News in Brief

Health and SafetySeminarsA series of Health and Safety semi-nars will take place around the coun-try in the coming months.

Each club will be required to sendtheir safety officer or a club delegateto a seminar and details will be pub-lished on www.airc.ie shortly.

Membership cardsreminderMembers, club officials and eventorganisers are being reminded thatall riders taking part in any A.I.R.C.activity must produce a valid 2013membership card.

Under rule 4, c, members are notpermitted to take part in any activityuntil they are in possession of their2013 membership card.

If a member is unable to producetheir membership card, they are notpermitted to take part in the activity.

Any breach of this rule can incurautomatic suspension and a fine ofup to €1,000.

Club officials and event organisersare also reminded to check the gradeof any rider on their 2013 member-ship card before accepting an entryfrom that competitor.

Stay in touchHave you registered your contactinformation on your membershiponline account?

If you haven’t you may miss out onemail or text updates on riding clubactivities.

Log onto your membership onlineaccount and update your contactinformation including postal address,mobile phone number and emailaddress to stay in the loop.

This service is provided free ofcharge. Go to www.airc.ie and thenselect membership online (it’s locat-ed in the top right hand corner!).

Don’t forget to like us on Facebookand follow us on Twitter, go towww.airc.ie and click on the links!

Need to contact NationalOffice?National Office is open Monday toFriday between 09:30 to 13:30 and14:00 to 17:00 by calling 045 854 555or emailing info@airc.ie.

Cover Photograph:Mo Chara’s Claudine Loughrey won the

Advanced Intermediate Championship on McKeeping Faith at the Connolly’s Red Mills

sponsored National Hunter TrialsChampionships last year.

(Pic: Equestrian Photographic Services)

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Have you registeredyour horse yet?

Members are reminded to registertheir horse in advance of enteringany national competition or qualifierfor a national championship.

As outlined in the rules of theAssociation (D4/12), all horses mustbe registered with the Associationbefore entering a championshipqualifier or national event.

This service is provided free ofcharge but it can take up to ten daysto process an application so mem-bers are asked to register their horseas early as possible.

To register a horse, members com-plete the horse registration form(F06/11), which is available to down-load on www.airc.ie, and forward italong with the relevant documenta-

tion to National Office.

Change of ownerships will only berecorded once the animals passporthas been changed with the PassportIssuing Organisation (PIO) to reflectthe new owners details.

Members can check to see if theirhorse is registered by accessing theirmembership online account andclicking on “Your Horses.”

Please remember that you do nothave to register your horse on anannual basis.

You will not be able to enter anational competition if your horse isnot registered in advance withNational Office.

The Association of Irish Riding Clubsis not a PIO and therefore can onlyrecord information that has beenrecorded with a PIO.

Membership Online,your gateway to

online entries & moreEach member when they join theAssociation is automatically allocateda membership online account.

This gives you access to your accountinformation, grades, registered hors-es, previous results at national eventsand also access to enter national

events online.

Later this year we will be addingadditional modules to record youreducation and training with us.

You can also update your contactinformation such as your postaladdress, contact telephone numbersand your email address.

To access your account go towww.airc.ie and click onMembership Online.

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Masters SeriesA

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Masters Series isunderway!

This years Masters Series has alreadygotten underway.

There’s training bursaries worth over€1,000 on offer at the final inSeptember for those who qualify.

The years show jumping series isopen intermediate, advanced inter-mediate, open and advanced openriders with three divisions.

There are three divisions in the series- a) Intermediate, b) AdvancedIntermediate and, c) Open andAdvanced Open.

The top six rider and horse combina-tions from each division will qualifyfor the final at each regional qualifier(see below for dates).

In a change from last year, riders mayqualify at any of the eight regionalqualifiers.

Horses must be entered under theirregistered name as described ontheir passport. These must also beregistered with National Office onthe national database.

At the series final, competitors willgain points towards the league tablefrom a maximum of three classes perdivision, one of which must be thegrand prix.

Training bursaries will be awarded tothe top three in each division at thefinal on Sunday 15th September.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

Regional Qualifiers 201307th April MR Mullingar EC, Co. Westmeath21st April SER Top Flight EC, Co Kilkenny05th May WR Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo19th May WLR Kildare International, Co. Kildare26th May WR West Cork Equine Centre, Co. Cork02nd June NER Jordanstown, Co. Dublin23rd June SLR Boswell Equestrian Centre, Co. Wicklow21st July WMR Tipperary Equestrian Centre, Co. Tipperary

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers.

Horse Trials QualfiiersA

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TRI Equestrian Horse Trials

ChampionshipsQualifiers for the popular TRIEquestrian sponsored Horse TrialsChampionships get underway nextmonth.

Up to 4 rider and horse combinationsqualify in the Advanced Primary,Intermediate and AdvancedIntermediate level at each regionalqualifier.

Qualification for the Open andAdvanced Open championships is not

required

If a rider and horse combination hasalready qualified, the next highestplaced rider will go forward to thefinal from the qualifier.

Riders may qualify at any of the eightqualifiers.

Horses must be registered withNational Office on the national data-base before entering a championshipqualifier.

An updated list of qualified riders ispublished on www.airc.ie after eachqualifier.

Championship Qualifiers:19th May SER Kilmanahan, Co. Kilkenny26th May - Stradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois16th June SWR Ballindenisk, Co. Cork30th June WMR Kedra Castle, Co. Tipperary21st July NER Cloncaw Equestrian, Co. Monaghan28th July WLR Marguerite Lodge, Co. Kildare04th August MR Corbeagh House, Co. Longford25th August WR Tubberbride Stables, Co. SligoFinal:1st September AIRC Lisgarvan House, Co. Carlow

Riding Clubs Festival

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Are you going toIrelands biggestamateur equestriangathering in 2013?

The Riding Clubs Festival takes placeon Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th Juneat Stradbally Hall Estate.

From its beginnings at PunchestownRacecourse in 1991, it has steadilygrown to what it has now become.

Last year almost 800 horses compet-ed in over 70 competitions across arange of disciplines.

Every level, from Primary right up toAdvanced Open, is catered for with arange of competitions each day.

In show jumping there are competi-tions for individuals, teams and alsosome novelty classes such as powerand speed and accumulator.

Dressage aficionados are accommo-dated with a range competitionsfrom individual, pairs and teams todressage to music, musical ride, longarena tests and prix caprilli.

The five showing rings are a hive ofactivity throughout the weekend witha range of championships up forgrabs including the Carl Geisler

Memorial for the supreme riddenhorse. The best of breed is rewardedwith the Eddie Fowler Memorial tro-phy while newcomers to showingcompete for the Frank ManganMemorial.

There’s also a working hunter cham-pionship with performance hunterclasses for Primary and AdvancedPrimary.

Stabling is available from Friday 7thJune at 2pm until Sunday at 6pm at€90 per stable.

Entries cost €16 for individuals, pairscost €32 while team entry’s are €64.

Postal entries close on Wednesday24th April while online entries closeon Sunday 5th May.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andthen National Competitions.

The Association would like toacknowledge the following sponsorsfor their continued support:

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Disciplinary Rules

How will the newdisciplinary proce-dures affect me?

At the recent Annual GeneralMeeting, clubs unanimously agreedto adopt the proposed changes tothe Memorandum and Articles ofAssociation.

This created a new Referrals andDiscipline Committee (RDC) and anAppeals Committee. This alsoallowed the introduction of new dis-ciplinary rules which are outlined inthe current edition of the rule book(D04/12).

Warning / Referral Cards (F11/13) Our members are governed by ourrules and regulations and also by acode of conduct.

A member can be issued with awarning / referral card (F11/13) for arange of offences such as abuse orbreach of the rules, failure to adhereto the code of conduct, taking pro-hibited substances, failure to adhereto the welfare of horses, dangerousriding, etc.

The warning card system will operatesimilar to penalty points for drivingoffences. If a member accumulates 3warning cards within a 2 year period,

they may be referred to the Referralsand Discipline Committee.

Offences of a serious nature can bereferred directly to the RDC.

Warning/Referral cards will beissued as soon as possible after theincident has taken place. A warningcard will be issued to the personresponsible, a copy retained by theissuer and a copy sent to NationalOffice where it will be recorded onthat persons file.

The warning / referral cards onlyapply to activities at inter club levelor higher as Club disputes must beresolved internally.

What is the Referrals and DisciplineCommittee?This is an eight member panelappointed by the NationalCommittee. Five members of thepanel may be members of the organi-sation from the legal profession orqualified mediators. Three membersmust be independent of theAssociation.

If convened, the Executive willappoint a three member committeefrom the panel to include 1 inde-pendent person to investigate anddeliberate on the matter. TheExecutive Committee will alsoappoint the chairperson.

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Grading Appeals

New gradingappeals processintroduced

This new appeals process applieswhen a dispute arises between clubsor regions regarding a membersgrade.

Each region will form a RegionalGrading Committee which comprisesof each club grading officer. Thiscommittee will be chaired by theregional grading officer.

Step by Step Process:Step 1. Complaint must refer thematter to National Office in writingusing the official form with a €200 fee. This may not be refunded.

Step 2. The matter is then referredto regional grading committee. Theymay investigate & check external databases such as EventingIreland, Show Jumping Ireland,Dressage Ireland, etc.

Step 3. If satisfied with currentgrades no further action is taken. Ifnot satisfied with their grade, thecommittee may invite the member toa regional assessment day wherethey can be assessed in all three dis-ciplines. Committee may be assistedby DI judge/EI official/SJI Judge or

senior riders.

Grading Appeals Committee ofA.I.R.C.:If the member is not satisfied withtheir new grades, they appeal it tothe Grading Appeals Committee.

This 8 member panel comprises of DIjudge/SJI Judge/EI SeniorSteward/professional show jumper orcoach/professional or semi profes-sional dressage rider or coach/profes-sional eventer or coach.

The appeals process then followssimilar steps as outlined in 1, 2 and 3above.

If convened, the Executive willappoint a three member committeefrom the panel to investigate anddeliberate on the matter. TheExecutive Committee will appoint thechairperson of this committee.

This information is provided for guid-ance purposes only and in the eventof ambiguity, the rule book (D04/12)takes precedence.

APPROVED APPROVED HAT STANDARDSHAT STANDARDS

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ASTMF 1163-95ASTM Snell E95 (SEI)

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Dressage Championships

Changes to DressageChampionshipsA number of major changes are beingintroduced to this years NationalDressage Championships, sponsoredby Connolly’s Red Mills.

They include changes to the structureof the team championship whileintroducing a qualification system forthe individual championships.

From this year, clubs will now be per-mitted to enter teams of three orfour riders. These must contain nomore than two riders from any onegrade representing no less than twogrades. Reserves must also be nomi-nated in advance of the qualifier.

The number of teams qualifying ateach regional qualifier will depend on

the number of teams which start onthe day of the qualifier. One team forevery four teams, or part thereof, willgo forward to the championships.Teams, however, may only qualify attheir respective regional qualifier.

In the individual classes, the top fourrider and horse combinations fromthe Advanced Primary, Intermediateand Advanced Intermediate classes ateach qualifier will go forward to thechampionships. Individuals, however,may qualify at any of the regionalqualifiers.

If an individual rider and horse com-bination has already qualified at aprevious qualifier, the next bestplaced rider will go forward.

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

Championship Qualifiers 201319th May MR Kilrainey Equestrisn Centre, Co. Kildare19th May WR To be confirmed02nd June WLR Punchestown, Co. Kildare23rd June WM Birr Equestrian Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly23rd June SER Ballinaclough, Co. Waterford30th June NER Jordanstown, Co. Dublin07th July SWR Skevanish Equestrian Centre, Co. Cork21st July SLR To be confirmed

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers

Team Show Jumping Championship

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Dublin calls forannual showdown!Last year over 120 teams soughtqualification for the final of theHorseware sponsored Team ShowJumping Championship at theDiscover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

This makes it undoubtedly the mostsought after title of the Association’ssix national championships.

Eight qualifiers take place each yearand teams may only qualify at theirrespective regional qualifier.

Teams of 3 or four members (and atleast two nominated reserves), madeup of two riders who will jump a0.90m course (these could be madeup of two Intermediate or oneIntermediate and one Advanced

Intermediate) and two riders whowill jump a course not exceeding1.00m (these could be made up ofany of the following grades:Advanced Intermediate, Open orAdvanced Open with a maximum ofone Advanced Open. There mustalways be one Intermediate rider onthe team.

The team that wins the regional qual-ifier goes forward to the final. Thesecond placed team from each quali-fier will go forward to the Wild CardQualifier at the Riding Club Festival.The winner of this competition willgo forward to the final on Sunday11th August at the Dublin HorseShow..

For further information, visitwww.airc.ie and go to Events andNational Competitions.

Championship Qualifiers 2013:05th May WMR Clonshire Equestrian Centre, Co. Limerick12th May MR Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Co. Westmeath12th May WLR Coilog Equestrian Centre, Co. Kildare19th May SLR Boswell Equestrian, Co. Wicklow19th May NER Keran's Equestrian Centre, Co. Down26th May SER Wexford Equestrian Centre, Co. Wexford26th May WR Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo26th May SWR West Cork Equine Centre, Co. Cork

Visit www.airc.ie for up-to-date information on these qualifiers

Your photos fromaround the RegionsWe were deluged with photosfrom events throughout thecountry. We’d like to thankeveryone who contributed andwe’ll be posting some of the rest

on our facebook page over the com-ing weeks.Below: Killcarricks John Wiseman.

Above: Dan Breen makes a splash atBlackwater Riding Clubs One-Day Event.

Around the Regions

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Above:Warringtons JaneGaffney and Jolyn Byrneenjoying their springshow. Left:Letterkenny ridersenjoy a hack out atCarrickfinn with Mt.Errigal in the back-

ground.

Above: Members from KilotteranRiding Club enjoying a trek onTramore beach last June.

Left: Hillcrest’s Ruth Byrnes ridingCullen Frodo.

Right: Killossery mem-bers Susan Cusack Finnand Mary Harkness atGreenvalley’s ChristmasShow Jumping League.

Below: Members fromLakelands Riding Club at theRiding Clubs Festival lastJune.

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