Mini Road Rider Badge (Photo)

Four members achieved their Mini Road Rider Badge this week: Ceri Lloyd Williams, Nansi Edwards, Elliott Dawson and Amelia Harrison-Smith. Chrissie was very pleased with the standard: they all concentrated and realised the importance of riding safely on the road, not just to get the badge but it could save their lives!!! Well done all.

Camp Enrolment Evening

Camp applications should now be in. Please let Bethan know ASAP if you would like to attend but have not yet completed your form.

Camp information and duty rota evening will be on Tuesday 21st June at Cefn Village Hall. Mini Camp will be at 7pm and Main Camp at 8pm. Please make every effort to attend.

Area Show Jumping

Please send your entries and cheques for Area Show Jumping on 26th June to Chris Leahy ASAP. Entries close on 18th June. Novice team entries need only be jumping competitively at 90cm, Intermediate at 1m, and Open at 1.10m.

At present we are struggling to get even one team together, and it will be very sad if Flint & Denbigh goes from winning at the Championships last year, to not even being represented at Area the next.

Representing Flint & Denbigh at Horse Trials

Please note that when you are representing the Branch at any Pony Club Horse Trials competitions you should wear Branch colours: red hat cover and black long sleeved top. Branch stocks are available from Iona.

Also ensure your tack is well fitting and in good condition: stitching in good order, stirrups the right size, etc.

Cheshire Hunt North One Day Event

Seven Flint & Denbigh members successfully took part in this competition at Smallwood on 4th June: Jac Cernyw, Zahra Bennett, Sali Wyn Wheway, Orlagh Toner, Steph Parsley, Twm Cernyw and Scarlett Owen. All members were immaculately turned out and rode exceptionally well in each of the three phases, and were rewarded by lots of individual placings. Well done to everyone who took part, you were a credit to your Branch. Photos can be viewed following the link.

It’s an amazing line up…………!

This year’s Bolesworth International CSI **** will have a golden glow with confirmation that Great Britain’s Olympic title-winning dressage and showjumping teams from London 2012 are to be reunited. Olympic dressage champions Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Laura Tomlinson will lead a stellar entry in an eagerly-awaited freestyle to music class on 16th June – Bolesworth’s opening day – with Hester confirming he will be aboard likely Rio Olympics ride Nip Tuck. And the thrills do not stop there, as Nick Skelton is among the showjumping entries with brilliant stallion Big Star, when he will be joined by London team-mates Scott Brash and Ben Maher, while the fourth member of that quartet, Peter Charles, will be at the picturesque Cheshire venue supporting his rider daughters Scarlett and Sienna.

Dujardin and Hester will compete at Bolesworth just 51 days before the Rio Olympics ceremony, offering fans a dream opportunity to watch them in action as they continue their Olympic countdown. And they will also be paying a visit to an exciting new Bolesworth attraction this year – The Equine Zone – which introduces a fabulous Fanzone and Learning Zone. The Fanzone will feature regular rider guest appearances throughout the four days, with riders taking time out to meet and greet the public and taking part in photo opportunities and autograph-signing sessions throughout the day.

Visitors are also invited to join an exciting programme of events in the Learning Zone, which offers free educational talks and discussions designed to appeal across a breadth of equestrian expertise and incorporating various topical equestrian subjects. Each session includes a panel made up of experts, specialists, vets and riders. Learning Zone sessions will take place in a specially-designed theatre within the Equine Zone between 11am and 4pm each day. They will run every hour on the hour, lasting for for approximately 20 minutes.

And with the Olympics just weeks away after Bolesworth, it’s an exciting time for equestrian sport, and Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard will be present on Friday, June 17 to talk through the ‘Road To Rio’, being joined by dressage and showjumping stars.

General admission tickets are available at a pre-sale price of just £12 for the opening two days, and £18 for Saturday and Sunday, up to 40% off gate prices. Under-14s can enjoy free admission, while a four-day season ticket is at a not-to-be-missed pre-sale price of £40. Tickets can be bought online at www.bolesworthinternational.com