Kelly 086 [email protected]:Corin Gaughan 085 [email protected] Leinster:Paddy Carroll 087 [email protected] Midlands:Doreen Egan 086 [email protected]

News in Brief

Equine premises registrationwith Agriculture departmentUnder statutory instrument, horseowners and keepers are required toregister all premises with theDepartment of Agriculture, effectivefrom 1st May 2012.

To register, owners and keepers ofequines need to fill out a form whichcan be obtained on the Departmentof Agriculture website or from yourlocal district veterinary office.

For further information, visitwww.agriculture.gov.ie

Membership Online, yourgateway to online entriesand moreEach member, when they join theAssociation, is automatically allocat-ed a membership online account.

This gives you access to your accountinformation, grades, registered hors-es, previous results at nationalevents and also access to enternational events online.

You can also update your contactinformation such as your postaladdress, contact telephone numbersand your email address.

To access your account go towww.airc.ie and click on

Membership Online.

Stay in touchHave you registered your contactinformation on your membershiponline account?

If you haven’t, you may miss out onemail or text updates on riding clubactivities.

Log onto your membership onlineaccount and update your contactinformation including postal address,mobile phone number and emailaddress to stay in the loop.

This service is provided free ofcharge. Go to www.airc.ie and thenselect membership online (it’s locat-ed in the top right hand corner!).

Don’t forget to like us on Facebookand follow us on Twitter, go towww.airc.ie and click on the links!

Need to contact NationalOffice?National Office is open Monday toFriday between 09:30 to 13:30 and14:00 to 17:00 by calling 045 854 555or emailing [email protected].

Cover Photograph:Members from Castle Hill Riding Club who

won the Irish Field Musical Dressage Ride atthe Riding Clubs Festival last year.

(Pic: Dave Stanley)

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Link-Up,the

publicationofthe

Association

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Clubs,

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Abbott.

Horse Trials QualifiersA

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Horse TrialsChampionships

Qualifiers for the popular Horse TrialsChampionships get underway nextmonth.

Up to 4 rider and horse combinationsqualify in the Advanced Primary,Intermediate and AdvancedIntermediate level at each qualifier.

Qualification for the Open andAdvanced Open championships is notrequired.If a rider and horse combination hasalready qualified, the next highestplaced rider will go forward to thefinal from the qualifier.

Riders may qualify at any of the eightqualifiers.

Horses must be registered withNational Office on the national data-base before entering a championshipqualifier.

An updated list of qualified riders ispublished on www.airc.ie after eachqualifier.

The final will take place on Sunday7th September 2014 at GurteenCollege, Ballingarry, Roscrea, Co.Tipperary.

Visit www.airc.ie for further informa-tion on this championships.

Championship Qualifiers 201418th May SE Kilmanahan, Co. Kilkenny25th May - Stradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois22nd June SW Farrengalway, Co. Cork29th June WM Hillcrest EC, Co. Limerick20th July NE Cloncaw Equestrian, Co. Monaghan27th July WL Marguerite Lodge, Co. Kildare3rd August M Corbeagh House, Co. Longford.

Championship Final7th September Gurteen College, Co. Tipperary

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers as the dates aresubject to change. Another date for a qualifier will be confirmed shortly .

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Masters Series QualifiersA.I.R

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€1,000 Bursaries &Hit Air Vest on offer!

The Masters Series gets underway inApril when the first of eight qualifierstake place in Kilkenny.

There’s training bursaries worth over€1,000 and a Hit Air safety vestworth almost €500 on offer at thefinal in September for those whoqualify.

The show jumping series is open tointermediate, advanced intermedi-ate, open and advanced open riderswith three divisions.

There are three divisions in the series- a) Intermediate, b) AdvancedIntermediate and, c) Open andAdvanced Open.

The top six rider and horse combina-tions from each division will qualify

for the final at each regional qualifier(see below for dates).

Riders may qualify at any of the eightqualifiers around the country.

Horses must be entered under theirregistered name as described ontheir passport. They must also beregistered with National Office onthe national database.

At the series final, competitors willgain points towards the league tablefrom a maximum of three classes perdivision, one of which must be thegrand prix.

Training bursaries will be awarded tothe top three in each division at thefinal on Sunday 14th September.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

Masters Series Qualifiers 201427th April Warrington Top Flight EC, Co. Kilkenny4th May East Cork Maryville Stables, Co. Cork4th May Benbulben Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo11th May Inishowen Lenamore Stables, Co. Donegal1st June Cheval Jordanstown, Co. Dublin22nd June Greenvalley Boswell EC, Co. Wicklow24th August Winterdown Kildare International EC, Co. Kildare31st August Anvil Roscrea EC, Co. Tipperary

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers.

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Team Show Jumping Championship

Horseware TeamShow JumpingChampionshipLast year over 125 teams soughtqualification for the final of theHorseware sponsored Team ShowJumping Championship at theDiscover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

This makes it undoubtedly the mostsought after title of the Association’ssix national championships.

Eight qualifiers take place each yearand teams may only qualify at theirrespective regional qualifier.

Teams of 3 or four members (and atleast two nominated reserves), madeup of two riders who will jump a0.90m course (these could be madeup of two Intermediate or one

Intermediate and one AdvancedIntermediate) and two riders whowill jump a course not exceeding1.00m (these could be made up ofany of the following grades:Advanced Intermediate, Open orAdvanced Open with a maximum ofone Advanced Open. There mustalways be one Intermediate rider onthe team.

The team that wins the regionalqualifier goes forward to the final.The second placed team from eachqualifier will go forward to the WildCard Qualifier at the Riding ClubFestival. The winner of this competi-tion will go forward to the final onSunday 10th August at the DublinHorse Show..

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

Championship Qualifiers 201427th May WM Roscrea Equestrian Centre, Co. Tipperary4th May M Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Co. Westmeath4th May SW Maryville Stables, Co. Cork11th May WL Coilog Equestrian Centre, Co. Kildare18th May SL Boswell Equestrian, Co. Wicklow18th May NE Keran's Equestrian Centre, Co. Down25th May SE Coolboy, Co. Wicklow25th May W Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers

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Riding Clubs FestivalA

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e. Two days of eques-trian fun at theRiding Clubs Festival

The Riding Clubs Festival takes placeon Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th Juneat Stradbally Hall Estate.

From its beginnings at PunchestownRacecourse in 1991, it has steadilygrown to what it has now become.

Last year almost 800 horses compet-ed in over 70 competitions across arange of disciplines.

Every level, from Primary right up toAdvanced Open, is catered for with arange of competitions each day.

In show jumping there are competi-tions for individuals, teams and alsosome novelty classes such as powerand speed and accumulator.

Dressage enthusiasts are accommo-dated with a range of competitionsfrom individual, pairs and teams todressage to music, musical ride, longarena tests and prix caprilli.

The five showing rings are a hive ofactivity throughout the weekend witha range of championships up forgrabs including the Carl GeislerMemorial for the supreme ridden

horse. The best of breed is rewardedwith the Eddie Fowler Memorial tro-phy while newcomers to showingcompete for the Frank ManganMemorial.

There’s also a working hunter cham-pionship with performance hunterclasses for Primary and AdvancedPrimary.

Stabling is available from Friday 7thJune at 2pm until Sunday at 6pm at€90 per stable.

Entries cost €16 for individuals, pairscost €32 while team entry’s are €64.

Postal entries close on Wednesday23rd April while online entries openon Monday 21st April until 12 noonon Wednesday 7th May.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andthen National Competitions.

The Association would like toacknowledge the following sponsorsfor their continued support:

Riding Clubs FestivalA.I.R

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Saturday 7th JuneDressagePrimary IndividualAdvanced Primary IndividualIntermediate IndividualAdvanced Intermediate Long ArenaOpen IndividualMusical RideNovice / Expert PairsYoung Horse

Show JumpingPrimary TeamsAdvanced Primary TeamsIntermediate IndividualAdvanced Intermediate IndividualOpen / Advanced Open IndividualAdv. Intermediate Power & SpeedOpen / Adv. Open Power & SpeedVeteran RidersClear Round Jumping

ShowingLightweight HunterMediumweight HunterHeavyweight HunterSide Saddle / 4 Year Old* / Mares*The Carl Geisler Memorial C’ship*Small HuntersRiding Horse (Up to 158cms)Riding Horse (Over 158cms)Cobs (Lightweight / Heaveyweight /Maxi)Primary Performance HunterAdv. Primary Performance HunterIntermediate Performance HunterColoured Horse (Up to 158cms / Over158cms))Veteran Horse

Sunday 8th JuneDressage

Primary / Adv. Primary Prix CaprilliIntermediate Prix CaprilliIntermediate Long ArenaAdvanced Intermediate Individual

Open Long ArenaAdvanced OpenAdvanced Open Long ArenaTeam DressageDressage to Music (AI/O/AO)Dressage to Music (P/AP/I)Fancy Dress PairsVeteran Rider / Veteran Horse

Show JumpingPrimary IndividualAdvanced Primary IndividualIntermediate Power & SpeedIntermediate TeamsAdvanced Intermediate AccumulatorOpen / Advanced Open AccumulatorTeam Show Jumping ChallengeClear Round Jumping

ShowingIrish DraughtIrish Draught Performance HunterConnemaraConnemara Performance HunterEx Racehorse / ThoroughbredEx Racehorse (Performance)Traditional Irish Cob / ArabsThe Eddie Fowler Memorial C’ship*Introduction to ShowingPrimary Showing / Novice ShowingThe Frank Mangan Memorial C’ship*Working Hunter (Intermediate)* / (4 & 5Year Olds) / (AI/O/AO) / C’ship*Riding Club Horse Primary / Adv. Primary

* Qualification required.This list is provided for guideline purpos-es only and must be read in conjunctionwith the event schedule.

Dressage Championships

Dressage Qualifiers 20144th May SE Daverns Equestrian Centre, Co. Tipperary18th May M Kilrainey Equestrian Centre, Co. Kildare25th May WL Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare15th June NE Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre, Co. Meath22nd June WM Clonshire Equestrian Centre, Co. Limerick29th June SW Faugh, Co. Kerry6th July W To be confirmed20th July SL To be confirmed

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers

New formatincreased participa-tionThe changes to the qualificationaspect of the DressageChampionships, which were intro-duced last year, proved popular.

It resulted in an almost 50% increasein the number of teams seeking qual-ification to the championships lastyear.

To qualify, clubs are permitted toenter teams of three or four riders.These must contain no more thantwo riders from any one grade repre-senting no less than two grades.Reserves must also be nominated inadvance of the qualifier.

The number of teams qualifying ateach regional qualifier will depend

on the number of teams which starton the day of the qualifier. One teamfor every four teams, or part thereof,will go forward to the champi-onships. Teams, however, may onlyqualify at their respective regionalqualifier.

In the individual classes, the top fourrider and horse combinations fromthe Advanced Primary, Intermediateand Advanced Intermediate classesat each qualifier will go forward tothe championships. Individuals, how-ever, may qualify at any of the quali-fiers.

If an individual rider and horse com-bination has already qualified at aprevious qualifier, the next bestplaced rider will go forward.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

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Events Calendar

Make sure to visit the Events Calendar on www.airc.iefor an up-to-date list of activities happening in your area.

Above:Clonough members

present the IHWT with a cheque foralmost €2,000 from their Benefit nightlast year.

Around the Regions

Your photos fromaround the regionsWe would like to thank everyonewho sent in photos from around thecountry during the past year. Don’tforget to send yours in by emaillingthem to [email protected] the year.

Above: Bel Airs Becky Lee had a successouting at last years Riding Clubs Festival onSir Frederick. Below: Ballinasloe secretaryNiamh Macken in action at a local ridingclub show on Captain Smirnoff.

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Above: Des Ellard (right) was madepresident and honorary member ofCarne Riding Club at a recent 30 yearreunion of the Club in Wexford.

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