We have had a good entry for our Winter TREC competition next weekend and are looking forward to seeing you there. Please read all the information below carefully, start times are below.
Obstacle lists will be published on Saturday, so you have a bit of time to learn your course. Please check the website for this additional information.
Directions to Croft Farm Events, Croft Farm, Long Lane, Pollington DN14 0DF.
It is located just outside the village of Pollington, just a short drive from the M62. Eastbound M62, the nearest junction is 34. If you are approaching on the A19, from Doncaster direction, pass Crown Garden Centre and turn right at the crossroads, signposted Balne and Pollington. Follow the road through the village of Pollington, pass the church and school and go over the river bridge. The road eventually becomes Long Lane and Croft Farm is on the left-hand side.
Arrival at the Venue
Please ensure the gate is closed behind you then follow the lane straight up past the indoor arena (take extra care as horses will be using this to get to/from the arena) and the car park is on the left. Park as close together as possible. Please bring a poop scoop/ gloves to allow you to clear up after your horse. Please do not leave ANYTHING in the car park – hay, haylage, droppings etc. should all be taken home with you. Horses must not be left unattended tied outside horseboxes/ trailers.
Please take care when riding or leading to the arena, as you will be coming down the route that the horseboxes are using to get in and out.
Times, Arena and Rosettes
We will do our best to keep to time on the day, so please help us by being ready to start early if required. Please start your control of paces (MA) as soon as the judges are ready and tell you it is fine to start.
There is an outdoor warm up, with an entrance opposite the indoor arena. Please feel free to use the area to warm up, but if you want to stand and chat, please do so outside the arena. Whilst warming up, please be considerate of others and their horses’ sensitivities. Pass left to left and if you are walking, please come in off the track.
Please keep an eye on the competitors before you and listen to the collecting ring steward’s instructions, so we do not keep our valuable volunteer judges waiting unnecessarily. Number bibs are not being used, so please ask the stewards if you are unsure of the running order. We shall tell you where you can pick up scoresheets and any rosettes and prizes on the day.
TREC GB membership year started on 1/10/23. If you want to be eligible for the national winter leagues, please ensure you have joined or renewed as a red or blue member by the competition date and provide us with your current membership number.
Refreshments
There is no café at the venue, so please ensure you bring something to eat and drink with you.
Helpers
Please be polite to our lovely judges and helpers who are giving up their Sunday to help you to enjoy this competition. A ‘thank you’ and a cheery smile goes a long way to making them feel it is all worthwhile – that way they may well come back to judge another event!
Course Walking
The course can be walked in the short break between each class and hopefully from 9.30am on the day. Please look at the course plan and read the judging sheets before this if possible. Any questions please ask. We are happy to give help and advice on the day and want everyone to have fun. In the affiliated classes the judges cannot help once you start the course.
Obstacles
The majority of the obstacles we are using for the competition can be found in the TREC GB rulebook, and a copy will be available on the day. Any not in the rulebook will also have a marking scheme available.
Spectators
Please do not enter the arena. Please keep any children under close supervision and for safety, please do not take pushchairs or prams near any horse areas.
Photographer
There is not an official photographer this time
Scores, Results and Winter TREC League Scores will be displayed as soon as possible. Individual score sheets for every rider will be available at the end of each class, once the scores have been checked. If you cannot stay to collect these and want them posted please leave a SAE with a LARGE LETTER stamp or a £1 coin. Please note that we shall not be able to post prizes. Help would really be appreciated at the end if you are still around to pack up and clear away.
We are really looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, but if you have to withdraw, please let us know by phone as soon as possible. Liz Tel: 07732 993846.
Important Notes
– Please do not swap order unless it is unavoidable.
– Please use green (novice/ young) or red (kicker) tail ribbons as appropriate for your horse and give plenty of space to any horse wearing a ribbon.
– Obstacle lists will be available on the website, by Saturday night, latest.
Obstacles are ridden, unless specified as led (other than for the in-hand class).
– For biosecurity reasons, please do not go near the resident horses or ponies and make sure your family and friends are aware of the need to stay away from them too.
– If on the day of the competition, you or your horse are unwell. Please stay away.
Things to bear in mind for the classes:
The TREC GB rulebook is available at https://trecgb.com/rules/
- Golden rules for the obstacles are look for the numbers on the flags to keep you in the correct order.
– Keep the red flag on your right and the white flag to your left.
– Try to avoid refusals; do not change pace; do not stop in the middle;
– Do not touch any part of an obstacle.
– If it is a compulsory walk obstacle, make sure you correct any jogging.
– Choose your pace before the start flags and stick to it until your horse’s back feet are out of the finish flags. - Competitors in the unaffiliated classes, in hand and newcomer may ask for assistance from the judges, if required, ‘i.e. where is the next obstacle?
- If your horse wears a martingale, you must lead using a headcollar and lead rope, not the reins.
- The only assistance allowed in affiliated classes is help getting back on your horse. A mounting block will be provided.
- Everything is optional, but if you want to miss an obstacle out, you must ride up to it, halt and tell the judge you will not be attempting it.
- Take your own line – all obstacles in the arena must be ridden as flagged. 4 minutes to complete as many obstacles as possible, doing a different obstacle in between, for example S-bend then water, not S-bend, S-bend.
- Circling at any point on the course counts as an effectiveness fault for the next obstacle.
- Doing an obstacle from the wrong direction or in the wrong order will be an error of course resulting in elimination (although we shall let you complete your round) – look for the flags and numbers.
- The start of the timed PTV (obstacles section) is from when you enter the flags of obstacle 1.
Please go straight from the MA to Obstacle 1. - If you are struggling to complete an obstacle, move on to the next, to avoid running out of time.
- The PTV will be times and when the time limit has elapsed, time penalties of 1 penalty for every 6 seconds will be incurred.
Good luck and enjoy the day!
White Horse TREC Group 