DAYBORO TRAILRIDERS NEWS – November 2015
The Big October Ride on Saturday, 3rd October, is done and dusted for another year! Ride numbers were down again and after a review the ride has been moved back to the fourth Saturday of October (22nd October, 2016).
The meals over the weekend were absolutely outstanding, prepared by chefs and pastry cooks. The steaks for Friday night and Saturday lunches were to die for, and not just those cooked by the chefs. The Saturday night meal for $15 was delicious and extremely good value. These young men prepared and cooked from Friday through to Sunday breakfast with no cost to the Club and we cannot thank them enough – well done Alex, Chris, Cameron, Alan and John. Chris also provided the music for the weekend through his computer.
The photos taken by Chris Giles and Debra Shanahan were played back on the big TV screen which was a very popular gathering point. Riders are now ordering these photos.
We conducted two raffles: Number one raffle was multi draw with all the prizes donated, none more popular than the horse feed donated by Brendale Produce. Number two raffle prize was a set of stainless steel spurs donated by Neil McIntyre. This prize was won by a very excited young girl who had asked her mother to buy the tickets as soon as she saw the spurs, and then proudly wore them on the ride on Sunday.
The ride left the showgrounds with 121 horses and riders escorted by the local police via Mt Mee Road, Williams and Bradley Streets, backed up by the Rural Fire Brigade. Thanks to both organizations and to all the vehicles which stopped while we rode through town to the Bowls Club entry. The ride then continued into Butler’s; Strong Road; Eleanor’s block – where unfortunately a young woman was bucked off needing to be transported to hospital by ambulance where she was treated for broken bones – we wish her a speedy recovery. We then continued into Warren’s place and had smoko at his yards. Next was Strong Road to the trails mowed by the Council to avoid traffic and a clear path under Rush Creek bridge, then Raaen Road into Joe Bradley’s where the ‘short’ and ‘long’ rides split.
The ‘short’ ride crossed Rush Creek up past Joe’s house, behind the dairy to Murray Road, Dayboro Road, Peter Leis’, Neil Cross’, Rod Small’s; Fingerboard Road, Brady Court, Mt Mee Road, under Terror’s Creek bridge, and back to the showgrounds.
The ‘long’ ride continued on Raaen Road and then on to Will Bradley’s; quarry land; Heathwood’s; across Dayboro Road to O’Sullivan’s; with lunch at the end of Rush Creek Road. Lunch over, it was on to Rush Creek Road; back under Rush Creek bridge; Raaen Road; Joe Bradley’s; up past the Pioneer shed; Rod Small’s; Fingerboard Road; and as per the ‘short’ ride back to the showgrounds.
The ride on Sunday was very popular with 48 riders leaving the showgrounds via Stewart’s; Craig’s; McKay’s; Hamilton Road; Greg Nugent’s; across the North Pine River into Greg’s again; Jenny Doyle’s; Craig’s again; both sides of Mt Pleasant Road; Sellin Road; Stewart’s and back to the showgrounds. This was a very pleasant ride from all reports and a ‘must do’ for 2016.
Two Club members travelled to Woolooga for the Angel Flight Ride on 19th September which is now run under T.R.A. (Trail Riding Australia) rules and insurance. There were several members from other T.R.A. Clubs to assist with fund raising for this very worthwhile charity. The ride attracts large sponsorship from the many businesses in the Gympie, Kilkivan and surrounding areas with two x $1,000 donations. The ride leaves Ray Matthew’s property and crosses many others; travels under the bridge on the Gympie/Kilkivan Road; Drays Road; the late Fabian Webb’s property, “Thorneside”; and on to the Widgee Sports Ground. They had 174 horses and riders participating this year – a new record.
The T.R.A. September camp at Mingo Crossing was again well attended and our grateful thanks go to Greg and Linda Nugent for providing such a great place to visit and ride. It is so different to what most riders in the south east experience – there are plenty of yards, water, open spaces, feral cattle and pigs, dingoes, plains turkeys, and much more! Members from four different clubs attended and ‘helped’ Greg and Linda muster about 70 head for the necessary ear tagging, etc.
There were two rides most days, or, if so desired you could go off on your own. We were also able to see the NRL semi finals on Friday and Saturday nights. This is a camp which is well worth doing as six riders from Dayboro can vouch for!
Two members from Dayboro Club; three from Beechmont Club; and two from Mudgeeraba Club travelled to Clifton on 10th October for a charity ride conducted under T.R.A. rules and insurance – The Warwick Headspace Charity Ride attracted 54 horses and riders traversing 25kms of flat ground over some wonderful scenic fertile land; totally different to the rides around Dayboro. It was the first time the ride has been held and augurs well for the organisers to form a trail riding club and hold this charity ride each year.
Bob Ebert,
President. *
