PRESIDENT'S REPORT
The May competition and Judges Seminar held on 23rd and 24th May 2009, went well. The weather wasn’t perfect, but we got by.
Sue Cunningham from North Sydney ran the Seminar. Sue is an A level Judge, a Level 1 Instructor, and a Judge Educator, as well as international candidate for the Para-Olympics.
There were 18 participants, coming from Wollongong, Nowra, Bega and of course local people. I was truly disappointed that riders and instructors did not take up the offer of joining the judge’s candidates for the day. As a rider and a judge, it is so important to be able to ride in at A, but look from the judge’s car at C. If you don’t know what the judge is looking for, you do not know how to tailor your performance to better your marks.
Sue did a marvellous job with her morning of mixing her information with film and yet continuously field questions. Later with viewing the horses at the showgrounds, Sue was very clear as to what judges are looking for with dressage.
Then Sue judged tirelessly the following day with Leslie Gillis, a D level judge from Canberra who is upgrading to C level. It was sad that the floods in the North Coast prevented Nell Marshman, a B level judge from making it to our competition. Thanks again to Fran Sanders for stepping in at the last moment.
It was pleasing to have 111 entries on the Sunday; I think the biggest number we have ever had. Great to have competitors from Nowra, who were also at the judges school.
Finally, working bees are taking place the week prior to our competitions, with members from the showground and rodeo committee working really hard to ensure the grounds are clean and clear. I feel some riders and young riders could help during this cleanup and also on the day of competition assist the committee members to help run the day and take down arenas. We will trial nominating members to assist in the future.
Happy Riding
Di Georgeff
President