Annaharvey Newsletter - April 2010
Well Spring has at last come to Annaharvey, after a long and cold winter we are at last seeing the daffodils in full bloom and the trees beginning to bud – of course this also means the horses are in fine form and full of the joys of life so in turn that means an odd buck is in order when out on the cross country! As you can imagine this is a bit nerve wracking for the instructors and riders, but thankfully no one has fallen as a result of this exuberance as yet so hopefully it will stay that way!
We have had 3 Hunter Trials over the past few weeks which have all been very successful, with great crowds and good weather – even the one on Easter Monday in aid of Offaly Pony Club went well despite our fears about the weather – it was a windy fresh day but the rain stayed away – when we got up the following morning it had been raining all night and there were floods everywhere with the water complexes being completely submerged, so we were extremely lucky.
We have had a good international attendance at the Hunter Trials this year which has been very exciting – it was great to see Sandra from Germany taking home 1st prize in the Novice Singles along with being placed in the indoor league this spring – a great achievement as she only participated in 4 out of the 7 nights – it was also her 25th time to visit us so we were really pleased to see her doing so well.
We also had a group from the Netherlands and Sweden enjoying the event last Monday when they went around clearing all the fences and enjoying the buzz that comes with taking part in the competition – so thank you all for coming and adding to the day with your enthusiasm and good humour.
Easter has been lovely this year with guests staying and family coming and going. Yet again Rory and Aaron with the rest of the rugby team have qualified for the Final of the Towns Cup playing Dundalk last Sunday and beating them, to go forward to play Boyne in Naas Sunday week in the final so we are all looking forward to that – win or lose it will be great excitement.
Sam and Aaron have put a lot of effort into the cross–country course this year and have at least 3 different courses that can be used with one of them being practically all weathered which is a great advantage. Our next project is to develop some good walks around the farm that people can come and enjoy throughout the year, so there are busy times ahead.
Paddy is well recovered from his fall last summer and is back teaching away – he has got very health conscious and is eating some really healthy food – so it is always a treat to see what he has with him each day – nuts and salads and cheeses etc. so he is going to stay fit and well.
Bookings are coming in nicely for the summer now, and hopefully we will be busy – I am going to miss Barbra who is leaving the Emerald Isle for far off Australia – herself and her husband are emigrating for a few years so we will be sorry to see her go. However, life is short so they are right to follow their dreams and see what is on offer out there, and we wish them well.
We are getting ready for the Astronomers conference on this weekend coming along with another Hunter Trials, so we are busy in the kitchen again baking and generally organising things, but next week we will have a break of a few weeks before the next event, so that will give us a chance to get the day to day things under control again!
That’s all for now,
all the best,
Lynda, Henry and family.
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