A busy year has been planned for Crystal Brook Pony Club, with many rallies and an Open Showjumping Series and an Open Dressage Day, as well as the annual Northern Zone Eliminations (hosted by Port Augusta Pony Club this year).
(See the Calendar).

We hope for the most successful year possible with some new instructors and rally plans.

Let’s make 2012 our best year yet and get everyone involved!

On Wednesday the 18th of January, we are holding an Instructors’ & Committee meeting.
The aim of this meeting is to gather together everyone who is available to instruct at the club this year. We are always welcoming new instructors, and through this meeting we will find out how many new instructors we have on board, decide on rally dates that suit most people, and construct definite rally formats (including training for Northern Zone Eliminations).
We are hoping to have a first practise for any Four on the Flat riders at our first rally of the year, Sunday the 5th of February. The sooner we know which riders are competing in what event, the larger chance we have at success at this year’s Zones.

As well as instructor organisation and Zones discussion, the evening will also be a regular Committee meeting.

The meeting will be held at Helen Robertson’s house (Laura), starting at 7:30pm. We strongly encourage that all possible instructors come to this meeting.

If you have any enquiries or need directions to Helen’s, please contact us.

The gymkhana consists of hacking and mounted games (riders may choose to do one or both), at $2 per class or $15 for all classes (10 classes in total). Ribbons to 4th place.

Aggregate awards for each age group will be presented at the conclusion of all events.

Classes may be combined or divided depending on the number of entries on the day. Riders are encouraged to wear the pony club uniform of white shirt, blue and white club tie, blue jumper and beige jodhpurs. A limited number of pony club saddle blankets are available from the clubrooms for us on the day (these must be wash and returned). Plaiting is optional, however saddles and bridles mst be as clean as possible and horses neat and well groomed.

Click here for the program.

For more information, please contact us.

Kathryn and Louisa will be there to instruct with most likely a lesson of jumping an dressage.

NORTHERN ZONE ELIMINATIONS 2012
If riders are interested in participating in the 2012 Northern Zone Eliminations it is very important to tell Louisa what they would like to compete in ASAP. The events at Zones are:
- Individual Preliminary, Novice and Elementary Dressage
- Four on the Flat
- Individual E, D, C, B and A Grade Showjumping
- Mounted Games Team
- Junior/Senior Horse & Rider of the Year.

This is important because we need to put together any possible Four on the Flat teams as soon as we can so that the team/s can have as many practises as possible.

If you have any questions as to what any of these events are, or are not sure what would be suitable for you/your child etc, please contact us.

With a very impressive turnout, the grounds were packed with floats and trucks. There were riders from clubs as far as Clare, Bute and Port Augusta, as well as several participants from our own club.

The heights, ranging from poles on the ground to 110cm, were jumped exremely well by some excellent showjumpers of the area.

The Crystal Brook Pony Club would like to say thank you very much to Gay Growden for judging the jumping, to Molly Hill for designing a brilliant course and for timing, to Louisa Berndt for pencilling, to Andrea Catford for doing a fantastic job of running the canteen, to everyone who helped raising the jumps, and to everyone who came and participated in the day.

The last two parts of the series are on Sunday the 6th of November and Saturday the 3rd of December. Click here for the flyer.

New member Louise Foley and her horse Mally tackling jump 6.

Available heights:
- Poles on the ground
- 40cm
- 60cm
- 75cm
- 80cm
- 90cm
- 100cm
- 105cm

$2.00 per round, post entries on the day.

A combination of horse and rider may only compete in a maximum of 2 round per height, with a maximum of 3 heights, AM7.

Ribbons on each day to 4th place and aggregate ribbons awarded on the final day.

Approved helmets and boots to be worn at all times whilst mounted.

Any day will be postponed if the predicted temperature is 32°C or over in Port Pirie as seen on Channel 4 news at 6:30pm prior to the day.

Click here for a flyer.

Contact Louisa Berndt at ljb1@aapt.net.au or on 8662 2620 for more information.

Kathryn and Louisa will be there to instruct and riders will get the opportunity to have a jumping lesson in preparation for our Open Showjumping Series.

If riders are interested in participating in the 2012 Northern Zone Eliminations could they please have a think about/tell Louisa what they would like to compete in. The events at Zones are:
- Individual Preliminary, Novice and Elementary Dressage
- Four on the Flat
- Individual E, D, C, B and A Grade Showjumping
- Mounted Games Team
- Junior/Senior Horse & Rider of the Year.
If you have any questions as to what any of these events are, or are not sure what would be suitable for you/your child/relative, please contact us.

The focus of this rally will be showjumping in preparation for our upcoming showjumping series.

Please let Louisa or Kathryn know whether or not you are planning to attend, or simply fill out the RSVP form. This is very important for a smoothly run rally.

If you are interested in competing at the Northern Zone Eliminations 2012 in Four on the Flat, please also let Louisa know so that team arrangments can begin.

For more information, please contact us.

Kathryn and Louisa will be instructing, with a possible focus of showjumping in preparation for our upcoming 3-part showjumping series.

Every rider who is intending on participating must pay at least part of their membership before or on the day. Full membership fees are due by Sunday the 28th of August (our next rally). Click here to view information about membership fees.

Click here to RSVP.

For more information, please contact Louisa at ljb1@aapt.net.au.

The following is what our Crystal Brook riders are competing in:

Dressage

Volunteer pencillor: Andrea Catford

‘A’ Four on the Flat team: Michelle McCallum (team manager)
Rider 1 – Brianna Noble riding Arnie
Rider 2 – Emily Hopgood riding Gracie
Rider 3 – April Catford riding Grandpa Napper
Rider 4 – Pearl Catford riding Jo

Novice 2C:
Merryn Plug-Berndt riding Come Uppance
Brianna Noble riding Arnie

Preliminary 1C:
Pearl Catford riding Jo
April Catford riding Grandpa Napper
Emily Hopgood riding Gracie
Merryn Plug-Berndt riding Come Uppance

Showjumping

‘D’ Grade: Brianna Noble riding Arnie

‘E’ Grade:
April Catford riding Grandpa Napper
Pearl Catford riding Jo

Junior Horse & Rider of the Year (HROY)

Brianna Noble riding Arnie

Click here for the timetable/draw.

Hopefully everyone will be able to make it to the Aberdeen Oval, Burra, on the weekend – the Zone Eliminations is a really fun day and is a great opportunity for riders to gain serious competition experience.

Just as a reminder – we made a club decision to not participate in this year’s State Championships at Mount Gambier (for place-getters only) – regardless of placings – because it is such a long distance to go.

If you would like a copy of a dressage test or have any enquiries, please contact Louisa at ljb1@aapt.net.au.