Dressage Ireland - Judges Training & Upgrading

A Letter of Thanks

Dr Janet Hall, Angelin Nicholson, Rosie Gomes and I travelled down to Spruce Lodge on Tuesday 6th July to attend Dressage Ireland Judges Training with Linda Whetstone from England.

We wish to say a huge thank you to all those who helped organise the sessions. Gerd, Wauter, Gisela and the judges committee Joan Keogh for the superb facilities which included the indoor school and conference room, the wonderful riders and their horses who earned much praise from us all, so hopefully will be keen to return as their input is so vital to the future of the sport.

The format used is one we are now getting used to, with training for a few hours then a break for a cooked meal, then a revitalised return to the more advanced work.

Lynda kept us focused and positive as always, something Jennie Loriston Clarke had also done at last year's seminar.

The only surprise of the evening was that more people hadn't organised their time to be there. We had a superb group of judges taking an active role throughout the evening – just as it should be.

We must not forget our Judges seminar with Steven Clarke on September 7th.

We appreciate what is being done for us, and so once again, thank you.

– Alison Mastin Moore

Northern Ireland Judges Group Meeting

The next Northern Ireland Judges Group Meeting will be on Monday 21st June at 7.30pm.

The venue is Millbrook House, Near Bangor, home of Rosie Gomes.

Please e mail Rosie (rosiepaterson@sky.com) to let her know if you are attending or if you need directions.

We will be discussing the trot pace. Please come with your thoughts and questions.

– Alison Mastin Moore

Judges Successful in Exam

Vida Tansey, Joan Ahern, Lucy Adams and Donie McNamara have been travelling forth and back between Ireland and UK over the past few months for extensive judges training. This resulted in all 4 of them sitting their exam proper yesterday at Wellington Show, UK.

Joan Ahern has upgraded to List 3a.

Vida Tansey, Lucy Adams and Donie McNamara have upgraded to List 2.

Our higher lists have been expanded again, and Dressage Ireland congratulates all 4 judges!

Judges Training

Judges training will be held on 6th July 2010 at Spruce Lodge.

Judges training day on 7th July at Dollanstown cancelled due to lack of entries.

Linda Whetstone will be the tutor and the entry fee will be €25.

The sessions are from 4pm to 9pm each day, with a break and something to eat around 6pm.

Entry needs to be made on the official entry form, which can be downloaded here on the website.

We hope to do more training days at the end of the year, however, these are not confirmed yet.

Special note: Judges who attend a minimum of 1 training day and/or Seminar will be eligible to receive free judges membership for 2011!

Please spread the news about these training days.

Judges Seminar

Judges Seminar will be held on Tuesday, 7th of September 2010 at Kill EC, Kill, Naas, Co. Kildare.

The tutor will be Stephen Clarke and the entry fee will be €20.

As per previous years, this is a full day's seminar with a sit down meal at lunch time, great training and opportunity for Questions.

This is also a very sociable day where judges meet up and can share experiences.

We encourage all judges and trainee judges to attend this fantastic occasion!

Again, entry and payment needs to be made on the official entry form and sent to the office.

The Northern Ireland Judges Group

What Are We? - What Do We Do?

Quite simply we are an open group of dressage judges who meet approximately eight times a year with a view to improving ourselves through discussion, exercises, watching DVDs and reading articles.

Each and every judge is welcome to all meetings.

Subjects that we have covered in the past include:

Lameness
Freestyle to Music
Positive V Negative Judging
Judging of DVD Tests
Collective Comments
Problem Solving
And many more subjects...

Trips to top shows in England are planned each year where judges can write/sit in or practice judge at the levels they require.

Please join us.

Contact Alison Mastin Moore on alisonmastin@yahoo.co.uk.

Our first meeting of 2010 is on Monday, 22nd February in Banbridge.

Judges News - December 2009

On behalf of all the members of Dressage Ireland, we would like to thank you for your commitment to judging at shows all through the year. Judges give up their time willingly on weekends and this helps make it possible for shows to run.

We have a busy year behind us with training days with Linda Whetstone, mock exams and exams proper which were spread out over the country. Almost 30 judges sat mock and exams proper, and we are delighted to see so many have been successful under the guidance of Sally Merrison.

Our seminar in September was very well attended once again; with Jennie Lorriston Clarke showing us the positive way of looking at horses and riders.

We are hopeful to repeat all the training days, and the judges seminar at the end of the Summer of 2010. All the information will be issued via the judge's webpage on the website, www.dressageireland.ie/judges/judgestraining.htm (this page) as soon as it becomes available. For our seminar we hope to get Stephen Clarke over.

Early in the New Year, training and exams in the UK will be organised for judges, wishing to upgrade to list 2.

Can we stress again that it is vital to attend training sessions and/or seminar, to keep up the judging standard and to stay on the judges list.

Judges who are interested to upgrade and potential judges wishing to become a qualified judge, are requested to send in the necessary forms (see website) to the judges committee through the D.I office. This will give us an idea of how many mock exams we have to organise during 2010. Applications for upgrading need to be in before the 31st of January 2010.

May we also remind all of our judges to send in your membership form for 2010?

The fee is still at €25.

There are 4 new tests being issued by BD for 2010, being BD24 (2010) – this number is being re-used; BD 39 (2010) – this number is being re-used; BD 40 (2010) and BD 45 (2010). 3 tests have been withdrawn: BD 25 (2005); BD 26 (2006) and BD 48 (2007). The new tests are available from the office for €5 – post and package incl.

During both Winter and Summer National Championships we will require scribes. Judges who are interested to gain some valuable experience please contact the office at: .

Some limited sitting in during the championships will be organised for judges willing to scribe during the championships.

Winter Championships are 10 and 11 April 2010, at Marlton Stud, Wicklow.
National Championships are 24, 25, 26 September 2010 at Cavan EC, Cavan.

All judges who can supply an e-mail address to the office should do so. It is the most efficient and cost effective way for us to keep you updated and send out news bulletins.

All you have to do is send an e-mail to the office with the request to include you in the judges mailing. Do it right now!

We wish you and your family a Healthy and Successful New Year.

— The Judges Committee.

Judges Upgraded

Congratulations to Lynne Cassidy, who has become the latest new judge in 2009.

Lynne is now a List 6 judge.

Congratulations also to David Patterson, who upgraded to List 4.

Rulebook Amendments

Please take note of the following rulebook amendments.

Rule Book Amendment 19 (c) 01.01.09

Rule Book Amendment 24 (d) 01.01.09

Rule Book Amendment 40 (a) 10.02.09

Many trainers and riders, from novice level onwards, use their knowledge to progress into a career of judging. They find that it helps their test riding skills as well as their riding generally and ability to teach. Over 140 Dressage Ireland (DI) judges perform this vital voluntary role. A keen trainee takes an average of six to eight months to become a listed judge.

The lists range from six to one. As a list 6 judge, you can judge preliminary competitions and this increases to list 1, where the most experienced are able to judge grand prix tests at championships.

To become and remain listed, you have to attend training sessions, pass a mock exam and pass the exam proper. (see details below)

To apply to become a trainee judge, you must be a DI member and have ridden at affiliated level. You will be asked to fill in an application form with details of your experience. This CV has to be signed by two judges or trainers, who must also provide references to confirm your suitability.

If the judges committee accepts you as a trainee judge, your registration will be valid for two years. The registration fee will be returned to you if your application is not accepted. If you have not become a listed judge by the end of the two years, you will need to re-register.

To progress from trainee to listed judge, you will need to complete the Form K, Trainee Judges Form. The judges committee will assess these and if approved, you will be permitted to apply to sit a mock exam.

To upgrade to the next List, a judge must produce the Form J, Judges Experience Form; apply to sit a mock exam and be recommended you may go forward to the exam proper; pass the exam proper.

There is a fast-track system for trainee judges who compete regularly at prix st georges level or above, hold a BHSI certificate or are DI international riders or trainers. If you are eligible, you can apply to be tested to become a list 4 judge.

For more information and to apply, contact DI Judges Committee. For downloads see below.

Judges Upgrading Form 2010

Dressage Ireland Procedure for Accrediting Dressage Judges

Form A - To become a Trainee Judge - CV

Form A1 - Reference sheet

Form B - Trainee Judges Guidelines

Form D - CV Trainee and listed judges to upgrade

Form J - Judging Experience Form

Form K - Trainee Judges Form

Please Note: Some of the downloads on this page require a program to display Adobe Acrobat .PDF files.

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