Centenary week

[dalesnfellfan]

I am intending coming up for the Centenary week and have been looking at B & B accommodation, and I'm wondering whether it would be better to stay in Barnard Castle itself or in a village in the surrounding area.

Perhaps those of you who live up there and know a little more about what's is happening where, could advise please, apart from the stud visits are most things like the quiz night etc happening in Barnard Castle? if so it would be quite nice not to have to drive too far to the evening events also quite nice to be within walking distance of a pub for evening meals.

On the other hand  it may be nicer and more relaxing to be in a village, this would normally be my choice, but wonder if most things are happening in Barnard Castle whether I might be better off there.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[zeldalithgow]

I was just saying to Tom we must get sorted for the Centenary week, no idea what we are going to do we are about a 21/2 hour drive from Barney, don't really want to do it every day but at the same time staying away would be difficult

[harveydales]

Barny is a nice town to stay in. We've had B&B in The Old Well Inn a few times when we've gone up for the AGM (mainly because it takes dogs and is situated opposite the big park for walking. The surrounding villages are lovely too. I had my eye on a holiday cottage at Romaldkirk as it came with a field for your pony plus nice pub nearby but some friends of mine beat me to it! I suppose, if I end up going on my own, I will probably try and stay in Barny for convenience. Now you've posted this, I'm going to have another look at what is happening where.

[NFK Dumpling]

I would have a 9hr commute but we are looking into coming up to take part in the last leg of the President's Ride..........

We stayed in a B&B in Barny last time I went up to the FIS meeting but I can't recommend that one. Previously I'd looked on stay-on-a-farm site and they were both lovely places to stay although about 5 miles out of Barny.

[jap]

will get Anna to post an itinary for those, like me, not on facebook. There is a facebook site dedicated to the centenary for those who can find it.

[harveydales]

I didn't know that, Julie. I will see if I can find it.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using proboards

[Debbie]

I'd love to see the FB link because I'm not on FB either, but I'd love to see the comings and goings. How exciting to see the Centenary for the DPS!!! Photos from those going pleaseeeeee!

[jap]

Hi all.

I don't know if this will help but this a resume of the Centenary I've written for a couple of magazines

YES all events will be based in a large marquee we are putting up on the showfield for the duration of the week at Streathlam just on the outskirts of BC. Things like the quiz night etc and the demostrations etc. Anyone (Dales related!) is welcome to camp on the showfield for the duration and coral ponies but be aware there are toilets on site but no shower facitlies although there are some just on the outskirt of Barnard Castle about five minutes down the road

There is a stabling and accomodation list now on the DPS website of recommended sites although I think we may need to source a few more places given the uptake!


This is the resume....

The Dales pony society have a whole year of events but a large part of the focus is the Centenary week at the start of August in 2016 which is shaping up to be so very exciting

On Saturday 30th July we will have the final ride of our President's ride. Joining together members of the DPS in all parts of the Country as well as overseas the rides are starting in the furthest reaches of the UK at the end of April beginning at Lands End and in the South East of England. The rides will slowly move up the country passing through area groups until they reach Derbyshire. From here, all the northern England areas are joining together and aiming through-out June and July to cover the entire Pennine Bridleway. The final ride on the 30th July, we hope we will be an impressive collection of hopefully over 50 Dales ponies and cover the final 12 miles into Barnard Castle before passing through the town centre and finishing on the showground just outside the town. Barnard Castle is the historical home of the Dales Pony and it will be such a sight to see the Dales Ponies come together and be ridden through the town.

On Sunday 31stJuly, we turn our attention to another natural discipline of the Dales Pony with a harness parade at Streathlam showground, Barnard Castle before the drivers go off on a 10 mile drive in the countryside surrounding Barnard Castle. Meanwhile back on the showground there will be a working pony demonstration and family games for all the family plus what is already shaping up to be a very competitive Tug-O-War competition

Monday - Thursday 1st to 4th August many studs in the North of England are throwing open their doors to invite visitors. Covering four major areas - Cumbria, Northumberland, Teesdale and Co Durham these studs are some that very rarely are open to visitors and will provide visitors to the area a really good chance to see plenty of ponies running in natural herds and really explore the breed type and heritage of the Dales Pony.
On Friday 5th of August there will be a Dales Pony Day at Killhope Lead mining museum (open to the public, reduced entry fee to DPS members) on Friday 5th August. There will be ponies in harness, in panniers on site, its an amazing working lead mine in the heart of Weardale where you can really see where the Dales pony and galloway were an integral part of the mine. You can take a mine tour down the old pony levels, where you will see how they were the perfect size to just fit a Dales pony in as they pulled the lead tubs down into the mines and then pulled the full ones back out. Not only that there will be special site tours above ground to really feel where the Dales pony worked.

Not only do we have this special day on the Friday but on the Sunday following (7th August) Killhope will see a truly unique event where we have been given special permission with Killhope Museum and neighbouring Weardale Estates to walk the 2.8 miles along the original Carriers way from the Bingstead at Killhope (where the Dales Ponies were loaded up with the pigs of lead) to Dirt Pot Smelt Mill in Allenhead. This guided tour with a local historian will be accompanied by four Dales ponies in their panniers and they be making the trip across the Carriers way just like their predecessors. It will be a very special experience and truly a one-off chance to see where this wonderful breed had such a massive history.

The final part of the jam-packed centenary week and the real show-case will be the Dales Pony Society Summer Breed show - a celebration of the Dales Pony on Saturday 6th August. With a WHP ring, dressage classes alongside a Traditional Shepherding Skills ring (imagine Handy Pony meets "One man and his dog") and all the normal classes it really is going to be a celebration of the Dales Pony Society as it enters its 100th year. Special classes on the day include an Over 45's ridden (traditional) as well as a Mens' Only traditional ridden class and of course Fancy dress.


> Not only do we have a week of Centenary events at the end of July but the DPS Young Committee and Council are holding a joint Training/Demonstration on Saturday 23rd April at RIchmond Equestrian Centre. Also hosting a one-off stallion parade of Dales Pony stallions. Titled "the Great All-rounder" the demonstrations will cover all aspects of the Dales Pony from dressage to jumping to driving and ridden showing whilst the Council will be hosting a mornings training session. This will be free for all to attend and we hope it will be of great interest to both Dales Pony and general mixed M&M people and it will be a real opportunity to learn the finer details of the Dales Pony.

The Young Committee are also holding a Southern Stud Visit week on the 26/27th September as well as a "Question Time" lunch where attendees will be able to ask those burning questions to a panel of breed experts, judges and breeders.

We have also had it just confirmed that on Sunday 4th September there will be a Dales Pony Trotting Race to be held at Wolsingham Show, the oldest Agricultural show in the Country, at 1pm just before the Grand Parade. Entries will be open to all so get your Dales Pony in training and lets really see the Dales Pony Fly!!!

Not only do we have all these exciting events planned for the Centenary, the committee have been working very hard on the legacy for the Dales Pony Society centenary and have secured project boxes to be held with the Durham Learning Authority as well as in the main DPS Office that fit with Primary National Curriculum that schools within the North-east (and further afield!) will be able to hire and teach the next generation about the Dales Pony and its history and heritage within the community. The DPS has also secured grant funding for new exhibition materials which we hope will be ready to launch at the DPS Spring Stallion Show at the beginning of May; there is also funding ready to replicate them into poster format for permanent loaning to interested museums and schools. The world-renowned Bowes Museum have also agreed to host a small Dales Pony exhibition titled "The Dales Pony - 100 years of Service" to showcase the last 100 years of the pony and this will be open from April to September 2016 so is a must-visit if you are within the area.

Finally, in true Dales Pony society style there is no better way to celebrate the Centenary than with a formal dance to be held at The Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge on Saturday 10th December 2016. This date was chosen as the very first meeting for the society was held on Monday 12th December 1916 and we will mark it with a night of dancing, formal sit-down meal with an evening speaker and of course just a small glass of fizz to toast the next 100 years of the Dales Pony Society.

[jap]

(ps the above is Anna on mums laptop!).

If anyone has any questions or anything please drop me an email [e-mail]

There will be a full guide to the centenary in the next despatch all being well and on the website sooner.

[harveydales]

Thanks Anna. That's very helpful. I'm still dithering about whether to take Harvey, given his age. But if we can coral at Streathlam if I end up being too late to book anything, that would be great. Harvey wouldn't want a stable anyway as he's far happier out.

[dalesnfellfan]

Thanks Anna that's wonderful, I've booked B &B accommodation for me at Woodland near Hamsterley so not too far, I had found a nice B&B in Barney but in the couple of days I dithered it was fully booked. So now B&B booked I'm coming for the whole week, though I will be travelling up on the Saturday so will probably miss the ride through Barney depending on the tim for the finish of the ride.

Really looking forward to the stud visits and George Bowmans in fact all of it, will there be a visit to Denis Urwins? I'd love to see where Emerald came from and maybe see her mum and dad, but if not I shall enjoy seeing all the other wonderful ponies and learning more about the breed.

Sadly I'm not bringing a pony I just feel it is too far and a bit too much, especially for Emerald who is only just coming back into work and Connie isn't registered.

I'm feeling a little daunted about coming up for a week on my own but I'm sure I'll meet lots of lovely people during the week.

Anna do we have to book for the various events and visits and if so where do we do it?

[dalesnfellfan]

Oh Gosh just realised I haven't renewed my membership yet, better get that done.

[jap]

You will DEFINITELY meet a lot of lovely people DFF so don't worry about being by yourself. I'm afraid Colliery isn't on the list this time to visit but there are lots of interesting ones

Yes do renew your membership, all 2016 are getting a special centenary lapel pin which is a re-production of the original metal one created for members with a special centenary addition.

[jap]

There will be a heap of booking forms in the Guide to the centenary coming with the next despatch

[NFK Dumpling]

Sounds like we better get them in quick!