On Friday 24^th November Elstead Riding Club held their annual general meeting  at Hambledon Village Hall.  The evening started with a delicious buffet and a chance to browse the tack sale and chat with friends.  Everyone took their seats for a musical presentation of members' video clips and photos taken at Elstead's eleven open events. The main theme was the team events throughout the year featuring clips at British Riding Club qualifiers and both the London and South East and National Championships.  One member was moved to tears as she watched the production on screen as she is sadly moving out of the area.

Penny Jann, club secretary and team manager, explained that this year Elstead seniors qualified for all but one of the nine National Championship classes held at Lincoln in September.  The senior teams, representing Area 11, did exceptionally well to achieve placings in six of the classes. The two most notable placings were in the Riding Test (similar to a dressage test, but marks are allocated on the riders performance, rather than the horses) and Equitation Jumping (similar to show jumping, but marks are allocated based on the riders performance again). The Riding Test team of Sarah Anning (Leybourne Patrick), Sarah Morley-Boxall (Flying Fun Guy), Annie Denton (Malingold Mercury) and Jo Errington (Laurel Luckas) rode very accurate tests and were rewarded with second place. The Equitation Jumping team of Jenni Merritt (Geordie's Boy Tiger), Jenny Dutton (The Snowman), Miranda Hodges (Barrister B) and Marion Adams (Seconds Out) also performed very well and coming second.  The Elstead junior teams highest placing was fourth in the novice show jumping championship with Susanna Milton (Pentrepiod Emperor), Christopher Milton (Merry Music Man), Katie Thomas (Senator) and Rebecca Haryett (Florence) riding in the team.  These fantastic team results meant that Elstead retained the Foss Trophy (which they have won thirteen times) for the most successful club in team events in Area 11.  Elstead also won the Natasha Trophy for the most points gained at the London and South East championships. All 54 team members (a quarter of the club's membership) were congratulated at the AGM and awarded special rosettes as a 'Thank you'.

The evening ended with the presentation of awards by chairman Richard Terry.

For further information visit www.elsteadridingclub.co.uk

I am pleased to tell you that this year we raised £ 5,263.21, and I would like to thank my team of 13 collectors, and among others the support from the churches in Elstead and St James School.

Last year in the same period £ 5,087.90 was raised. It is important that we raise this money, as the pain and suffering of our service and ex-service people goes on and on - the present need for assistance in just as great as it ever was in modern times.

A big thank you to those who gave so generously to Poppy Appeal in time and donation.