'Old' and New Stars
At the end of another hectic month, we just made it to call this the 'November issue' of the National News. It appears that SPAM and other e-mail filters are making it more and more difficult to reach all members that have provided e-mail addresses. One solution may be to simply make you aware that a new issue of National News has been published on our web. This particular newsletter is, however, in the 'old' format but the links may now work for you, depending on how your system is set up. You will most likely also have to 'download pictures' to get the newsletter looking right. Stars The month of November was rather exciting, probably much more for many of our competitors than for mere spectators like myself. It began with Makybe Diva's record-breaking third consecutive win of the Melbourne Cup. This magnificent horse was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame last Thursday, an event which also honoured the 1996 Atlanta Equestrian Team. Wendy Schaeffer, Gill Rolton and Andrew Hoy were there but Phillip Dutton was not able to attend. Matthew Dowsley with Cinderella and Heath Ryan with Greenoaks Dundee were CDI-W winners at Equitana and Dressage with the Stars, respectively. DWTS was the 'League Final', of course, so we will wait and see whether Australia will have representation at the World Final in Amsterdam next year. Other results, including Young Horse Champions for Dressage and Jumping, can be found on the Victorian web. Edwina Alexander has continued her progression towards the upper end of the riders' rankings. Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester took the 4-star crown in Adelaide. Together with Sonja Johnson, Rebel Morrow and Wendy Schaeffer, Megan also shared the glory of winning the Trans Tasman Trophy, only the second occasion for Australia in the competition's twenty-year history. Congratulations to all. Our new web is improving all the time. At a Branch Convention in Queenland last week, club officials showed great interest after seeing a presentation of the system's feature. The 'roll-out' to clubs is planned to happen towards the end of March next year, after a few other matters have been sorted out. Meetings As far as meetings are concerned, the two most important ones probably were the EFA 2005 AGM followed by a Joint Session with the 'Shareholders' (Branch Chairs) and representative of the National Committees for Dressage, Eventing, Jumping and Show Horse. The group tried to find ways to improve the effectiveness of National Committees but agreed to call elections under the current 'representational' system on this occasion. Committees will be asked to consider what kind of system would best work for them. Once approved by the Board, these committees would dissolve themselves and reconstitute under the respective new governance system. The Annual Report is not quite complete as yet. In the meantime, we have published the Financial Reports which show the EFA to be in a healthy condition. We will be able to re-invest some of the reserves back into the sport. On the day following the AGM, the National Board met and dealt with a range of issues. A summary of business conducted will be publised on the web next week but we should mention that the (draft) EFA National Marketing Plan and its strategies received a lot of attention. You will be able to download a condensed version soon. Events December is not as 'packed' with competition as the previous two months. Next weekend you should consider visiting the National Show Horse and Rider Championships at Werribee or go to the Lakes and Craters Three-Day Event at Camperdown, also in Victoria. The Victorian Branch has joined the national web as www.vic.equestrian.org.au (still retaining the www.efavic.com.au domain name as well) and has added its events to the calendar. Other Branches are about to follow. Do an 'Advanced Search' and have a look. National Coach Educators Seminar Our thanks to the EFA Victorian Branch, EFA NCAS Committee and Rebecca Willis for coordinating the 2005 EFA NCAS Coach Educator Seminar at Werribee (Brad Paterson did not want to be mentioned). The seminar focused on the course content and delivery of the EFA NCAS Introductory Coach and EFA NCAS Level 1 (General) Coach courses, with all those attending enjoying a greater insight into new and exiting developments. A big THANK YOU also to all the presenters. Australia Represented in Taiwan We received an invitation to send one dressage rider and one jumping rider to the CSIO* - CDIO** Taipei in Taiwan. Our dressage representative will be Alyssa Webb (19) from Mt Nathan, Queensland. Alyssa is a member of the National Young Rider Dressage Squad and has competed with success at Prix St Georges and Inter I level. Competing in the Jumping competition for Australia will be Michael Lucas (25) from Tumut, NSW. Michael enjoyed enormous success as a Young Rider and more recently has been training and competing with Angelique Hoorn in Holland. The Australian Chef d'Equipe will be Nicole Tough from Advancetown, Queensland. The EFA wishes the team a safe and successful trip. New Staff Last week we were able to welcome a new member to our marvellous team at the National Office. Diana Sutherland moved from Victoria to join us and take the place of Siobhan Lapthorne who was recently promoted to the position of Policy & Project Officer (advertised in the middle of the year). Welcome and congratulations to both! Reminders - Details on our web All riders/drivers/vaulters and their horses participating in FEI events (like CDIs, CSIs, CEIs, etc) will need to get FEI registration BEFORE they compete. Dressage Judges returns are now due. If you are a Dressage judge, please attend to the return as soon as possible. The EFA is calling for nominations for members and and chairs of National Committees. Sponsors I can't close the newsletter without mentioning our sponsors and supporters. Ridley Agriproducts and Kentucky Equine Research and many others, especially our event sponsors. We are very grateful for the funding and support we have been receiving.
Let me also mention the growing number of horse owners who provide their valuable steeds to riders. Your contribution is getting more and more recognition. That's it for November. You may wish to check our or the AOC's web site on Thursday. Apart from 're-launching' their web, the AOC will announce Australia's '50 Finest Olympians' as chosen by AOC historian Harry Gordon. I wonder how many Equestrians will get a guernsey. Be good. Franz Venhaus | ||
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