From The Chair
Well I think I was correct in forecasting the end of the monsoon season, but then we had the issue of Foot & Mouth to contend with. Our Hardwick ride was cancelled on the advice of Defra, but hopefully the disease has now been contained and we can continue with our group rides to the end of the season. Unfortunately the Booth Hay Charity Ride was also cancelled as the route passed over farmland.
I would like this opportunity to thank Flick for all her hard work producing the newsletter for the last few years. The committee have agreed to take their turn, where possible, in doing newsletters, in the short-term, until we have a volunteer for the job. Please bear with us. So for this issue, I’m your editor! Please let me know if you are interested in becoming our new newsletter editor and we’ll provide all the help and support you will need. Julie Brown has become our new Group Liaison Officer, and will attend the national group meetings on our behalf. Could you also let Rachel Dennet know if you would prefer to receive your newsletter by e-mail, rather than post, as this would save on costs.
We had a few Derbyshire successes at Lindum this year, the relay team, Sarah, Ruth, Janice and Jackie came 6th, Jean Collins and Diane Gillings came 5th in the Pleasure Pairs and Diane came third in the Roamer (unmarked pleasure ride), so well done to them all! (and anyone else I havn’t mentioned!)
Congratulations go to Ruth and Craig Chadwick who got wed in July, and were presented with a gift at Lindum, where they spent their honeymoon! (that’s dedication for you!)
Jackie

Trophy Cards
Just to remind you, our group year end is 31 October, so mileage cards showing all rides
completed up to that date, should be returned to Brenda Hallworth by 5th November
(preferably with the mileage/points totalled up) even if you’ve only ridden a few km’s (over 80km in total) you may be eligible for a mileage award at our annual presentation evening in January.
Remember only 4 charity rides to count, and if you are hoping for a PR award, you mustn’t have done any competitive rides (successful or not) during the season.

Derbyshire Group AGM
Following the cancellation of the Peak District Ride the inter-group challenge is being held at
Delamere on 22 September. There are 40km and 32km open and novice classes giving a total of 12 riders and horses needed, including a Junior/Young Rider in each class.
The provisional Derbyshire team is Diane Gillings, Linda Reeves, Bethan Reeves, Maureen Lees, Gee Corcoran, Brett Corcoran, Janice Clare, Jess Strong, Molly Corcoran, Rachel Dennett and Melanie Rhodes.
Anyone who wishes to be considered, or who is going to Delamere anyway can contact Flick

Introduction of Local Associate Membership
National EGB are looking to introduce associate membership within all local groups from January 2008. Currently several Groups, including ours have their own unofficial versions of the scheme. The benefits of associate membership are that as well as serving as a useful means of attracting new full members to EGB, the scheme also encourages existing members who do not wish to retain full riding membership to retain their links and participation with the sport. There are no barriers to the proposal
within the EGB constitution. Para 3.3 allows the MC to determine categories of membership and to fix subscription terms in the first instance, after which they would be decided at AGM. The proposal is that the annual subscription for associate members would be £15 (we currently charge £12) and £20 for a family. Group rides would be at member rates and newsletters and EGB magazines would be provided.
Associate members would be eligible to attend national AGM’s but would have no voting rights. Some key issues have been raised by other groups, including the following:
1.Whilst local groups could encourage membership the administration side ie database, sending out of membership card, production of joining forms should be done from central office.
2. There should be an option to delegate another group so that the savings could cross over one group boundary.

Helpers Rota 2008
Although the helpers rota has worked quite well for our Group over the last couple of years, we are hoping to refine the procedure. In previous years Rachel has allocated members to help at rides at the beginning of the season. However, many people have been unable to help at the ride allocated and have ended up swapping onto a different ride. This is therefore not an effective method and has caused stress to both ride organisers and helpers alike. Rachel has proposed, and the committee have agreed, that for the 2008 season, it may be more effective for all EGB and Associates to receive a list of proposed ride dates at the beginning of the year. They can choose which ride they would like to help at. There will be a deadline date for members to contact Rachel with their choice. Anyone who doesn’t advise her of their preferred ride will be allocated to the rides needing help. Some rides require more helpers than others, so it will be on a first come first allocated basis. If this doesn’t work, we will have
to rethink!
Equally, if anyone has any other ideas, please let Rachel know by phone 01457 861086 (before 9pm) or via e-mail – rockfarmbandb@btinternet.com.

Bakewell Report - 15th July 2007
I was a bit perturbed four days before the ride, when Trish did a reccy of the venue and reported that there were ducks swimming on the field! Janet (the showground manager) assured me that everything would be OK So we sorted out where the safest place would be to park our vehicles. The lorries were to be directed to hard-standing nearby, it was quite a walk from the secretary, but we felt that this was the best option. No one got stuck on the day.
We erected the secretary’s gazebo on Saturday in a Force 10 gale. I couldn’t have done this
without the help of Barbara (from Revcom) who provided extra guidelines and tent pegs!
As predicted, the rain came early on Sunday, and continued heavily all day. I can’t thank all the gate helpers and those at the venue enough, they got soaked to the skin and still managed to raise a smile and stay cheerful! Rachel and Mike had arrived early to organise the parking, after a late night out. Mike was a bit green in the face at first, but this soon changed to blue as hypothermia set in later, when they went off to man the gates through Haddon Park.
We only had two Grade 1’s on the day, probably down to the abysmal conditions – but everyone said they’d enjoyed it in a strange sort of way!

Bakewell Results
Top Open (52k) Trophy Winner – Stephen Bennett and Innuendo
Top 42k Trophy Winner – Sarah Emery and Honest Leigh Ginger
Top Novice Trophy Winner – Sam Marriott and Quest

52km Graded Ride
Grade 2: Innuendo, S Bennett

40km Graded Ride
Grade 1: Honest Leigh Ginger, S Emery
Grade 2: Murtada, B Elwell, Infidella, C Pacey
Grade 3: Squire, G Jones
Grade 4: Daniel Dee, G Comley, Mr Pink, C Atkinson, WFA Imogen, M Howard, Voski, R Wood
Comp: El Shalmeil, S Fox, Vlacq Lamin, V Atkinson, Iassin Al Landas, S Walters, Dorocina Zebedee, A Farley, Kye, S Kelly, Zarra Mandees, R Tweddle, Our Alvin, A Woodfield
1 Elimination

40km Graded Ride (Novice)
Grade 1: Quest, S Marriott
Grade 2: Chilli, A Goodman, Khalman Ibn Sabur, L Else
Grade 3: Beckmeetingskahruba, J Vesey
Comp: Warrens Hill Destiny, D Bodle, Belle, L Marriott, Formeric, A Parkinson, Khalduna Bint Kahraman, J Hagget, Saracen Gold, C Else

Foremark Results
42km Graded Ride
Grade 1: Buckskin Shadow, J Ratter; Doyenne, K Curry; Fly, J Ivens; Lady Eleanor II, T J Walthall; Mustique Moniet, B Parker; Pink Floyd, R Blane
Grade 2: Flurrie, J Gilbert; Ginger Spice, A Harrison; Lettie, B Reeves; Woody, G Urquhart
Grade 3: Dorocina Zebedee, A E Farley
Grade 4: C A A Khalil, E Martin; Dwyran Fair Ghazala, D S Brookes; Faleh, L Reeves
2 eliminations

42km Graded Ride (Novice)
Grade 1:Hassam, S Dalton; Ltf Kalisha, S Headland; Remolino, A Masterson
Grade 2: Taradale Sunset, K Barker

32km Graded Ride
Grade 1: Karmedu Ali Khazan, J Thompson; Khozama, L J Cantrill; Muharaam, M Amies; Nasser, J Searle; Risley Fancy Pants, B A Housley
Grade 2: Daniel Dee, G A Comley
Grade 4: El Shalmeil, S Fox; Highfield Meadow Trump, M Beck; Rosy, G Corcoran

32km Graded Ride (Novice)
Grade 1: Chi Lin Tashiq, H Ingram; Flash Of Darkness, A Lockett; Troy II, R Butler
Grade 2: Jasper, A Hingley; Madison, P Ingram; St. Flannans Niamh, G Hasberry; Voyager, J Williams
Grade 3: Golden Romany Honour, T Robson; Pillheath Royal Paddy (Paddy), B Corcoran
Grade 4: Whitney, Z Werndly

Lindum Report 26th - 29th August 2007
Bob and Trish had arrived on Wednesday and had set up camp. They rang me with instructions about the new camping/corralling arrangements – you couldn’t park your trailer (to camp in) at the side of your own corral, which was a bit disappointing as I like to keep my eye on Del. Some people who had arrived early had however managed to do this. I parked next to Trish’s trailer and Bob’s tent in the field across the road, and commuted to feed Del etc. It worked OK.
The first ride was the Pleasure Pairs and went well, we came about 20th out of 20 pairs! Day two was the Lindum Digger, treasure hunt. Unfortunately Fagan was slightly lame, so panic set in for me! I was hoping to have a laugh with Trish looking for clues, but instead had to go it alone. I missed the first few clues, but managed to collect all the stuff required, including a thistle, meadow herb, pine cone, black stone and oak leaf, then found the remainder of the clues. I returned in good time and didn’t even come last! Day three was the Lindum Roamer, unmarked pleasure ride. Trish had plastered cool gel on Fagan’s legs and he was sound – Brill! With Trish’s excellent map-reading skills and my good judgement of speed, we were hopeful of a decent result. We did well and didn’t make any wrong turns at all – though the route was mainly roads, due to the problems with off-road riding because of the previous wet weather. We calculated that we had come about 4th, but unfortunately we didn’t collect
our vet sheet until later so didn’t know that a mistake had been made. The timekeeper had us coming in one hour too fast at 15.33kmph – I never did that speed when I was competing! The last day we decided against the dressage as it’s not our thing! – but I would have fancied a go at the handy pony as Del is good at hazards, although there was a small jump, and doesn’t like jumping at all! So we went for the easy option of the 20k PR. We had a great four days and thank Thay and Alan and their band of helpers. As a National Ride organiser I can appreciate the enormity of this event.
I wonder each year how my old horse can cope with four days and at age 24 he just goes on and on, I’m so proud of him!
Jackie Rose

In Rememberance - HAFRENA LADY WELSH FLYER (Sophie) 1989 – 2007
Sophie was a black Welsh Section D, bred in Powys and was broken and harness raced until she was involved in an accident. She then found herself in Hereford Market as a 4 year old, in very poor condition with cuts and swellings all over her. She had been noticed by Maria, an enthusiastic EHPS member, but the mare did not reach her reserve and a few weeks later at the next horse market in Hereford, there she was again. Maria found the vendor and told him to ring her at work if the mare did not reach her reserve again. The phone call came, Maria fetched some cash from the bank and came back with her lorry. The exchange was completed and she drove the mare home. Unfortunately the tie rope had come undone and the mare was standing on it. She was frozen with fear and could not be moved for over an hour untilthe rope was cut and she was able to come down the ramp.
Sophie’s new life had begun. It took that winter to gain Sophie’s confidence and get her back into a decent condition and then she did a few pleasure rides eventually starting her competitive career as a 6 year old. She successfully completed the Bronze Buckle Final and, when Maria’s circumstances changed, Sophie was advertised for sale and I was the successful buyer. She was entered in the Cotswold Ride so I agreed to fetch her day afterwards, as long as she completed the ride with a successful final vetting.
The mare had a heart of gold and would do anything you asked of her except canter! She could trot along with friends doing a working canter for mile after mile and always came
back with a heart rate in the region of 38. She had to be ridden in a hackamore which was fine but she did have a terrible spook in her and could turn in one stride. Never came off but got pretty close to the ground a couple of times as she turned, usually with nothing more than a quivering leaf fluttering in front of her. We were members of a victorious Derbyshire EGB team doing the Lindum Spirit one year and in all she completed over 2,500 kms with Derbyshire EGB and had over 1600 competitive kms with Endurance GB recognised. Her last ride was at Hopwas in February 2005 when she went seriously lame with a suspensory injury. Her life had caught up with her but after months of box rest, scans, injections etc., she came sound again, just in time to do some pleasure rides during that summer before I retired her.
She spent the last 8 months of her life keeping a friend’s retired endurance horse company. They were joined at the hip, shared the same stable and haynet and had a very peaceful retirement – two old biddies together. This spring she started with a really bad breathing problem. A tub of Ventipulmin did not do the trick and eventually we had to resort to steroids knowing these could cause laminitis. No improvement after a week on these, she came off the pills and I decided to let nature take its course.
Two months later her breathing had returned to normal naturally but the dreaded laminitis took over. It came on suddenly over 24 hours and we had to call the vet the night before the EGB Foremark Reservoir Ride 2007, a ride I had promised to take a friend round on her first competitive ride for many years and asked the vet if we could give Sophie extra pain killers so that I could keep my promise. I vowed to myself that we would have an enjoyable ride and not tell my friend, however, my mobile rang whilst we were being sloshed. The vet had phoned to arrange a time for us to meet later which really opened the flood gates! Having got it out in the open, we finished the ride successfully with good gradings.
Despite the way the human race had treated her, Sophie was a gentle and kind mare and I am so pleased she lived with us for the rest of her life.
Jean Collins

Minutes of the Derbyshire Group Meeting Held on Wednesday 1st August 2007
Present
Jackie Rose (JR) - Chairman
Rachel Dennett (RD) - Membership
Trish Forrester (TF) – Committee member
Catherine Wheatcroft (CW) – Publicity Officer
Julie Brown (JB) – Group liaison Officer
Charlotte Curtis (CC) - Member
Carol Curtis (CAC) - Member

Apologies – Flick Edmeston, Bob Fowler, Kath Silson, Sheila Oliver, Brenda Hallworth, Linda Reeves and Sarah Whitley

Approval of Minutes from last meeting
No minutes from the last meeting were available.

Chairman’s Report – Jackie Rose
JR reported to the committee that she had attended and ridden at the recent Lindum ride and said that the relay team, The Derbyshire Dazzlers, (Jessica Strong - Sorhez Amir, Janice Clare – Sassan, Sarah Whitely – Phineus and Ruth Wood – Voski) had finished sixth and
Diane Gillings and Jean Collins had finished fifth in the pairs class. Sarah Emery had also won the prize for the ‘most cheerful person’ on the Yard!!
JR said that following the Bakewell ride she had received a thank you card from Sharon Fox. JR said that there hadn’t been many competitive entries for this ride and she suggested that, in the future, it would be better to hold this event as a social ride.
JR reported to the committee that the European championships were going to be held in Portugal during September and she told the committee that supporter polo shirts are on sale to raise funds to help send a team out.

Secretary’s Report
Not present

Treasurer’s Report
In the absence of KS TF gave the treasurer’s report.
The current account balance is: £179.76. This includes a lot of unexpected expenses and as a result of this KS has asked that any requests for funds come to her first. It is hoped that the balance will rise after the Hardwick ride, but at the current time there are not many
entries for this ride. There are also not many entries for the Shirley ride. The group have also donated £200.00 to the Northern Championships. JR said that they had seen a fold-up gazebo at Lindum which she suggested may make a suitable replacement for the caravan which is
becoming a problem to transport from event to event and find storage for. It was agreed that a gazebo would be a much better option, but that for financial reasons it may have to wait till 2008. It was also suggested that the group could purchase new bib holders from Barbara,
the timekeeper and this was agreed, when funds allow. RD was asked how many members the group has and she said that there are currently 56 full and 13 associate members.

Publicity Officers Report – Catherine Wheatcroft
CW said that the group had been very busy with rides and events. She went on to say that she had sent a report in for the main magazine, but it had not been published. She had contacted the editor who had apologised for this and assured CW that it would appear in the next magazine.
CW reported that the website was currently on-going and information was ‘building-up’ in the background, but it does require more input from members and she asked if anyone had any pictures and/or articles could they send them to her with details of the photographers. She also said that any items for sale/wanted could be advertised on the website and she asked for any history of the group so that this could also be included. CW also said that documents such as downloadable membership forms could also be put on the website.

Newsletter
There is currently a vacancy for a newsletter editor. The next newsletter is due in September and it was suggested that until the vacancy is filled that it is rotated round members of the committee. JR volunteered to do the next one. It was suggested that it should contain a report from Bakewell, forthcoming rides, a reminder that cards should be in by 5th November and that only rides completed up to the end of October will be included for trophy points.

Group Liaison Officers Report
Following the resignation of Tracey Brown the group has a vacancy for a liaison officer and JB volunteered to fill this role. JR said she would forward e-mails from Jo Claridge on to JB. JR explained to JB that the role involves attending two meetings a year and reporting back to the
group any points raised at these meetings.

Trophy Secretary’s Report
BH had asked the committee to remind members to get their group trophy cards filled in. There was some discussion about non-members who ride at group rides and then decide to join. It was agreed that only one Derbyshire social ride will be counted towards trophy points for non-members who subsequently join as full/associate members. Once they have joined then the mileage will also be counted towards awards.

Any Other Business
Previous/forthcoming rides
Bakewell – 15th July 2007
Hardwick – 5th August 2007
Longdendale – 8th September 2007. RD reported that she had researched a large section of the Northern Horse route and she was not happy with some of the alterations that had been made to it. Anne Pomfret (the joint organiser) and herself would be discussing these concerns with the local authorities.
Shipley – 21st October 2007 (Note change of date from 28th October)

North Staffs Bridleways
NSBA organises rides each month throughout the year in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shrops. Some of the rides can be challenging. There can be a lot of roadwork, lots of gates and strange things to negotiate, but overall these rides are ideal for training and to keep your horse ticking over through the winter months. If you and your horse can complete NSBA rides, then you will be prepared for anything! The rides vary in distance from 10 to 20 miles, depending on the area. Several Derbys EGB members are already NSBA members.
There is a winter challenge consisting of 4 unmarked rides of around 17 to 20 miles each, with a lovely rosette at the end.
NSBA awards mileage for each ride completed, and at the AGM, in March, distance rosettes and trophies are awarded.
Membership is £10(from 1st March each year) and ride entry fees are £8 for members and £14 for non members.
For membership application and ride details please send SAE to: Miss Jane Ridley, Stables
Cottage, Hill Chorlton, Newcastle, Staffs ST5 5JF. Sarah Emery, Chair NSBA

Forthcoming Events
September
8th Longdendale 25km SR Rachel Dennett
22nd Delamere/Cheshire 40km CR + PR’s Pennie Drummond 01663 763702
23rd Kelsall Hill/Cheshire 32km CR + PR’s As above
23rd Rotary Club – Carsington 16k Ch Peter Oldfield 01629 540510 peter.oldfield@ukonline.co.uk
30th Okeover Park – Prince’s Trust 16 k approx Ch Ann Sheldon 01629 534265
30th Denstone Charity Ride 20km/25km Nicky Mace 07968 946089
OCTOBER
13th Carsington Water/Derbys 80km CR + PR’s Flick Edmeston 01335 390301
21st Shipley (NEW DATE) 24km SR Carol Curtis
DECEMBER
9 to be confirmed Kids Santa Ride 8 km Lead rein Trish Forrester
tba Buxton New Year Ride 25km SR Trish Forrester

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