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Moray Group RDA
Newsletter No 33
Winter 2015
A ROYAL VISITOR!!! Its all smiles as HRH Princess Anne enjoys the entertainment at
Cranloch Riding Centre where riders and volunteers put on a show “A Year in the Life
of the Moray Group RDA”
“What a proud, proud day for the Moray Group. The smiles on everyone's faces and
the atmosphere in the indoor school spoke volumes - it was a fantastic afternoon and
everybody involved will remember for years to come. A BIG THANK YOU to you all”
Chairperson Charlotte Mountain
.
With thanks to our
Newsletter sponsors
Charity no.SC 010025
Graham Smith This has been a proud spectacular day to be part of. So I
just want to say a big thank you to everyone who make my time at RDA so
enjoyable
Wendy Spence Well! Was that a fantastic day or what?!
Amazing...thoroughly enjoyed it all. Very relaxed and everyone happy.....
and a fine piece at the end. Well done all. Andrew had a ball
Fiona Simpson ...I can honestly say today was such a proud moment to be
involved in, I wouldn't have missed it for the world! Well done to all who
organised such a fantastic event
James Younie Thank you !!!!!! Well done !!!! GREAT DAY
Lorna Castle What a brilliant day seeing it all coming together and so
rewarding to see all the riders having fun. Not forgetting the good weather!
Sheila Taylor What an amazing day well done Cranloch and thank you for
letting Jack and I be a part of it, fantastic effort from all
Fiona Macdonald Fabulous afternoon. So exciting. We were all so
excited. Thank you for including us in a once in a lifetime experience.
Angela Thomson Fantastic day, we won't forget, thank you
Muriel Noble What a terrific day. Well done to all as it was a daunting
task. The riders did everyone proud. The ponies were stars too. XX
Eliz with some of our amazing
fundraising team. Left to right:- Hazel
Richardson, Muriel Noble, Lesley
Hutcheson, Jackie Macpherson, and
Mieke Lloyd.
Fund Raising News
The soup and pudding event last month raised FIVE
HUNDRED AND ONE POUNDS and TEN PENCE!!!!!
Thank you to all you amazing cooks, thank you to all you wonderful floor "staff", thank you to our talented florist, thank you to our generous customers. £501.10!!! What an amazing day
***************************************************
ou may remember in the last newsletter we told the story of how volunteer Mark Gillings
and 11 of his work colleagues walked a sponsored walk along 92 miles of the West
Highland Way in aid of our
Moray Group RDA.
This is the fantastic amount they
raised!!! A huge thank you to all
who sponsored them. Marks’
amusing recall of how it went is
as follows on next page:-
Y
After the soup and pud’ we
had a wee thank you for Eliz
Paton whose idea it was to
start the fundraising team.
Chair Charlotte Mountain
presented her with an RDA
Over and Above Award for
Exceptionally Dedicated
Service to the Moray Group.
Eliz has decided to stand down
from the team but the good
news is that she and her
husband Alan will still be
around to help out at our
events. Thank you Eliz
Denise Ross presented the group with a
cheque for £319.75. from the Lent appeal ....
ALL SAINTS CHURCH BUCKIE..
Thank you so much from the Group!!!
The West Highland Way
By Mark Gillings
The plan was simple, the guard force, MPGS stationed at RAF Lossiemouth should raise money to
support the riders and ponies of the Moray RDA group. We had two groups starting at opposite ends
of the west highland way, meeting in the middle, 96 miles in two days each group doing about 50
miles each.
As for me Fortwilliam was my starting point, so after a brief visit to the commando memorial
monument at Spean Bridge we arrived at the campsite. That proved to be an adventure in itself as
some of the lads had just bought their tents from Argos the day before and had not used them before!
Poles, pegs and canvas everywhere, luckily the campsite was quiet so no one saw the chaos.
The next morning was cold, but with clear bright skies, ideal for a day hiking in the mountains.
We left our mechanical steed (our support vehicle) just outside Fortwilliam and headed up into the
mountains. In fact, so far up we were above the clouds and looking towards Ben Nevis. Did I say up?
Up again we travelled for what seemed ages, little did we know that it was due to a minor map reading
error (we were lost, you don't call us highly skilled navigators for nothing!!!!). However we did get
back on the right track and worked our way along the path before stopping for lunch at Kinlochleven.
Well needed food, drink and first aid for our feet. This prepared us for the afternoon hike to Glencoe.
No shock really but we went up again and to our amazement we came across a house at the top. Talk
about room with a view!
Very soon after it started raining, in fact it didn't stop until the next morning. We met our support
vehicle on the A82 outside Glencoe ski resort, our tents were already up and waiting (thanks Karl and
Kev!) however there was a problem......MIDGES!!!! !!!! Millions of them, it would seem the
whole population of the U.K. had decided to support us on our journey; the evening was a
nightmare with no respite from the little biters!
The next morning didn't fare any better, I started cooking at 5.30am, not realising that actually we
were breakfast!
A little later it was deemed appropriate to abandon the campsite and regroup at the main road,
everything was thrown into the van, however, one tent didn't make it as it was abandoned complete
with its sale receipt from Argos! Nothing was going to make Danny compete with the midges any
longer.
6 grown men running down the west highland way like Winnie the Pooh after stealing the bees honey
is the image I have as the midges followed us!
After a while going up again, they left us to travel solo, oh how we missed our travelling
partners..NOT! We followed the path to the bridge of Orchy where Karl had the kettle on for us, boy
were we ready for that cuppa!
From there it was plain sailing to Tyndrum then the last 6 miles to Crainlarich where we finally met
up with the other team, Billy's boys.
A photo call was called for just to prove we had survived and we crawled aboard our bus and hit the
road for Lossiemouth.
As for next year’s adventure, watch this space.
Many thanks to all who supported us and donated time or money for a truly
worthwhile cause.
**DATES FOR YOUR DIARY**
NOVEMBER 18th Last Wednesday of Term NOVEMBER 23rd Last Monday of Term DECEMBER 9th Xmas Party Lhanbryde Hall: Riders 10 – 12 Helpers 9 - 1 DECEMBER 16th Carol Singing (volunteers) 9am at Kestrel then on to Cedarwood and Andersons JANUARY 13th Helpers Xmas Lunch Stotfield Hotel APRIL 2nd Charity Event at Stotfield Hotel
RDA Scottish SUPRA Regional Conference 2015
Inspiration and Progression
We would like to share with you a few quotes from this conference:-
A parents perspective
She believed she could so she did. Confidence she gained is carried in to every aspect of life
The horse as a therapist ...what the horse has done for me, a carriage driver
I was petrified of horses Aches and pains of daily life disappear
Calmness – comfort – partnership (gift from the horse) Whole family are happier
Without ‘RDA’ I don’t think I would still be here Now Scottish Champion at intermediate level
Riding participant with Equibuddy RDA
Double below knee amputee ....mobility restricted
Horse riding gives freedom of movement Competed in Scottish and National dressage competitions .won a first place in
compulsory routine Took part in the show jumping competition for first time this year
Highlight of the year was taking part in the waterloo re-enactment as a Prussian Cavalry Officer
“The best thing for the inside of a man is the outside of a
horse."
Menu for lunch
and details of
event will be
sent at a later
date
We hope you all have a lovely time over the Xmas holiday
period and maybe see you all carol singing and at the party in Lhanbryde
If you haven’t joined us at either before you are in
for a treat and a lots fun!!
You can keep up with all the news at www.morayrda.org.uk
And our very lively face book page
YEEHAW
“We are delighted to report that, due to the continued generosity of our supporters, donations, and some really great fundraising, finances are such that we are able absorb the increase in pony hire fees for (yet) another term”
YEEHAW
MORAY GROUP 100 CLUB RESULTS
Autumn Draw 2015
£50 number 87 Brenda Ward
£30 number 49 Ian McBain
£20 number 53 Judith Moar
£10 number 44 Flo Barrett
£10 number 03 Yvonne Matheson
IMPORTANT If you'd like to renew your
membership, and haven't already done so please collect and
complete one of the forms at Cranloch or contact Ellen Nock for
one. Completed forms with £10
subscription must be returned before the 31st of December
01542 832903
Also please let her know if you'd
rather not renew. Thanks
Moray Group Committee Members
Chair: Charlotte Mountain
07785392785
Treasurer: Gillian Anderson
Secretary: Lorna Castle
James Younie
Lesley Hutcheson
Campbell Harris
Ellen Nock
Angela Thomson
Tracey Mcluckie
Elanor Shanks
Lynne Havell
Group Organiser & Coach
Denise Kelly
Tel: 01343 850310
(If you have something you would like to
be added in to the next newsletter please
contact Lynne Havell 07801721123 or
