Website last updated:   12th December 2009

26 attended the Christmas Dinner at the Alice Lisle on the 4th December at least 10 who weren't WHHC members who came along to stop the event being cancelled. It was a good meal and the hardy few stayed on dancing until midnight. It was disappointing to see so little support for the event from the membership especially as  at the AGM it was mentioned that social events are not being run. However no one can tell the committee what the membership wants. A questionnaire will be sent out to all current members shortly, please complete this when it arrives and return it so that the committee can make the club into the club that the members want!!

The committee would like to send best wishes on behalf of the all the members to Jane Mermod on her sudden and unexpected operation.  She is a home recuperating at the moment and we hope that she is feeling better soon and has a speedy recovery.

New fleeces and gilets with the WHHC logo will be available at the November indoor event in all sizwes in Navy Blue and Black. Details on the merchandise page.

The WHHC AGM will take place at the normal venue 14th November, details  included in the last newsletter . This also included details of the annual Christmas knees up at the Alice Lisle always a good evening. Details on the events diary page

Training Dates are also arranged monthly with Kay Hooper in November and January and December and February with Caroline Douglas. Details on the training page.

Southern Area Championships

Bad News the Southern Area Championships have been cancelled due to lack of support. This however sadly means that the club championships will also not be running. Hopefully more support can be drummed up for next year when the Club Championships could again happen at West Overton

West Overton videos can be found here courtesy of Pony and Carriage see their details on the links page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T3kofcOHwc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPyRkmxoZ4s

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbyW3CPHEu0

Thank you everyone

Jacky and Jo would like to thank everyone for all their wonderful tributes and memories of Snowy. His funeral was attended by about 120 people, he would have been amazed. We would like to thank all the clubs and individuals who gave money to the hospice, as I write this the total is over £800 with still the odd donation coming in to Maddocks. We would also like to say thank you to Julia for putting on Snowy's last "stewards lunch". He always did say that she did the best stewards lunches and she certainly did him proud, with plenty of food for everyone.

Peter  ‘ SNOWY ‘ Cleaver  

Snowy's funeral was held on Tuesday 14th July at the Basingstoke Crematorium at 11.45am.
Many of Snowy's friends were present to say goodbye all following the families wishes to dress in bright colours. It was a moving ceremony and all of the club members thoughts are with Jacky and family at this time. The club made a donation on behalf of the members to the Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

 It is with deep sadness that we report the death of our dear friend and x-club chairman Snowy following a cancer diagnosis only a month ago.

Snowy had been a great supporter of our Club for over 20 years, whilst Chairman he instigated the club championships at Highclere Castle and was always at events stewarding, course building, driving trailers to and from events with equipment as well as being ‘transport manager’ for wife Jacky and daughter Jo who have been driving for many years with our club and more recently on the National circuit where Snowy was often drafted in to help at events if he was with them, always reliable and keen to help in any capacity and a great friend to so many, he will be a huge loss to us all.

He was extremely proud of Jacky & Jo’s driving achievements and none more so than when they went to the World Pony Championships at Catton Park a couple of years ago and of his son Kevin who married his long time girlfriend Claire only last month.

Our deepest sympathies go to Jacky, daughter Jo and husband Julian, son Kevin and wife Claire and the rest of the family.

Intelligent Horsemanship - a demonstration by Sarah Weston

Britford Livery Stables, Bridge Farm, Britford, Nr SAalisbury

on Sunday 23rd August 11am - 3pm £10 per ticket Proceeds to the Laminitus Trust.

Contact:  01722 328954 or mail@britfordliverystables.co.uk  

HEADLEY INSIDE-OUT

Don't forget to get your entries in for the Headley Inside-Out event on Sunday 12th JULY, dressage and cones in the morning followed by a short 5-6km marathon and six obstacles in the afternoon. If you need a schedule/entry form contact Julia 01264 730261.

REDENHAM PARK 2 DAY EVENT

This event goes goes from strength to strength. Twenty eight competitors took to the Park on the Saturday for dressage and cones amidst beautiful sunshine (at last after 3yrs of heavy rain!!), everyone looked lovely in the finery and with a backdrop of Redneham House for the arena the scene was set for a good start to the weekend.  The cones course, a challenge built by Steve Lucas, met with approval from those who took part as tough but fun and with three double clears showed that he had got the course just right. As is traditional with all WHHC event the Saturday evening BBQ was welcomed by all who attended and a party atmosphere was enjoyed until the cold drove us back to our respective lorries.

The Sunday started with a little drizzle and although we had a cold wind throughout the day, which stewards had to wrap up warm against, the day remained dry. The marathon route was beautiful through lots of the estate woods which had an abundance of bluebells on show, through fields and across set-a-side with very little road work which was much appreciated by all. The six obstacles looked glorious in the front park and were driven with varying amounts of speed and excitement, especially at the pit where several competitors took the direct route and thrilled the spectators.

A lovely event all round, prize giving was at 2.15 with everyone heading home happy and jubilant after a fun weekend away, with good weather, good company and fantastic venue.

Full list of results now available on the results page of this website.

Some photographs and 'youtube' video of competitors going through obstacle 3 'The Pit' available by logging on to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?V=qEpjmDWTD9k 

Our next event will now be an Inside-Out at Headley on Sunday 12th July thanks to the very kind invitation of Stephen & Marion Frankland, schedules available soon on this web site.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to all the WHHC members who took part in the Indoor Horse Driving Trials Championships at Keysoe over the weekend 4th/5th April.

To everyone of our members who competed and held the flag up for the WHHC and Wessex Region with many placings in various classes and to Matt & Jo Were on becoming Novice Horse Champions and Di Hayes who was not only the Open Horse winner but was overall Indoor Champion 2009. 

RACE NIGHT - CANCELLED!

Following a lack of support the race night on 14th March at the Andover Rugby Club has had to be cancelled through lack of interest. To make an evening like this work we needed at least 40 people and we only had 33 so it was felt that the whole evening was not viable particularly as were trying to raise funds - with so few attending it would not have worked - more flogging a dead donkey rather than racing !

SIX-IN-HAND !

At yesterday Indoor driving event Julia Liles, who normally arrives driving her team of four in hand ponies stunned us all by driving 6!  Despite the initial distress of the paces dressage judge (Paul Davis) who had so many legs to watch - we settled down to see what can only be described as a first for Indoor driving events as we witnessed Julia's skill in the dressage earning her a very respectable 43 penalties.  Everyone then evacuated the indoor school to watch her cones in the outside arena - never have I seen so many spectators at our events as it appeared all the staff, students and visitors to the Sparsholt college also watched this magnificent sight. Obviously our cones course was not designed or built to accommodate such a length of turnout, but despite having to turn many a large loop before sets of cones the 'team' stayed calm and committed and finished the course on mega time penalties but with only four down. Back into the arena in the late afternoon Julia then skillfully steered them through the four obstacles with only one slight change to obstacle 2/4 to accommodate their overall length - well done team 'Liles'.

We also held a Valentine fancy dress at this event, the winner of the adult section (bottle of Champagne) went to Robert Young joining us from the Isle of Wight and the junior prize was won by Amber O'Neill - well done to them both for making such an effort with their turnouts.  

Photographs now available on the Photo Album page of this website.

Liza Harmeston

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Liza Harmeston one of the Club's founder members. Always keen to support and follow the club's progress Liza was last seen at the Club Jamboree weekend held in October at West Overton where she joined the remaining original committee members at the evening party. We extend our deepest sympathy to her husband Vin.  Liza's funeral will be on Tuesday 27th January at 12 noon at St Mary's Church, Vernham Dean - Family flowers only.

The Fish Run

Jane Wordsworth is featuring in the Route du Poison (The fish run), a race held by teams of heavy horses across France delivering the fish, on Farming Scene on BBC1 at 11am Sunday 18th & 25th January.