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Chair's Report 2009:

Hello All,

I feel I ought to put out my report to you all before the AGM, so anyone unable to come can put any points they want to be considered to me or any committee member today or tomorrow.

I will try to do things in chronological order, but you must excuse the odd senior moment if I get things wrong.  The Christmas Dinner, hastily rearranged by Carolyn due to numbers, at Folly Gate was a huge success, with extra thanks to Andy for doing the auction which raised  nearly £700, and especially to Carolyn and Gillian
for organising the promises. The proposed MDRC nude calendar as a fund-raising project for this year did not get made, probably due to the cold weather.

MDRC was represented in every BRC competition this year, a record.  Mid Devon was well represented at the fun jumping at the Duchy, with one team fourth and several placings by individuals. Many thanks to Jane, Sue and Ken for putting up jumps all day, I think MDRC made a good impression.

Ditto the Winter Indoor Dressage at the Duchy, where one senior team came 9th (of 24)and several seniors were placed. But the Juniors were the stars of the event, Olivia, Clemmie, Frankie and  Izzie winning. They went to the finals at Hartpury and were 10th, well done.

Jane Gordon and David Bagshall hosted a Potato Supper, which was a nice way to see people and have time to talk to them, and it made a lovely lot of money for the club.

Olivia Thornton (Riding Test) and Di Stevens represented the club at Windsor. I went and thought there are a lot of things that need to be ironed out. The prizes and enthusiasm are there, but the working in and the atmosphere just were not right.

Carolyn organised a superbly successful Team SJ at Southcott, made a lot of money, and we thought we could take even more teams if it ran in two arenas next year.

In the Area dressage etc, we had a lot of good placings, and several qualifiers for Lincoln, Frankie, Sarah. In the end, no-one wanted to go, but Olivia qualified for Addington (DTM) and was a very good second.

At the ODE at Southcott, again, there were good placings and qualifying places, Izzie was first and went to a very wet final, Kim did not go forward.

A few of us went to a very pleasant evening at Shouna's and Jim's, with SJ training and BBQ, thank you.

The Bicycle Dressage and BBQ at Jane's and David's was the best ever, it was all fun, and the highlight for me was the performance by Andy and Ken. Thank you to the hosts.

The Area SJ did not run quite to my liking, it started 40 minutes late and got later and later throughout the day. I will mention this at the Area AGM, and would like to know whether any of you have thoughts on this.  Sarah was our star. And MD were 7th (of 15 Novice teams).

An intrepid team of three went to the RIHS at Hickstead. Di's report was very funny, and while they did not come home covered in rosettes, I think they are very keen to repeat the experience next year.

Our dressage/CT/team SJ at the end of August went extremely well and made money for the club. The jumping only (suggested by Kerrie) was very popular and was the chief earner. We could not have run it without our huge numbers of helpers on the day, and many  thanks to them. But the biggest thanks must, as always, go to Team Bland, designing, building and changing SJ courses, doing the arenas, and just holding our hands all day long.

We had some representatives at the Hunter Challenge, and I am sorry, can't remember, but I believe Caroline qualified in the Open, and Alex had a double clear.

The team SJ at Cholwell did not have huge entries, but made money, shame about the organiser (Jane) having to leave the venue before the first round was even finished. Still, I am happy to report she is absolutely fine, and the rest of the day went well, thanks due to our helpers stepping in and staying.

Now to matters arising from last AGM:
Since our last AGM, Ken, Sue, Rosemary and Jennie have attended and passed a full first aid course.Gillian has amended our constitution as suggested by BRC, thank you.Gillian has worked out a logical system to make it easier to get everyone to pay annual subs at the same time.We were in a financial position to pay stabling and entry fees to everyone going to national finals.  There were no opportunities for child protection courses offeredto us by the Area management.

The Fun Day did not happen. Anyone with any spare time, please! If we now have it in winter, indoors, we could have dressage people in the morning, SJ in the afternoon, with a bring and share lunch in the middle, the first lot staying, the others coming early. To be discussed.

Training seems to be very well attended throughout the year, I think MDRC is getting famous for that, and the riders I watched at Bicton certainly appeared to enjoy that.

Membership is increasing, we must be doing something right.

Juniors must be under 18 on Jan 1st in the current year. Could all Juniors please advise us of their age on Jan 1st 2010.

As usual, apart from thanking everyone who has represented the club, and the many who have helped, my biggest thanks must go the committee, and most of all to Carolyn, who as secretary, training organiser, team organiser and Christmas meal organiser does more than anyone else. Also to Di for book-keeping, Gillian for membership stuff and Trudy for team organising.

Apologies if I have left anyone out, but most things should have been covered by my numerous emails throughout the year.

Ines
09 11 2009

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Christmas Meal & Auction of Promise 2008:

Our christmas meal at the Crossways Inn, Follygate was a great sucess.  A huge thank you to Carolyn for organising the meal and being able to find a new venue at very short notice, due to the 39 people that attended the meal and the previous venue not being able to fit us all in.

The Auction of Promise was also a great sucess, raising a massive £693.50 - well done everyone.

Also a big thank you to Andy Ewen for being our Auctioneer for the evening.

DONATED BY:	DONATION/ PROMISE	WINNING BIDDER
Trudy Ewen	Net of Carrots	Jennie Humphry
Di Stevens	Choc Fudge Cake	Ken Merron
www.southcottxc.co.uk	XC Schooling Voucher	Ken Merron
www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk	TLC supplement	Shan Maunder
Gillian Tabor	Physiotherapy (horse) voucher	Vicky Cook
www.essiesequine.co.uk	Essie’s Rug wash	Sue Friend
Sally Moore	Ham sized Ham	Jane Gordon
Tish Shere	Haylage (x10)	Judy Cracknell
Spit and Polish, Rick May	Car Valet	Jennie Humphry
Ines Penning	Horse sitting	Olivia Thornton
www.allenandpage.com	Feed vouchers (£9)	Ines Penning
Ines Penning	Delias truffle torte	Marie Ewen
Mel Jewell	Poo picking	Trudy Ewen
www.gg-supplies.co.uk	Rug wash and proof	Ken Merron
Dymond Beauty Salon	Neck and back massage	Ken Merron
www.southcottxc.co.uk	XC voucher	Gillian Tabor
www.allenandpage.com	Feed vouchers (£10)	Trudy Ewen
www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk	TLC supplement	Tish Shere
Di Stevens	Horse sitting	Olivia Thornton
Vicky Cook	Xmas cake	Shan Maunder
Jane Gordon	Meal for 4	Trudy Ewen
Marie Ewen	Chauffeur & Lorry	Jane Gordon
Judy Cracknell	Champagne	Trudy
Quinns, Okehampton	Hair cut and finish	Carolyn Smy
Sue Friend	6 x Sirloin steaks	Oliver Webber
www.suspended-animation.co.uk	Pet Portrait	Jennie Humphry
Solveig Rossiter	1hr use of sand school	Di Stevens
Debbie Handley	Roses chocs	Jane Gordon
Debbie Handley	Bottle red wine	Trudy Ewen
Di Stevens	Stud Stasher	Kerrie Bland
Di Stevens	Horse shampoo	Trudy Ewen