Thank you to everyone who joined us for our AGM in Warnford, it was fantastic to see so many make it on a chilly evening. Jeremy from The South Downs Bloodhounds  did a brilliant talk on "Hunting the Clean Boot" and we are so grateful to him for coming along and supporting Meon Riding Club. We are also extremely thankful to all the generous donations to the raffle from our Meon friends and businesses.

Voucher for a clinic with Jasmin Collins 
Voucher for lesson with Sam McEwan 
Voucher for lesson with Georgina Marks 
Voucher for a clinic with Sharlotte Hughes 
Voucher for school hire Wood Farm Equestrian  
Voucher for school hire Glen Farm Livery 
Voucher for school hire Quob Stables 
Voucher for photoshoot with SJ Imaging 
Voucher for Hunting for 2 with The South Downs Bloodhounds 

 
🏆Meon Riding Club Awards 2024🏆

> Novice challenge Award (outstanding performance at Novice level)- Grace Sigournay- our junior for competing at the Novice National Champs, Grantham , in both dressage and show-jumping, and coming 13th and 16th respectively.

> Hawthorn Achievement (outstanding performance at Intermediate level) – Kerry Tyrrell- for competing in the DTM National championship in both Medium and Elementary, and winning the Elementary championship!

> McCarthy Salver (An award that recognises a member who has made the biggest improvement over the year, those that may not compete in teams or other comps, but still work hard in the background) – Philippa Clarke has improved so much in both dressage and jumping. The pinnacle being her success at the Moreton Area 17 Championship, winning frillies in both SJ and dressage on both days for Meon.

> Volunteers Award – Sam McEwan - for giving up her time and expertise to Meon. Sam has judged at several members only dressage competitions plus helped run the Intermediate Dressage Qualifier that Meon hosted earlier this year.

> Simply Seamus Award (outstanding performance in SJ) – Gen Lodge- for competing successfully for Meon at the Area 17 Championship including jumping the 100cm class, at the New Forest Show and then an outstanding performance at the Blenheim Eventers Challenge too.

> Gem Cross Country Cup (outstanding performance in XC) – Alex Erskine– for qualifying at 80cm for the BRC National Horse Trials Championship on Charlie, finishing on their dressage score, and bagging 8th place.

> Veteran Trophy (club member over 50 who has been consistent throughout the years)- Jenny Martin is one our most senior riders in the club at 76 years young. We were thrilled to have her still riding for Meon at the DTM qualifier recently, where she came 4th in the Ele.

> Best Newcomer (consistent performance by a relatively new member) – Daisy Brock- our junior rider who qualified and competed at the Intermediate National Championships, Grantham, where she got great scores in both her dressage tests and also came 10th in both!

> Arc En award (outstanding performance in dressage) – Georgina Marks -for winning both her classes the Medium and Elementary at the Intermediate Dressage Qualifier.

> Rose Seagrave Memorial Trophy (Improvement in dressage over the year)- Louisa Whitlock- for her hard work and significant progress in dressage this year.

> Apollo Award ( Originally awarded to someone riding at Open level, this level doesn't really exist in Riding Club now, so the award now is for outstanding performance at Combined Challenge/Combined Training or Arena Eventing)- Tiff Christer -for her success at the Combined Challenge National Championship in the 70 with a double clear and individual 8th.

There was also a special award this year, nominated by Sharon Veal, and this was the "Legend" special rosette, awarded to Barbara Wood who has been a great source of inspiration to many Meoners, and certainly Meon RC are very proud to have her in the club.

Chair’s Report

2024 has been another busy year. Members embraced the new non qualifier team and individual classes run at Qualifiers, with Meon often entering more teams than any other club, but we have also still had a strong showing at the qualifiers gaining 11 rides at the Championships and with Kerry Tyrell winning her dressage to music class. Meon hosted the Intermediate Dressage Qualifier with Corinne Staples and Oonagh McGibbon plus their team including Jo Knight, Sam McEwan and Amy Richardson putting together a hugely enjoyable and well-run event. Next year we are hoping to run the Summer Dressage Qualifier at Wood Farm.

This year also saw the introduction of the Area 17 Championship held at Moreton. Ten of us went for the weekend and competed in 53 classes. We got very wet but the camaraderie and team spirit was amazing and I would highly recommend going next year – hopefully the sun will shine.

We ran two fun Members Only Dressage competitions this year at Quob and we plan to hold another on 21^st December (so get those entries in). Meon members have also successfully competed in Endurance this year and the increasingly popular Working Equitation as well as doing brilliantly in the eventers challenge at  Blenheim and show jumping at the New Forest Show.

Our training sessions have been well attended and continue to be so, although we did have to cancel a couple of XC day clinics which is probably due to there being so many events and training clinics online all competing for your time. In addition to ridden clinics Corinne has also organised the popular Mechanical horse sessions and more recently a yoga evening.  In September we had our first residential camp at Tweseldown run by Alex Gilliam which received lots of positive feedback.

This year the Committee have organised for two members to be first aid trained and bought new equipment to help with our smaller events. We are also still looking at the issue of Meon possibly becoming incorporated as a form of company but awaiting guidance from Area 17.

Our show jumping competition at Crofton last weekend unfortunately suffered from a long delay due to a faller (whom we wish a speedy recovery), but competitors were extremely patient and accommodating and the helpers really pulled out all the stops to get things back on track. It was great to see lots of you winning the lovely Liphook rosettes and cheering each other on in teams .Huge thank you to Amy for bringing it all together again and to all the helpers for offering their valuable time.

The Committee would like to thank you all, especially the fantastic helpers without whom we could do nothing, for making this amazing Club what it is and we look forward to more fun next year.

Treasurer’s Report 2023

The accounts presented are made up from 1^st January 2023 to 31^st December 2023 and they are now available should anyone wish to review these in detail.   

We started the year with £10,520 and ended with £8,601 having spent £1,919  over our income.

Our treasurer Jo, had informed the committee during the year that expenditure was increasing and steps have been taken to ensure the riding club remains in a healthy position:  £4000 was moved from our ‘current’ account into our ‘savings’ accounts which gives some interest. We also reviewed how we subsidise members’ entries to qualifiers and championships; how we provide refreshments for helpers at events we host; as well as actively seeking sponsorship from equestrian businesses to minimise the running costs of training camps and shows.

We are confident that we have made progress to rein-in costs (pardon the pun!) and we look forward to continuing to put on a full range of activities for our members to enjoy.

British Riding Clubs have informed us they are planning to increase their fee’s for affiliation and insurance for 2025.  As yet, we have not been advised by how much they will rise but these do form a large part of the fee’s from members. Based on this, we propose to make a modest increase to the membership fees in the coming year with a flat rate of £40 for all members.