JUNE NEWS REPORT 2007

June got underway with a clinic in Darwin.  We had some private lessons on the first two days followed by a three-day school.  I can see a real improvement in most of the riders and horses.  Karen Ruzsicska in particular, was very pleased.  Karen and Fred were again great hosts and it was also good to catch up with Tracy Syrimi whose “Gittegan” was very impressive.

We had the first of our Pony Club Squad clinics here at the NEC using the Indoor Arena to familiarise horses and riders with courses in an indoor venue.  Riders came from as far away as Kangaroo Island, Pt Lincoln, Kimba and Mt Gambier.  Training is on track with us stepping up the ‘difficulty’ as well as the height. Riders and team officials received their State Uniforms which looked great and got us all into the “team spirit”.  Now we could sense the Championships coming. Another highlight of the clinic was the great session we all had with a Sports Psychologist which was very enlightening and inspirational to all of us.

We said goodbye to Chantal, one of our staff members who decided it was time for a change in employment. With thank her contributing to Northern Equestrian Centre for the past two and a half years and wish her all the very best with whatever she chooses to pursue.  Vanessa stepped in to give us a hand and although she had a fall from a pony we trialled for overseas clients, she wasn’t hurt and I think she is enjoying spending time here 

Then off to Hong Kong for a couple of days.  It was great to catch up with everyone there.  Jennifer Lee and her horse Whisky are going great and she is preparing for trials in Germany for the Hong Kong Team (for the Olympics).  Things have improved quite a bit here and many are now ready to move on up the ladder (so to speak).  It was certainly an eventful trip!!!

I left Hong Kong to arrive in Singapore at 1.00am, with my lessons starting at 7.00am.  No rest for the wicked. It was great to hear that at the last show only two clear rounds were jumped in one of the classes – one from Robert Emitt the eventual winner and the other from TC Guinevere. Both of these horses have come through our yard so we were pretty proud too.  Again, improvement can be seen with most riders and it is great to have the cooperation of the coaches including Inge and Amanda from the Bukit Timah Saddle Club.  Huge thanks to Mary and Jerry Walsh for putting me up and driving me around during my stay this time.  Jerry is retiring soon so they are heading back to the UK and will be sadly missed by all in Singapore and me too.

After returning home to Adelaide we had our last Pony Club training session for the Pony Club Squad.  The sessions were spread out a bit with the West Coasters having their training separately after the weekend -  we were all able to again “up the standard”. Now we are ready.

It was nice to have Pedja from Singapore back here at the NEC and we were kept quite busy over his three day visit with lots of horses to see in such a short time. I think saw quite a selection and certainly some that would be suitable for the Polo Club.  Thanks must go to Pedja who helped out with some of the training sessions with the West Coasters and also when I gave the impressive new horse TRAKTION and KINNORDY SERENA a jump.  A big group of us (including those staying at the NEC) had a chance to go out to dinner one night and Pedja was able to sample some Aussie fare (including crocodile and kangaroo).  

The last day of June and I am off to Queensland to meet up with the team for the Nationals.