It is with much excitement that we announce a resumption of season 2020 thanks to some very generous and brave ride organisers.
We will start with a single day intermediate and social day with NO CAMPING to see how we manage COVID restrictions.
Stay tuned for more advice on how we can all help to make rides work within the ever changing COVID restrictions.
In the meantime, please check the updated ride calendar and start getting your ponies ready!!!
Your Faithful SMC
What crazy times we all find ourselves in, but how lucky are we to still be able to enjoy fun times on our ponies, unlike some people in other states and countries?
In case you have not heard the TQ and Shazhada have been cancelled for 2020 along with many other national sporting events, for example the Adelaide International Horse Trials.
Your SMC has been putting in many hours to stay on top of the constantly changing times and to discuss, advocate and assess the implications for our sport. On Monday 25 May the Premier finally announced a lifting of some restrictions that provides us with a glimmer of hope that season 2020 may happen locally in SA yet. We are still working through these changes, looking at the approval requirements and as always seeking ride organisers to join us in this brave new world. At the present time it does look like we will be running a few rides soon.
Some of the things that still remain unclear are the implications of camping overnight and some confusion over total numbers (including all volunteers, strappers, campers and riders) allowed. So one thing I would recommend is your
own portaloo, something I have had for a number of years (unless you want to volunteer for dunny duty). What we do know is each venue will require its own COVID safe clearance which SMC can help with.
With a chance that 2020 didn’t go ahead, we have also been looking into the implications of cancelling and refunding membership. Based on an earlybird membership fee of $120, after AERA affiliation fees and liability insurances are paid, SAERA retains $63 (obviously this amount is different depending on the membership class). We have ascertained that neither the insurance nor the affiliation fees are refundable therefore the refundable amount available to current members is the portion retained by SAERA. If you have not ridden this year and wish to receive the refund then please forward your bank account details to saera5@adam.com.au requesting a refund.
However, it is important to note that if you have opted for the Personal Accident Insurance and cancel your membership, you will no longer be covered. We also cannot guarantee that to rejoin later in 2020 will not require a repayment of the insurance and affiliation fees.
Season 2020 has not been what any of us hoped for but we hope you will continue to support your club through your membership so its ready to restart as soon as we are able
Yours on horseback.
Melanie
Jil Bourton provides some very interesting background and history to the new Perpetual Middleweight State Championship Trophy
The Milling Industries Perpetual trophy for the winner of the S.A. State Championship 160km Ride was first awarded in 1985. In those days the first rider weighing 73kg + was the winner. In those days there was no such thing as a heavyweight or middleweight division. It was referred to as the Open division. The Lightweight division came into being around 1982 followed by the Juniors in 1984.
For many years there was only the one trophy awarded for the winner (as explained already) then a Junior Perpetual was donated in 1987. And some time after another lovely bronze was donated for the lightweights. Around 1991 the Heavyweight division became official for those with a riding weight of 91kgs +. Generally speaking Middleweight has always been the most competitive division so it was only occasionally a heavyweight rider could win the championship. Not wanting them to be “left out” the SAERA put in place another Mary Pinsent bronze especially for the winner of that division in the 160km Championship. This is also a perpetual but wasn’t donated.
The problem that eventually arose ( and it affected me twice) was when a heavyweight rider crossed the line first in a SA Championship – this rider was presented the Heavyweight trophy AND the Milling Industries Championship trophy, resulting in the first Middleweight rider gaining no trophy stating them as winner of their division. I reiterate this doesn’t happen very often but when it does, believe me it’s quite disheartening as it’s one hell of an achievement to finish a 160km and winners in all divisions deserve recognition.
After thinking on this for many years Philip (Archer) and I decided we would donate a perpetual trophy to the Middleweight division, starting from the 2019 State Championships.
I already had the bronze, a beautiful sculpture of the Arabian stallion Tristram Momus owned by Pam & Heinfred Heyer (Strathalbyn) created by Adelaide sculptor Silvio Apponyi. The piece is the second of only twelve castings. I love this little statue and thought it would be great to share it with my endurance family as a worthwhile award.
Aside: Tristram Momus was by Ralvon Pilgrim, did well in the show ring and was both ridden and driven and won many dressage awards.
The base for my trophy was a slight dilemma – not being able to just go and buy one like the other championship trophies – Greg Bullock came to the rescue with some lovely Tasmanian timber. Greg happened to be in Tassie visiting his family. His father and late grandfather were both wood workers and there still exists a workshop which is a treasure trove of ageing tools and exotic timber.
After some text conversations Greg carried home in his bag two pieces – part of a one hundred year old plank of King Billy pine and a piece of rare Huon pine which is probably much, much older.
Greg spent hours planing and sanding the timber for me until we were both happy with the result. The photos show a bit of the process from rough old planks to finished, varnished trophy base.
In the last few days before Championships I was frantically trying to finish it off with several coats of varnish and sourcing an engraved plaque – as well as working two horses and WORK!
I am very happy with the resulting trophy and it was great to see a rider of the caliber of Naomi McGaffin being the first recipient. May many more middleweight riders enjoy it in the future.
Another couple of busy months have flown by and we’re in the middle of that time of year again when you question your sanity! Freezing mornings, feeding and training in the dark and crossing your fingers that you won’t get soaked to the skin, is the commitment and dedication (or is it craziness?) of an endurance rider.
We have just held our annual State Championships over the June Long Weekend. I sincerely thank Lainie Ray (and her team) for putting up her hand and organising this key annual event of SAERA’s ride calendar. I’m sure everyone who attended would agree that it was a fabulous event, very well organised with many “frilly bits” to make it a special and memorable weekend. Sixteen entries in our State Championship 160km event is a great number for our little club and even more exciting was that it included four juniors, who all successfully completed their first 160km. The support and encouragement provided to all the competitors, but particularly our young guns, was a standout feature of this year’s event and something for which I sincerely thank all involved – ride organisers, vet ring personnel and volunteers.
I would also like to make special mention of the beautiful new Middleweight State Championship Perpetual Trophy generously donated by Veloce Endurance and Archer Rugs. We have temporarily lost it interstate and I look forward to seeing it return to within SA borders in 2020.
While many of us have been enjoying the riding year, in the background a dedicated group of members have been progressing the update of our Constitution. A version has been drafted and we are currently following up legal advice to have a draft ready for member consultation. Our original intention was to have something to members in July. This may slip to August with our preference being to deliver to members a draft that has been well considered and as polished as possible. Thank you to the team, Andrew Luck, Jodie Luck, Tania Drever and Jil Bourton for the many hours dedicated to this task. It is a very important job and a key focus of this year’s SMC.
A number of our members are making the grand adventure to Queensland for the Quilty on Friday July 12, some with their own horses and some riding local horses. SAERA will field a team and a number of people and horses have nominated. The SAERA team will be announced once pre ride vetting is successful. May all combinations be successful.
The 2019 calendar hasn’t been as full as we would have liked with the burden falling to a dedicated few. A 2020 calendar of proposed dates has been circulated through our FB page and I really encourage every member (and particularly the more experienced) to consider putting on a ride. It doesn’t need to be fancy and members of SMC are available anytime to chat through any ideas you may have.
Do still keep an eye on FB and SAERA website as we have a few ideas currently being worked on to finish off the 2019 calendar. In the meantime, keep your pony tuned and see you at Sandy Creek.
Melanie Scott