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08.10.10 DRC | Summer Classic recap

It’s official …

Our run of fair weather shows hit the proverbial wall this past weekend, although the deluge of wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of our volunteer crew and a large turnout of exhibitors (and their entourages) at Delta Riding Club’s two day Summer Classic. It was by every other account a terrific weekend of competition and good will!

We’d like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the exhibitors who braved the rain and honoured their entries – you are the BEST! While the Hunter show didn’t match the record number of entries at our June show, judge Monique Fraser (from the comfort of her truck) judged full classes in pretty much all but the 2’9” division. (The jumper classes once again failed to draw entries and I have it on pretty good authority – Francie’s – that we’re going to ix-nay them in the new year, perhaps in favour of something new for the Hunters.)

Diane Moon and Bruce Walker once again shared the whipper in/ring steward responsibilities, braving the elements the entire day and putting their rain gear to good use! (Thank goodness for oilskin!) They took the brunt of the weather, while the rest of us kept relatively dry in the comfort of our newly renovated clubhouse. Except maybe for show manager Francie, who sprinted between the jump course and the Dog & Pony sale tent onsite, and Julie Crouch who passed out awards and ribbons for most of the day!

Kitchen sizzle

Our new kitchen couldn’t have made its debut at a better time; after a somewhat sticky start, Fiona Walker had the new grill smokin’ (figuratively!) – and was so grateful not to be standing alone at the BBQ in the rain! Things really got hopping when Wendy Silverwood showed up and took a shine to our shiny cooktop! Together, Fiona and Wendy were having WAYYYY too much fun sashaying for grill time and when the lunch crowd subsided, Wendy went on the prowl to drum up more business! You’re hired, sweetheart!

To top off a great first day in the kitchen, Fiona won not one but BOTH volunteer draws on Saturday! Well deserved, we say! And THEN we drew her name AGAIN on Sunday (totally random), but she refused another Timmy’s gift card. (We hope she bought lottery tickets on the way home!)

Bagging great prizes

We outdid ourselves this year in prizes and high points – and they were clearly a hit with exhibitors! In addition to our “bucks back”, we had Devon and friend Ali assemble gift bags loaded with show staples like hoof black and shampoo, bands, brushes, halters and new DRC ball caps for all first place exhibitors, courtesy of our in-kind sponsors! We’d especially like to acknowledge Westway Feeds, Venkat Saddlery and Roddicks Feed & Farm Supply for responding to our “11th hour” requests for more “stuff” and to Denise at Embroidery Plus for the great caps!

This year’s high points – embroidered directors chairs – were a huge HUGE hit (and we might just do it again next year, wink wink nudge nudge). Congratulations to Saturday’s high point winners:

Cross Rail

2 Foot

2’3”

2’6”

2’9”

We wish Diana Marks a speedy recovery after an unexpected dismount! We are happy to report no bones were broken afterall, and how grateful we were to have first responder Courtney Kind on site, as well as Diana’s friend (a nurse whose name I didn’t get, unfortunately) attending to her.

So it wasn’t perfect horse show weather …

While the rain had more or less subsided by the start of Sunday morning’s English/Western show, the residual drizzle made wet sponges out of horses, riders and the volunteers forced to venture out from the sanctuary of the clubhouse. Nevertheless, spirits remained high with over 40 exhibitors on hand and respectably sized classes in all but Pleasure Driving, Handy Horse and (heavy sigh) the Western division.

The way I see it, everyone knew just how much we needed a good soak – if for no other reason than to refresh our pastures and maybe squeeze a second cut from hayfields that seem all but scorched. One thing for sure – the wet weather sure had our new laminator (courtesy of DRC sponsor Marilyn Pay and Four Seasons Equestrian Facility) pumping out exhibitor numbers (for a modest donation).

Once again, the new kitchen was a magnet, this time attracting first time volunteer Terry Agle (who ended up with our a.m. volunteer prize) who took orders while senior cook Marg Brodie took over at the grill (with a little help from Fiona, who just cudn’t stay away)! Announcer Sheila Forsyth won the afternoon draw. (She has had some good karma this year with the volunteer draw, me thinks!)

Then there was Greenhawk’s Laura Loiacono who REALLY got me out of a pickle. With SO much to organize and manage in the week before the show, I hadn’t confirmed a whipper in (oops …), but Laura – who had offered to help in SOME capacity -- stepped up and did an awesome job (in spite of the weather)!!

Bruce was back outside as our ring steward (having wrung out from the day before), Kim Proudlove assumed and resumed the job of “runner,” delivering the judges cards to Sheila after each class, and Courtney was back as first responder while her mom and my buddy Cindy Mackay held down the fort in the entry office – no small feat as exhibitors eyed the high points and opted to add classes in a bid to take one home, many putting their freshly won “bucks back” to good use to offset the added costs of entry!

Congratulations to everyone who competed and especially to our EW high point winners:

WALK TROT

JUNIOR ENGLISH

INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH

SENIOR ENGLISH

WESTERN

ENGLISH PLEASURE STAKE

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE STAKE

WESTERN PLEASURE STAKE

Many thanks to Jodie Moore for braving the weather and doing a great job in the ring. It’s a pleasure working with good judges and we’ve been honoured to host a bunch of them this year!

Picture perfect

I saw on Facebook today that photographer Troy Nagle (www.divineeyeprod.com) is busy sorting through and uploading nearly 1500 shots he took over the course of the weekend. What a great sport he is – and a gifted photographer! Be sure to touch base with him for your show shots! We’ll be uploading a few of our favourites on the DRC website tout de suite.

BTW, did you know DRC has a Facebook page? Devon manages it; I’m not a huge Facebook fan (I lurk but rarely participate); but if you are – look us up!

And finally, did I mention we have the BEST exhibitors? You have no idea how much we appreciate ALL of YOUR support! When you show up, it makes all the hard work preparing for these shows worthwhile. THANK YOU!

Two more to go

I have to say I am relieved that I don’t have to watch the Weather Network for at least three more weeks, however … come Labour Day, I’ll be all over the 14 day forecast as we starting getting ready for our final English/Western show of 2010. It’s on Sunday, September 12. I don’t know about you, but I think fall is the best time of year to ride! Let’s see if we can’t inspire a bunch of western riders to come out, eh?

Check out the show schedule on the website, and plan to come!

And then, the BIG news is that we’ve snuck a second CARBOOT SALE into the schedule, once again in conjunction with a Percentage/Dressage Day, on September 19. I’ve attached our Carboot poster. If you’re in a boarding facility or near a feed or tack store, we would really appreciate it if you could print this out and pin it up so EVERYone knows the great deals will be at Delta Riding Club this fall!

Fall Carboot Poster(PDF)

Parting thoughts

We’ll have news very shortly on our year end bash. (You won’t want to miss it! We’re quite excited about the plans we eeked out during our “after” party on Sunday!).

If you are interested in riding at the club between now and the September shows, drop me an email and we’ll try to organize an open hack. Or two.

And that’s all I got. For now. :)