June 2011

Hello Everyone,

We are sending you this extra letter to keep you up to date with the latest news from the Gwent Area club.

Firstly, due to Bill Barker and Jan Woodland not wishing to continue, the posts of Treasurer and Secretary became vacant.  After nominations and voting took place as required, it was agreed by attending members that Robert Ball is now Treasurer and Ann Tite is Secretary.  We would like to thank Janice and Bill for all they have done during their time in these posts.  Thank you also to those who agreed to be nominated, which allowed us to have a vote.

We would like to let you know about the events happening over the next few months which need your support.

24 June SUMMER FUN NITE*

 at Hilltop Sports & Social Club, Ebbw Vale. 

 7.30pm –2.30am  Live Entertainment and Disco.   Tickets are £6 each to include Buffet.

26 June  HILLTOP SHOW

3 July TABLE TOP & CAR BOOT SALE *

at Hilltop Sports & Social Club.  11am – 4.30pm  £5 per Table (Sellers). 50p entry  for Viewers.

28 August GRAND OPEN DAY EXHIBITION*

at Smugglers Run.  10.30am

                                All Sections Welsh, Part breds, Native Breeds, Veterans, Shire Horse Display, Hounds,  Driving, Dressage, Jumping.  Royal Welsh Prize Winners, Young Handlers' Section. Stalls, Bouncy Castle, Refreshments.

20 Nov FOAL & YOUNGSTOCK SHOW

AT Usk College.

For further information on events marked *, and tickets for the Summer Fun Nite, please contact Kelly Cooper (01495 307547), Jan Woodland (01495 214810), Andrew Thomas (01495 305481) or Gill Huws-John (01495 227285).

Our next Club Meeting, due on Friday 30th September, will be held at our new venue, Hilltop sports & Social Club, Ebbw Vale, when all Members attending will help with the choice of judges for the Foal & Youngstock Show.  A buffet will be provided which will be funded by a raffle held at the meeting.  If you have any suggestions of what YOU would like to see at our meetings, please feel free to contact us with your views.

We have enclosed a book of Draw Tickets to raise funds to enable us to put further events on to make sure the Gwent Area WPCS remains a successful and enjoyable club for its members.  We would be obliged if you could sell the book and return the counterfoils, money, and any unsold tickets, before the Draw date.

As Ann has now taken the position of Club Secretary, we are looking for someone willing to take over as Show Secretary, starting with the Foal Show in November.  If you think you might be interested, please feel free to contact us about it, with no obligation.

Finally, please remember the club depends on its Membership which runs from September to September each year.  If you have overlooked payment for the current year 2010/2011, or if you know anyone who would like to join, please contact Ann.  Please Note:  It's not too late to join the Points Scheme, Julie Jones will be happy to take your entry (01633 612963).

We look forward to seeing you at the events we have planned – please bring your friends.

Best of luck to you all for the Summer Showing season.

Happy New Year to all Gwent Area members and friends.
The many local social events has meant that we have all been in regular contact but to those of you further afield I hope that everyone is managing the Winter weather successfully and looking forward to the start of the showing season.
The Charity events were extremely successful and thanks must go to the hard working organisers and supporters. Over £7000 was raised for the chosen charities, a magnificent amount going to places who well deserve our support.
Our Points Award Function took place in December at Hafodyrynys , this time. This was a change from the usual November date and venue, although the numbers were slighly lower than last year, the evening presentations and disco were well received. There are over 40 trophies on offer each year for all in hand sections and ridden, the entry for members being only £1 so it is an element of the society which has been very popular and hotly contested over the years.
We are looking for more competition so please send in your entries which will be with the next news letter.
Membership runs from September to September with an A.G.M. in April. This  can cause confusion as some Associations have different dates. Some members have missed the deadline for the journal but have been included on the new membership list to be displayed on the web-page. Please contact the committee for any further help if needed.
Meetings continue to be the last Friday of the month at the Bailey Arms in Cwm but the start time is now 7.30pm when there is a speaker and 8.00pm for ordinary meetings.
Bleddyn Pugh was our first visiting speaker for the Winter itinerary and gave everyone a fantastic time with some very knowledgeable people showing how much they know about our favourite breed. The meeting ended at 11.20 and our grateful thanks go to Bleddyn and the friends that accompanied him.
While browsing the web-sites members may be interested that Sunnybank Equestrian Centre has Matthew Lawrence booked for February 25th. Bookings are for 4 in a group, £20 each. Our ridden numbers are increasing so if you are interested please contact the secretary or direct to Sunnybank.
 

Schedule of meetings for 2011 all starting at 7.30 pm at the Bailey Arms, Cwm, Ebbw Vale.
                                 
                                                         Friday January 28th.
                                                           The owners and breeders of Dream Alliance, the racehorse who won The Welsh National, have agreed to talk about their unique achievement. He was born to a £350 mare and raised on a disused allotment and their story is one which has interested Hollywood. Please come along and share in their pride of a local success story.
 
                                                          Friday February 25th.
                                                           Forum of W.P.C.S. Council Members .
                                                           If you would like the opportunity to listen to up to date information or ask questions please support this meeting.
 
                                                    
 
                                                           Friday March 25th.
                                                            A representative from Top Spec Feed Balancer will discuss nutritional issues and give advice.
 
 
 
                                                           Friday 29th April.
                                                           A.G.M. no speaker so meeting will start at 8.00pm
 

January 2010 Meeting.
The meeting was very successful with approximately 45 people present for the forum. Alan Pearce represented the Education and Welfare Committee of the W.P.C.S. and was able to answer the many different questions that were put to him. Also giving news of concerns that members had regarding new legislation. The visits out to Area Associations is obviously the way forward since the previous seminars were poorly attended. The fund raising for the new events has got off to a very good start thanks to the members and friends who bought and sold the many raffle tickets. The draw took place at the Bailey Arms in front of all that were present in the meeting. Congratulations to the following prize winners and also a thank you to Mr. Pearce who resubmitted his prize.
 

1st     J.A.Wodland.   0242
2nd     Bob Edwards.   0110
3rd     Stuart Franklin  1541
4th     Allen Evans.     0021
5th     Kelly Cooper.    1459
6th     G.Barker.        1353
7th     Roger Davies.   1256
8th     Ann Tite.        0995
9th    Jodie Stokes.     1272
10th   Dorothy Williams.  1786
 
 
Members present at the meeting were all given the opportunity to nominate judges for the Summer show, names being placed on prepared sheets indicating each section. Ten names for each section were then drawn and the judges have now been booked.
 

Summer Show 2010
Section A   Ruth Thacker.
Section B   Tracey Landon.
Section C   Julie Williams.
Section D Nicola Davies.
Part Bred/Ridden Mrs. D. Powell.
 
Apologies to some members whose details were unable to be included on the journal page this year as they were submitted too late. These will remain in credit and be included for next year. Membership runs from September to September so please ask for a form if you need one. New members are joining all the time and it is good to see the Assoc. moving forward successfully.
 
February Meeting.
 
Again a very well attended meeting for speaker Mr. D. Harris of the Pennal Stud. It proved to be a special evening full of questions, answers, opinions and humour. An evening that went on late into the night and very much enjoyed by everyone there.
Special thanks to Mr. Harris for sharing his thoughts and experiences with Gwent Area members.
 
 

March meeting (26th)
The March meeting allowed time for dicussion about forthcoming events and also some set backs in organising the new Festival. As there are many new events this year, many of the available dates have been taken up with fund raising towards the Royal Welsh Show.
It has been decided to hold the Gwent Area Festival in 2011 to ensure that as many people as possible will be able to take part and also encourage more spectators.
Our speaker, in the March meeting, was Mr Byron Jones who spoke about his business interests and hobby which both involve successful times with driving horses. Our thanks to him for a much enjoyed evening and as there were a number of interested people I'm sure that he will be hearing from us quite soon.
 
 The Gwent Area Stallion Parade took place at Sunnybank Equestrian Centre in Caerphilly on April 4th. The positive comments received by the society have been extremely encouraging and it has proved to be a positive step forward in introducing new events. Apologies in the delay in updating the web site which is down to family illness  so photographs and recognition for contributions will soon be available. Many thanks to everyone who supported the event, you made the day special for people who were ready to work hard and introduce something new.
 

Please come along and enjoy what will
be a very good opportunity to make your choice or just enjoy watching.
 
 

 The committee look forward to seeing everyone very soon.