Ottawa Valley Hunt Club | neswletter0202.html

Newsletter # 02-02

March 2002

Hi Everyone!

Hunt Ball - Silent Auction

The big item for this note is, of course, the Hunt Ball and Silent Auction. Many thought this year’s ball was the best in memory. It would be difficult to argue otherwise. It was especially fun to see so many young folks out to push the rest of us. The band, the dinner, the party overall - was simply terrific. We are again grateful to Skip and Bill for their super decorations, to Randy for doing such a great job on tickets and tables, to Bob (Sulpher) for arranging the catering and anything that somebody else wasn’t doing. We were pleased to see so many landowners out; it’s always a pleasure to acknowledge those who have been so generous to us over the year.

An evening highlight was the annual presentation of colours. We were thrilled to present colours to Maureen and (daughter) Hilary Popeil and to Janet Stromme and David Matheson. These people have been terrific Hunt supporters and enjoy the sport immensely.

The Silent Auction just seems to breed success; it was another banner year thanks to so many of you who donated quality items and to all who bid vigorously. The biggy this year was once again the Senators box so generously donated by the Brydens. Bob Sulpher’s group won the bidding war and by all accounts had a great party at the Corel Centre watching the Sens run over Yashin and the Isle’s. The Hunt owes a big THANK YOU to the Silent Auction Team - Sue Davies, Jill Levy, and Janet Stromme. Sue and her team took this on for the first time and simply did a superb job. Helen Reason and Sandy Bryden respectively had raised the bar pretty high over the last four years and this year’s team really met the challenge - and thanks to all those who pitched in - this means a lot to the OVH. I would like to remind everyone to keep an eye out over this next year for unique and quality items that would boost next years auction.

Green Boxes

Although I’m writing this during a real snow storm, spring is rumoured to be arriving any minute - which for us means getting ready to hunt. One urgent issue is talking to Joan Gauer about your spring green box - so she can get the fixture card done. Remember, assistant members are asked to give a green box every 2nd year. Please call Joan now!

Party

We’ve got a Hunt get-together planned - pot luck - for Saturday, April 6, 2002 at 7:00 pm at the Hunt Farm. This is a good time to get in the swing of things - hope to see lots of you there; please, everyone bring finger food.

Note from the Eastern Canadian Thoroughbred Association:

The Eastern Canadian Thoroughbred Association (ECTA) is planning a one-day bus excursion by luxury coach to Windfield’s Farm in Oshawa on April 20th, 2002. There will be a stallion parade, a tour of their foaling facilities and a talk given by their broodmare manager on the management of broodmares and foals. There will also be a visit to their new training track (weather permitting). This is a private tour arranged specifically for the ECTA. Windfield’s will provide light refreshments but you should provide your own lunch.

Members of the Ottawa Valley Hunt are cordially invited to join us for this tour. Cost will be approximately $30 for ECTA members and $35 for non-members. This is to be paid in advance and is dependant on the number of participants. Cut-off date for reservations is April 8th. Those wishing to reserve should contact Mary Ellen Kennedy at 257-5837 as soon as possible.

Mark Nelson

Our own Mark Nelson (OVH Board Member) has just returned from a month long trip to North Carolina with his wonderful young eventer: ‘Good to Go’. Most of you have seen ‘Billie’ in the hunt field at one time or another. Mark had three events - moving up into some very good company. His first was on open training level, where he finished on his dressage score (37!) for a huge win over 24 other horses. He then moved to a prelim and again finished on his dressage score, although as Billie had a fractious test, they were just out of the ribbons. Then he did a very big prelim with 45 entries; fully 25% of which were eliminated on the cross country, demonstrating its difficulty. Billie sailed around clear but one stadium pole and some time faults put her just out of the ribbons in a very strong field. This is a great achievement for a young horse (7 years); congratulations to Mark and ‘Good to Go’.

New Web Page

The OVH now has a Web Site, thanks to Gary Hobin and Kay. We do need some photos, though - preferably of actual hunting at the OVH. Also - please give your email address to Kay or Joan as these will be included in the “members only” section with password protection.

Huntsman’s Corner

I hope you have all wintered well and are looking forward to the new season as we are. The hounds and horses are in good form, but in need of some hard work. Hound exercise will hopefully start in mid April depending upon the weather, anyone wishing to come is more than welcome. One thing I would absolutely ask is on these days please be a quiet as possible as this will help the hounds, the whips and myself. Hound exercise will take place most days, please call before 8:00 o’clock the night before to confirm.

I have just returned from my holidays in New Mexico hunting with the Juan Tomas Hounds and Jim Nance where I joined Don and Helen Reasin for the Closing Hunt weekend which was a great success and some nice hunting. When Jim was here last fall he took two cross bred hounds back with him; they are doing extremely well making for some good hunting in their wide open spaces, it was great fun for me to see them hunt.

In the fall of this year Jim Nance and some of the Juan Tomas members are planning to come to the Ottawa Valley for a few days, anyone who can help out with accommodation and horses please let me know as soon as possible so that we can start the wheels in motion for their visit.

I would like to end on this last note that whilst I have been away Pam, Avis and Michael have done a great job looking after everything in terrible weather. Thank you.

See you all soon.

Antony

Hope to see you out on April 6th - until next time,

Ted Thomas, MFH