MAY 2008 NEWS REPORT

May begins with Nadege (and partner Richard) going on holiday to New Zealand. I have now recovered well enough to work a full day mainly grooming, saddling etc, but can also ride two on the flat per day so we should manage quite well to cover Nadege’s absence.

Stephen is now playing football on Saturdays for the Two Wells Football Club.  Conor and I went and watched one of his first home games  which he played well and also kicked the first goal.

We took a few of the young horses (Dane, Moe, Oscar & Charlie) out to the Mallala Winter Series for the first time. Our good friend Sam Goddard got the ride on Charlie but after a little mishap she got a whack in the face from a wing. Luckily she did not fall off – but was a bit battered and bruised so only jumped a few fences. Dane, Oscar and Moe jumped extremely well and very well behaved in the arena. Conor also had a great day doing some solo riding on Nelson as well as grooming and washing him.

A very hastily organised trip was made to Singapore. I was hosted again by the Lynam’s which was great and I think that I have convinced Jerry to buy a hotel in Australia by the beach with 20 acres for Saoirse’s horses. Things have been improving in Singapore. Alice, Emma, Saoirse, Julie, Katirka and Emily readily spring to mind and all did well at the clinics. Lianna also went well as did all the other younger riders. Pedja’s wife Gena recently had a fall and broken her collar-bone which was not only painful but also made the task of looking after Alex difficult. Luckily her mum arrived to help. I caught up with Tim Downes who stayed with Pedja and Gena on his way to Hong Kong. I also had dinner with Roz Fox and Anaïs who are patiently waiting for their new horse “Banjo” to travel to Singapore. It was great to again have an in-depth discussion with Ellen Ryan about future planning for jumping in Singapore that I think will hold them in good stead on the International scene for the future.

On my return I started jumping (albeit 60cms in the beginning) which was quite exciting considering my balance was not too good at that stage. I have also started lessons in the hills again on a Tuesday night at Wistow Indoor. Nadege has now returned after a good break. Tra La La is now being ridden regularly at home and going well. The Gymnastik Star youngsters, Gambrinus and Genesis (Moe & Oscar), and TB Dane continue to improve.  The young warmblood mare Lolita (by Lux Z) is very exciting and looks like joining the elite ranks of Kinnordy Serena and Traktion.

As I write I am in the Qantas lounge in Alice Springs having missed the direct flight to Darwin. I now have a five-hour stopover here. At least I will have a chance to catch up on some phone calls that are well overdue and John Phillips will be first on the list.                   

Having arrived late in Darwin the setting up had already been done, so it was back to Karen & Fred’s place for dinner and sleep. The private lessons saw some new faces, new horses as well as some I had seen before. The top group did very well with Karen, Lindsay and Chloe all having improved and jumping a decent sized course on the final day.  Lisa did a good job on Emily’s young horse. Bobbi’s new horse is very impressive although green and Blare and Grace went well too.  It was great to have Tracy for the full 3 days on her lovely Gymnastik Star mare.

There was a great bunch in the younger horse or rider section.  Elizabeth has improved and has a good horse. May also has a very nice young horse. Sam (who used to stable with us years ago)  improved greatly over the 3 days and Michaela looks like she has an outstanding youngster. The other youngsters also did well and it was great to see so many take part.

Socially we had a great dinner at the Hanhuman (?) – which has the best curries.  A super barbecue on “Webby” and “Hayley’s” house boat in the harbour with Bobbi and Dan as well as another great pub dinner at the Virginia Tavern with Peter, Amanda and Olivia. The highlight though was Amanda’s amazing tour of the Darwin Police Forensic Unit. It was amazing to see all the resources and certainly would stop any ‘would be’ criminal from going down the crime road if they too had the chance to see what is there. I think that the work is vital and amazing. How they identify DNA or determine which gun fired a bullet is unbelievable. It really was just like one of the CSI shows on TV – only better.

Then to top it all off I was given another pack of freshly caught fish from Amanda’s Dads boat, a special thank you to her. She tells me all I have to do in return is take Olivia down to the NEC for 10 years or so.

On my return home I am pleased to hear all about Conor’s trip to the Adelaide Oval with his Auskick friends from his school Trinity College.  Morya and Gill were there to cheer him on and were pleasantly surprised to see lots of AFL footballers there to lend a hand.  Conor was ecstatic to have Adelaide Crows player Nathan Bock as the training mentor for his small group.  All decked out in his Crows gear he was also proud to have his photo taken with Nathan Bock and Jonathon Griffin.  I am a bit jealous that I wasn’t there too! 
Go the Mighty Adelaide Crows.

 

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