We concluded our 3-phase event with the POR phase on Sunday 19th Sept 2021.  The venue for this event was Whooley’s Farm in Kilrussane, Knockraha, Co. Cork. Elaine Dolan Crowley was our Traceur for this phase of the event. Having traced a POR (Level 1 & 2) before, Elaine took it up a notch and traced her first Level 3 POR route for this competition.  The technical delegate for the POR phase was Bastian.
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A few competitors had travelled to the venue on Saturday and stayed overnight, but the remaining competitors and volunteers began arriving at Whooley’s Farm from 9am that morning. As they got their horses ready, the riders did a quick double check to confirm they had all their equipment before heading to the tack check steward; missing items could mean penalty points and possible delays.  In the meantime, the stewards that would be out at the first couple of checkpoints on the route were shown to their locations with the Traceur, who advised them where they were to wait and helped them setup their checkpoint with entry and exit cones, CP numbers and speed signs for the next section.  Having the longer and more difficult route ahead of the three levels, the four Level 3 riders (2 pairs) were the first to present themselves for the tack check at 10am, after which they waited for their turn to be called into the map room (checkpoint #1, aka CP1).  Horses were tied up (or if required a rider could ask one of the helpers to hold their horse) while the riders were in the map room.  Level 3 riders were given 15 minutes to copy down the route from the master map onto their own map, and take a note of the sample ticket and the speed set for the section to CP2.  The first pair of Level 3 riders set off from CP1 at 10:15am, the second pair at 10:25am; all four riders blissfully unaware of Elaine’s plan for them at the next checkpoint!

The map room was then set up with the Level 2 maps.  With their tack check completed, the Level 2 riders were called at intervals into the map room and given 10 minutes to copy the route from the master map. The only individual rider was called in first, followed by the four sets of pair riders.  The Level 2 route would be a bit shorter and not as complicated as the Level 3 route, as traceurs do try to include some sections of off-road riding for them and the riders don’t have the challenge of plotting grid references and working off compass bearings that the more advanced levels “enjoy” (but for some that might translate as “endure”). Once all Level 2 riders had departed, the map room was again changed and set up with the maps for Level 1.  For all six L1 riders (three pairs) this was their first ever POR, again with 10 minutes to copy the route, and it wasn’t long before all riders had departed from the yard.

The steward at CP2 for the level 3 route (which was also CP2 for the level 2 route) arrived back to the yard shortly after the Level 1 riders had departed, and told us of the surprise that had awaited the Level 3 riders: just as they were about to depart the checkpoint, they were stopped and handed a sheet of paper stating that their route had been unexpectedly changed.  They were given a list of grid references that they were to plot on their map, and told to find their way to each of the points until they rejoined their originally marked route.  A small table was set up at the CP for the riders to use so they dismounted and plotted their new route via the grid reference points.  Despite the curveball, it wasn’t totally unwelcome, as the new route cut across country and shortened their expected journey considerably.  The level 2 riders heard about the surprise while resting during their 5 minute break at the CP and were grateful they did not have to worry about such challenges.

The PTV helps to prepare the riders for obstacles they may face while out on a POR. This particular route took them over a footbridge, which they could cross in hand or ridden, through a stream and open and close gates. Should they have encountered these obstacles during a PTV, they would be well equipped to handle them in the POR.
 
The first riders arrived back to the venue around 2pm, with the last pair clocking in just before 4pm. We finished the day with tea and biscuits while waiting for the scores to be processed. Once the Scorer, Traceur and TD were happy with the scores they were posted for the riders to view them. Some of the riders had already left the venue, so those that remained were given a period of 30 minutes to query the POR scores should they need to. After a brief award giving and thank you speeches, riders and stewards alike were off homeward bound.
 
The day ran smoothly, leaving stewards, riders and organisers happy after having a great day out. It was wonderful to hear from all the riders that they had enjoyed riding along their respective routes, and in such lovely sunny weather (ignoring a couple of drops of light rain here and there). Both riders and the checkpoint stewards got to enjoy some beautiful views of the Knockraha countryside during the day, and the stewards also managed to take a few photos for us all to enjoy.
 
This day would not have been possible if it weren’t for Elaine who put in such a great job of tracing the routes, Bastian fulfilling all his duties as Technical Delegate, Jill for scoring, the Whooley family for hosting this phase of our event at their farm, all the landowners for agreeing to Elaine’s requests and letting the riders have access across their land, the stewards for manning checkpoints and undertaking different roles throughout the day, Brid-Anne for providing tea, coffee, biscuits and food for stewards (and the riders who had arrived on Saturday) and finally all the riders for giving us a reason for this event to  happen.  Thank you all.​

The first day of this 3-phase event took place in Glengarriff on a rainy Sunday 12th of September, and comprised of the MA (occasionally referred to as Control of Paces) and the PTV (Obstacle) course.
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The first rider set out for the MA phase of this event just after 10am, when it looked like there was no hope of the rain stopping.  Each rider completed the timed and marked 150m long x 2m wide corridor first one way, in as slow and controlled a canter as they could manage without breaking stride or stepping out of the narrow corridor, and then back the other way, trying to get their steeds to walk as quickly as possible, again not stepping out/or changing gait.  It was our first time using electronic timing equipment in a competition.  With the timing equipment beeping merrily away as the rider passed between the flags, we were also manually timing the rider with a stop watches (our backup system should the electronic sensors and wet weather not be compatible after all!)

There were 20 riders entered for the day and after completing the MA, it was time for the PTV (obstacle) phase.  This was to be no ordinary PTV phase. Designed by the Chef de Piste - Bastian - to allow riders to experience a greater variety of obstacles on the same day this phase would consist of not just one PTV course of 16 obstacles but two separate courses giving a total of 32 obstacles in all – thus, the PTV XL.

​With the help of the volunteers and some of the riders (who would be judging levels other than their own), the first course of the PTV got under way.  Thankfully the rain had started to clear just as the PTV started. Level 3 and Level 1 riders rode Course 1 first while the Level 2 riders helped judge. The horses and their riders had to negotiate jumps, water crossing, inclines, a footbridge and to duck under low branches without touching them.  After breaking for lunch and a quick swap over of judges, we then saw our Level 2 riders complete Course 1. There was a brief changeover of the course transitioning from Course 1 to Course 2. This time we began the course with our Level 2 riders before the last short break to change parts of the course, and riders and judges changed over, with Level 1 and then Level 3 getting their chance to do Course 2 obstacles.  It was a wonderful day out and everyone got to experience a wide range of obstacles. We completed the day with a group photo of the riders that had been able to stay until the end.

The day was an overall success, but we couldn’t have done it without Bastian letting us use his land for the venue or creating the wonderful courses, our TD Gwen - handling all sorts of queries, Jill our scorer, and all our judges and all the riders not only gave us competitors to judge but were also there to help with judging.
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Looking forward to Sunday the 19th for the final phase – the POR!

​A glorious day set the scene for the MA and PTV training in Knockraha. While only a small group attended, they made the most of it. Once again split into two groups, where 3 did MA with Bastian and Megan, with Frances taking the PTV training groups to go through some of the days obstacles and a full walk of the course. Over at the MA Bastian started with some theory behind the collected canter and the fast walk needed for the phase. They then moved on to the practical side of the MA, each taking timed turns to canter up and walk down. While the theory behind it may seem straightforward and simple putting the theory into action is more difficult than it seems. The groups then switched, and Elaine took over from Frances for the PTV. We then broke for a quick socially distanced lunch. After lunch the stewards for the PTV course were sent out to their posts, basking in the glorious sunshine awaiting the arrival of the riders and trying their hands at amateur photography. The feedback from the riders was encouraging, boasting this training session another success. Them having both gained new insights into the MA and PTV and also enjoying their day out.

​Our second training event took place in Macroom. It was our first training session on MA and PTV. Riders arrived at half 10, setting off on a course walk with the Chef de Piste – Adele – while the finishing touches were being put on the MA and PTV. On the agenda for the PTV training were the 4 new (Non-Championship) PTV obstacles: Ticket Punch, One Handed Figure of 8 (marked on style), One Handed Corridor, One Handed Slalom. Split into two groups, Frances took one group through PTV obstacles, while Bastian took the second group through the MA. While atop their noble steeds, both groups were lectured in the theory for both sections and then moved on to the practical side. Once both groups had run through their respective trainings, the groups then swapped. Elaine taking over for Frances – allowing her to take part in the MA training with Bastian. After a quick spot of lunch, stewards for the PTV were organised and sent to their posts. The riders for group 1 (individually) then rode the PTV course practicing all the obstacles including the 4 new obstacles at the end to finish off, once all group 1 riders had completed the course they then swapped with some of the stewards who belonged to group 2. Some opted for a second round and took off again for their second go at the end of their respective groups. After a great day of training and magnificent weather, the obstacles were taken down and everyone headed home happy from a good day of training full of insightful learning.

After many months of being in our longest lockdown in Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lifting of some restrictions meant that outdoor sports training in groups of up to 15 people were permitted.
 
It was decided that our first outing for 2021 would be a POR training session, since there we would be able to time arrivals and departures to keep interactions between groups of riders down to a minimum level within any area at any one time.
 
With its many intersecting and quiet country lanes, the area between Schull and Ballydehob was a popular choice by the organisers.  Once the venue was confirmed, the organising began.  To reduce the number of journeys he would need to make to the area, Bastian enlisted help from local resident and fellow traceur Ian, who set about finding some off-road riding sections along a few farm lanes and securing permission from landowners to permit access to these routes.  Bastian and Ian worked their magic and soon the tracing was finished, and the planned route was plotted ready for the day’s training session.
 
Sunday 30th May 2021 arrived, and the blue sky made the day seem even more special.  Instead of our usual sign-in process, we instead ticked names off the attendance sheet, and the COVID officer scanned the temperature of all attendees to confirm that no-one attending had a fever.   It was wonderful to see familiar faces again.  One person said they loaded their horse that morning with such a grin on their face from the excitement and as they drove along the road towards Ballydehob it felt that they were coming home, such was the feeling of contentment and familiarity.
 
While Bastian took one group for training on compass bearings and other advanced POR techniques, the riders who had opted out of the compass training got their horses ready and presented themselves to the steward at CP1 (checkpoint 1) at the top of the yard.  Maps in hand, the first pair of riders mounted up and rode out of the gate on their first stage.  A short time later, a trio (two experienced treccies who were joined by a young rider on her first ever POR) followed suit.  With the theory training over, the next pair of riders saddled up and departed the yard, followed by the only individual rider for the day, and lastly a trio of ladies from East Cork.
 
The route took the riders westward and along part of the Butter Road, then headed south towards CP2.  The sea views were a treat for all the riders; the glistening blue sea dotted with numerous islands (part of the Carbery’s Hundred Isles) and also the Fastnet Rock.  Leaving CP2, the riders continued south to Derreenatra, and then west to Rossbrin, before turning northward up a small farm track and on to the quiet country lanes around Ballycummisk, down into a small valley and up the far side.  Continuing on the road northward, the riders found themselves back in the townland of Stouke.  Their route not yet over, the riders had to ignore the turning that would take them towards the yard, and continue northward to CP3 where the horses were given a short breather.  Leaving CP3, the riders continued in a northerly direction for about 300m where they found another off-road section.  After successfully negotiating their way along this section, the riders ended up on a small lane where they first headed south a short distance before joining a farm track which brought them in a southwesterly direction, checking in at the last checkpoint CP4 stationed just before the yard. Not everyone had made it this far as three riders had had to retire at different stages along the route for a variety of reasons.  It was about 4pm when the last group of riders arrived back at the yard, happy with their day’s excursion.  One by one the horseboxes were loaded and riders began to disperse, and the CP stewards returned from their designated locations with their clocks, speed signs and entry/exit flags.
 
It was great to be out and about and and meeting old friends again (albeit at a distance of 2m or more), and many enthusiastic comments were made about the route, with so much of it being off-road, and the glorious sunshine that made the day’s event such a fantastic start to the year.
 
Results were emailed out to the riders during the week following the event as we were still not permitted to stay on site longer than necessary.
 
Our thanks to Bastian and Ian for their wonderful job tracing the route, to Bastian again for the theory training at the start, for Shirley, Megan, Ellie and Jill as CP stewards, to Billy for the use of his yard as the venue, to all the landowners who permitted us access across their land, and last (but not least) our thanks to all the riders (Richard, Mary, Judith, Jo, Adèle, Tara, Dave, Sheila, Elaine, Frances and Siobhán) for travelling from near and far.

The new version of the TREC Ireland rulebook was released on the 1st of April 2021. It is available to download from our links page or from the TREC Ireland website (www.trecireland.com/rules-downloads).

The new versions of the TREC Ireland data sheets and score sheets were released on the 1st of April 2021.

There have been four new obstacles added, for non-championship events:

• 40: Slalom Ridden One-handed
• 41: Ridden One-handed Corridor
• 42: Neck Reining 
• 43: Ticket Punch 

The full set of data sheets and score sheets for all obstacles are available to download from our links page or from the TREC Ireland website (www.trecireland.com/rules-downloads).

West Cork TREC will be running a One Day Event at Whooley's Farm, Knockraha, Co. Cork on 4th October 2020.  The event will be 3-phase (POR, MA & PTV) for Levels 1 and 2, both Individual and Pair classes. We will also be accepting entries for 2 phases (MA & PTV) for riders who do not want to do the POR, however we recommend that people should try and pair up to gain experience of a POR if they can.

More details about the event (including a list of equipment required) can be found in the attached document/schedule.


Entries:

We are using ItsPlainSailing for our event entries, which you can access by clicking on the following link to our club page: www.itsplainsailing.com/club/wct/

Entries will be open from 12noon Wednesday 23rd September to 5pm Wednesday 30th September only - we might not be able to accept late entries so please enter by the specified closing date/time to avoid disappointment.


Pricing:
• TREC Ireland Member 3-phase (POR, MA & PTV) - €30

• TREC Ireland Member 2-phase (MA & PTV only) - €20
• TREC Ireland Non-Member 3-phase (POR, MA & PTV) - €37 (incl. temporary reg. fee)
• TREC Ireland Non-Member 2-phase (MA & PTV only) - €27 (incl. temporary reg. fee)

Only holders of a valid TREC Ireland membership (Adult/Family/U-21) may enter as a T.I. member. Everyone else must enter as a Non-Member.  Note, being a member of West Cork TREC is not the same as having TREC Ireland membership.

Open the events section, click on the One Day Event, then select the option relevant to you.  Enter details as per instructions on screen, add to shipping cart and process your shipping cart through checkout to submit your entry.

Payment options:
(a) electronic fund transfer (b) bank lodgement at BoI (c) pay with credit/debit card - you will be charged entry fee plus a handling fee (d) post a cheque - this is our least preferred option

Covid-19 Contact Tracing and Declaration Forms - ALL ATTENDEES

Riders will need to submit a Rider Covid-19 Contact Tracing and Declaration form via ItsPlainSailing in advance of the competition (this may be done at the same time as the entry form or it can be submitted a little later - we will set the closing date for covid-19 forms separate to the entry forms).  There is no charge to submit this form. 


Volunteers - if there is anyone who would be able to volunteer to help us at this event, we would be very grateful of your assistance.  Please log onto the ItsPlainSailing/Club/West Cork Trec page by clicking on the following link: www.itsplainsailing.com/club/wct/  and click on the Events section, select the One Day Event Covid-19 Declaration option, and complete a Volunteer Covid-19 Contact Tracing and Declaration form in advance of the competition.  You will need to add this form to the shopping cart and process it through the checkout to submit your declaration to us.  There is no charge to submit this form.

Rider's Assistant - Anyone travelling with a rider to assist the rider (eg driver/groom/parent) but who will not be submitting a Volunteer's declaration form to us should submit a separate Rider's Assistant Covid-19 Contact Tracing and Declaration form.


Starting order/time schedule:

A starting order/time schedule will be drawn up once we have a completed list of entries and will be issued on the Friday evening before the event (in the event of unforeseen delays this may be issued Saturday morning latest).

At the event:

Sign-in on arrival will also be handled slightly differently.  A sign-in steward will be responsible for ticking the names of every person on the attendee list on arrival.  Should there be any last minute changes, e.g. extra volunteers, these people will be asked to complete and sign a self-declaration form by the sign-in steward who can then update the list of contacts.  As payment will have been received online prior to the event, there will not be any requirement to exchange money on the day.


Everyone will have to be aware of and maintain social distancing throughout the event, and to wear masks when in the close vicinity of others.  Helpers will need to wear face masks and gloves when appropriate (gloves will be supplied, but please bring your own mask).  Please note masks and gloves will also have to be worn by those setting up and dismantling PTV obstacles.

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Schedule


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We regret to announce that from 16th March 2020 all West Cork TREC events, trainings, and meetings have been cancelled until further notice due to restrictions advised in relation to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

West Cork TREC will defer to the recommendations issued by TREC Ireland relating to events.  TREC Ireland will continue to review the situation in line with the advice received from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The TREC Ireland Championships have been postponed from May until late Summer.  More information to follow.

REDUCE THE RISK - SOCIAL DISTANCING / SELF ISOLATION - STAY SAFE

TREC GB Championships - SCOTLAND - 17 & 18 August 2019
Two members of West Cork TREC, Elaine Dolan Crowley and Frances Whooley, travelled all the way with their horses from Cork to Peebles in the Scottish Borders.  They competed for TREC Ireland in the Level 2A Pairs class at the TREC GB Championships 2019. A third Irish competitor, Mairéad Ni Mhuimhneachain of Kerry Trec, joined them in Scotland competing on a hired horse in the Level 3 Individuals class.   Elaine and Frances finished 5th overall in their Pairs class, which was a great achievement for their first international outing.

TREC China International Championships - Datanzhen, Beijing, CHINA - 26 & 27 October 2019
The end of October brought yet another chance for West Cork TREC member Elaine Dolan Crowley don her green apparel and compete at an international competition.  Elaine was accompanied again by Mairéad Ni Mhuimhneachain of Kerry TREC, and together  they flew out from Cork to Beijing China, where they both competed as individuals in the TREC China International Championships class on hired mounts.  Both Irish riders did exceptionally well in the cold temperatures and ended up on the podium for the overall competition.  Overall placings: 1st (FRA) Amanti Muller; 2nd (IRE) Elaine Dolan Crowley and joint 3rd (IRE) Mairead Ni Mhuimhneachain and (GB) Kate Gilliam.

We shall be holding a mini 3-phase one day event at Bantry Bay Pony Trekking on Sunday 28th July.  There will be a very short POR (orienteering phase) along the trekking trails in the grounds of the venue, an MA phase (control of paces) and a PTV phase (course of 16 obstacles). The purpose of this event is to act as an introduction to the orienteering phase for those who have never done a POR before (especially younger riders) but is also to introduce compass bearings for those who wish to try this aspect of a POR for the first time.  We are therefore asking all those with experience of POR/compass bearings to please make themselves available to pair with newcomers/young riders.

Schedule and Entry Form
A copy of the schedule (includes entry form and list of equipment for the POR) is available to download by clicking on the link here:  SCHEDULE ONE DAY EVENT JULY 2019

Entry fees (payable on day of event):
TREC Ireland Member = €15, all others €22

Closing date for entries: Sunday 21st July 2019
Entries accepted on official entry form only.  Send via email to: [email protected]

Time schedule
Times will be confirmed when all entries have been received.  Initially we are proposing that the first rider will present for tack check at 10am, entering the map room for 10.15am.  This event will take a few hours, so please bring refreshments (e.g. a drink and a light lunch).  All riders are required to report in for the start time, and would be expected to stay until the ridden aspect of the competition is completed for all levels.  Riders may be asked to help judge other levels or assist with other tasks so that the competition will run smoothly.

Classes available
• Level 2A Individual and Pairs classes • Level 2 Individual and Pairs classes • Juniors Pairs class (age 16-18 only) • Level 1 Individual and Pairs classes 

Riders under 16 must pair with an adult (aged 18 or over). Requests for pairs can be made by posting a comment on the event post on Facebook.

A company of riders and judges travelled up from Co. Cork to Athlone to enter and support the Trec Ireland National MA & PTV Championships at the end of September.  This event, hosted by Midlands TREC, was held in the Athlone Equestrian Centre – a fantastic venue with an all-weather cross-country course very suited for an event such as the MA & PTV Championships.

Our members all rode well, bringing home two of the nine trophies on offer and a number of rosettes between them. Annie O'Neill won the Coolroe Gold Trophy (Open PTV Championship Class) and Lorea O'Sullivan won The XLE Trophy (Open Speed TREC Class).  Coincidentally these two ladies had won the same two trophies last year but the opposite way around.

Riders:  Annie O'Neill, Lorea O'Sullivan, Kate Sheehan, Marlina Posthuma Quirke, Siobhán Wolf, Frances Whooley, Elaine Dolan Crowley and Bastian

Judges: Elaine Dolan Crowley, Bastian, Adèle Connor, Ellie Horgan, Sarah Posthuma, Anne O'Riordan and Phillippa Christie

Please see the post on our Results page to view the full list of results.

Sunday 14th October 2018 was the final leg of West Cork TREC’s Summer League. Less than a week after the country had got a battering from Storm Callum and subsequent days of wet and miserable weather, the dawn broke to reveal a calm and dry day, with morning sunshine promising some reasonably warm conditions for a day in mid-October (although the wind started to pick up in the early afternoon, and occasionally blew a little on the bitter side).

The first of the horseboxes began arriving at Bantry Bay Pony Trekking Centre shortly before 10.45am, followed by another and another, with the yard quickly filling up. Riders, judges and helpers began to move obstacles into their place around the arena, spacing out slalom poles, setting up the s-bend, jump, footbridge and the other obstacles, under the instruction from the chef-de-piste and the technical delegate.

The start of the actual competition was delayed, during which time the chef-de-piste gave a course walk and explanation of obstacles which was of great benefit for competitors who were new or inexperienced in TREC PTV obstacles.

After judges and assistants were allocated their obstacles, the first competitor entered the arena and we were off… The first two obstacles, the ridden corridor and slalom, were fast and some of the riders managed to get a nice canter through both. Control was required immediately after the slalom as the rider had to slow to a walk to negotiate the footbridge. Around the corner from the footbridge was the reinback, with some riders cantering from a standstill out of the reinback to pop over a jump. Skill and control was required here to gather the horse again for mounted immobility without passing through or beyond the circle. A knotted rope strung between 2 jump stands sufficed for a gate next. The method required to open the gate, move the horse through and close the gate again without letting go is more or less the same whether it be a rope or solid gate. However, this was a strange and new design for many of our equines and their riders to face, and was not without some refusals. The ridden S-Bend was next, with the rider dismounting to do the next three obstacles in-hand. The last of these three was the in-hand gate – without the previous drama as all the horses and ponies followed their riders quite happily through. Mounting from the offside was next, some riders having to think really hard about which foot to raise up to the stirrup. Once mounted, the rider took a diagonal line across the arena over the fake ditch, another obstacle newly introduced to our group’s repertoire of indoor obstacles, and it was not without a few problems. Riders had to turn sharply after the ditch to get back to the footbridge for a second time, followed by both the slalom and ridden corridor again, allowing for a quick turn of speed through to the finish line.

There was a break after the intermediate level riders had finished, allowing those judging to go and get their horses ready, and those who had just completed their competition had to put their horses away so they could judge the novice riders. The course was the same for both levels, though heights and widths of certain obstacles are adjusted to reduce the level of difficulty.

Once the last rider had finished their round, the course was dismantled and put away – many hands make light work as the saying goes. Shortly afterwards, the scorer announced the results, and rosettes were handed out accordingly. Group photographs were taken, and a steady rumble of horseboxes heading home commenced.

We hope everyone enjoyed the day and we would like to thank Bantry Bay Pony Trekking for the use of their lovely indoor arena, we are very grateful to be able to use their facility.  Our thanks too to all the competitors, judges and helpers for taking part and supporting us. We would especially like to thank Siobhán Wolf for taking on the role of course designer (chef de piste) for the first time and for challenging our riders, Bastian for being our technical delegate, and Jill as event secretary/scorer.

West Cork TREC Winter League
Leg 6 - PTV competition
Venue: Bantry Bay Pony Trekking, Hollyhill, Bantry, Co. Cork
Date: 08-04-2018

A bright and airy new indoor arena was the perfect setting for the final leg of our winter league. We had a very good turnout, and were delighted to welcome some new faces to our competition.  The day was dry too, a welcome change to the recent deluges, and riders were grateful to be able to stay dry while warming up in an outdoor arena and waiting for their turn.

Not everything went to plan though. A flat tyre on the horsebox at the yard delayed the chef de piste and company. Attempts to pump the tyre were unsuccessful so they had to unhitch and change boxes before setting off on their 40 mile journey to the event. Thanks to some quick thinking and modern technology, they were able to send a photo of the course layout ahead before they left Castletownbere so that members could begin building the course while they were still en route.

Once the course was complete, another 15 mins was allowed for the riders to walk the course. There were 8 obstacles to be done twice to make it up to a course of 16 obstacles.  The order for the day was Level 3 (Advanced), Level 1 (Novice), Level 2 (Intermediate).

The first Level 3 rider was called down from the practice arena, and it immediately became obvious the course was not as innocent as it looked. The spacing and positioning of some of the obstacles meant the riders had to be smart about their approach to the next obstacle, especially if they wanted to negotiate it at the higher gaits.  The second obstacle was the ridden corridor but a short approach meant many didn't attempt the canter needed to get full marks.  The fifth obstacle, the one-handed figure of eight tripped up some riders, and a few were caught out for not releasing the reins before the horse's front feet passed the entrance cones.  The in-hand footbridge was another obstacle giving trouble - while some horses trustingly followed their rider across, others were perhaps not quite so willing.

There were 22 entries in total across the 3 classes, though some of these were repeat rounds and marked out of competition accordingly. The results were announced about 15-20 mins after the last rider had completed the course, and rosettes for 1st to 3rd places for each level were handed out.  (Please see our Results page for details).

We would like to extend a huge thanks to Georgia and Andy Shiels of Bantry Bay Pony Trekking for the use of their lovely new arena, set very nicely on the hill overlooking the pond and cross-country course. We gratefully thank Bastian who, although was not able to attend the competition, transported some of the obstacles we needed to the venue the day beforehand. Last but not least, our thanks to the judges, competitors and all who attended making this a lovely day.

The TREC Ireland National MA/PTV Championships (2017) will be held on 22nd April 2018 at Clonshire Equestrian Centre, Adare, Co. Limerick.  This event is being hosted by West Cork TREC. Both TREC Ireland members and non-members may compete at the MA/PTV Championships.  The classes available are listed below.  Full details of the event, including entry form, entry fees, volunteer/helper form, plus a list of stabling and accommodation options can be found in the event schedule, which may be downloaded by clicking on the link here.  The closing date for entries is Friday 6th April 2018.

Championship Classes
(restricted to TREC Ireland members who have qualified or been nominated by their group)
Class 1:  MA Championships
Class 2:  Open PTV Championships  (Level 3 heights)
Class 3:  Intermediate PTV Championships (Level 2 heights)
Class 4:  Novice PTV Championships (Level 1 heights)

Non-Championship Classes
(for riders not competing in Championship Classes, open to both members and non-members)
Class 5:  Open PTV (Level 3 heights)
Class 6:  Intermediate PTV (Level 2 heights)
Class 7:  Novice PTV (Level 1 heights)

D-TREC Classes
(open to all riders both members and non-members)
Class 8:  Open D-TREC (Level 2 heights)
Class 9:  Intermediate D-TREC (Level 2 heights)
Class 10:  Novice D-TREC (Level 1 heights)

Speed TREC Classes
(restricted to riders who competed in Open PTV or Intermediate PTV, i.e. classes 2, 3, 5 & 6)
Class 11:  Open Speed TREC (Level 3 heights)
Class 12:  Intermediate Speed TREC (Level 2 heights)

Riders from the PTV Championship classes (classes 2, 3 and 4) may also be nominated for the Team PTV Championships.  Teams should consist of 3 or 4 riders (levels may be mixed in a team).  Best 3 scores will be added together – a team of 4 will have their lowest score discarded.  A group may nominate more than one team.

See you there!

A number of West Cork TREC senior riders, young riders, and members of their support crew travelled to Glengarriff to attend the TREC Ireland Judges Training Course on 14th January 2018.  There was a great mix of experience within the group; some who were using this course as a refresher training course and some who were attending a judges training course for the first time.  We would like to thank TREC Ireland, and especially West Cork TREC trainer, Bastian, for hosting this training course, and the two young riders who rode the PTV obstacles for the practical judging session.

The date for the rescheduled TREC Ireland National MA/PTV Championships (2017) has been set for 22nd April 2018 at Clonshire Equestrian Centre, Adare, Co. Limerick, and will be hosted by West Cork TREC.

The competition will be open to members and non-members, and will include PTV and D-TREC classes for novice (level 1), intermediate (level 2) and advanced (level 3) riders.  We are working on updating the schedule, but it is not yet ready to be sent out.  Only members may enter the classes listed as "championship" classes.  We will advise when the revised schedule becomes available.  Keep an eye out for news here and on the West Cork TREC and TREC Ireland Facebook pages.  If you would like to know more about the competition, please do not hesitate to contact us on Facebook or send us an email (a contact form is available on our Contact page).

Judges Training on Saturday, 5th August 2017 at Bastian’s, Crostera West, Glengarriff, Co. Cork.
Trainer: Gwen Bastian
Entry fees can be paid on the day.  Entry Fee: € 10 (free for guinea pigs)
Start 10.30am - Finish approx 3pm
Please bring your judges’ logbook, your own lunch and suitable outdoor wear.

​This training course is for International and National Judges and a refresher for all certified judges, but anyone who has not yet a certificate but has some judging experience can also attend the training. For more information and directions ask Bastian - let him know a.s.a.p. if you want to attend

To contact Bastian please phone landline 027 63180 or text mobile 085 766220 or send email to [email protected]

We are holding a fun ride this Easter Monday, April 17th 2017, to raise funds for our Young Riders who qualify for the European Championships.  Join us for a sociable ride along small country roads and boreens with sea views around the Lisheen area near Skibbereen (Lisheen is south of the Skibbereen to Ballydehob Road on the headland between Roaring Water Bay and The Ilen River).

The ride will be starting off from Lisheen Church at 12 noon and will stop at Minihan's Bar (just a few minutes walk away from where you started) for refreshments for both horse and rider before everyone heads home. There will be a couple of places along the route where you should be able to get a nice canter if you so wish.

There will be an entry fee as it is a fundraiser - €10 for TREC Ireland members, €17 for non-TREC Ireland members.​  Any other donations will be gratefully received.  Our thanks to Johanna for tracing the route and also for creating the poster below.

For those who are not able to attend the Fun Ride, there will be another fundraiser very soon.  We will be running a Treasure Hunt in the Mealagh Valley on Sunday 30th April (this will be on foot, not ridden).

To encourage riders to try TREC, and to help prevent anyone being put off giving TREC a go because they feel they'll need to buy new equipment for something they may only do once, TREC Ireland have issued a slightly reduced equipment list for Level 1 competitors at local competitions as follows:

• Hard hat complying with current standards
• Headcollar and leadrope or combination bridle
• Fluorescent/Reflective hi-viz clothing (minimum is clearly visible stripes on rider's torso)
• Medical armband
• Horse ID with rider’s and emergency phone no on tack
• Hoofpick
• Whistle
• Mobile phone

Once a rider has committed to TREC we can advise them on the best compass etc to buy.

​Please note the full TI equipment list from the rulebook will still apply to all levels at National Competitions.

If you have any queries regarding these guidelines please do not hesitate to contact a member of the TREC Ireland committee.

West Cork TREC will be holding their AGM at 6pm on Wednesday 4th January 2017 at the Glengarriff Golf Club.

Our current committee members will be stepping down, and we will be electing new members for 2017.  Adèle sent out an email to all our members before Christmas with both a proposal form (for suggesting who you would like to fill the various posts) and a proxy form (for those who cannot attend giving permission to another member to vote on your behalf).  Please fill out the relevant forms and send them back to Adèle before Monday 2nd January to give her time to collect everything together.  A member may decline any position if they do not wish to be considered for same before the voting proceeds.

The Golf Club will be opening the bar for drinks, and a number of members will be bringing us some delicious fare for us all to share.  Please let Adèle know if you will be able to bring something for the buffet.

Non-members are very welcome to come to our AGM, though they will not be able to vote in the committee selection.

On a separate issue, if you would like to see who won the Summer League which ended in October 2016, the Leader Board has finally been posted to our results page, with sincere apologies for the delay.

Exit from Bantry Town Square onto the N71 road towards Skibbereen/Cork .
 
After approx 4.2 km (2.6 miles) turn right onto the R591 (Durrus/Toormore/Goleen)
 
Continue along this road for 6.3km (3.9 miles) until you approach Durrus town.  As you drive through Durrus, bear left to stay on the R591 (road to Toormore/Goleen).

There is a narrow bridge just as you exit Durrus, but there is good visibility on both sides of the bridge.

Keep going straight along the R591 road for another 8.1 km (5 miles) until you reach the cross with the Cashelfean signpost (see photo - please note the road does not actually have the letters R591 painted on it). If it helps anyone, this cross is approx 1.6 km (1 mile) after the Dunbeacon Cross where you may have noticed the two milk churns on a wall in the lay-by).
 
Turn right onto this small road for 800m (0.5 miles), and bear left at the fork through the entrance onto the estate.  Keep going along this boreen until you reach the indoor and outdoor arena facilities.

We will be holding a D-TREC competition on Sunday November 6th and we have been given permission to use the superb indoor arena (measuring 23m x 60m) at Cashelane Stud in Cashelfean, Durrus.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us, and there is also a viewing area for spectators, so please come along and support this event.  

Closing date for entries is November 2nd.  We will need as many entries as we can get as the facility is quite expensive, but we think the venue is so worth it.

If you are still undecided whether or not to enter, we recommend you take a look at their Facebook page, Cashelane Stud.  Click on their photos section, and load up the album entitled Cashelane Stud and Farm to see some photos of the facility and the indoor arena.