Pictures

To view a selection of pictures from the above meet please follow the link below.

Tribute to Ronnie Mills

RONNIE Mills, an active member of many of Herefordshire's country pursuit societies and "a real country gentleman", has died in St Michael's Hospice after a short illness.

Ronnie came to Herefordshire in 1974 when he and his wife Robina purchased Kenchester Court. Before then, the couple, who had married in 1963, lived in Gloucestershire where Ronnie was boss of the old Gloucester Greyhound track, and where their two children Serena and Robin were born.

Serena has followed her father into farming, working with him since she left school, while Robin works in the holiday business and is based in Spain. His greatest love, say his family, was riding and judging ridden horse classes at the many shows he attended all over the world. Ronnie was chairman of the Irish Draft Horse Society and his judging took him to New Zealand, South America and Portugal.

His annual pilgrimage to Ireland to judge his Irish draft horses was always an event not to be missed, and the highlight of his judging career was to be asked to judge at the Royal Dublin Horse Show.

Ronnie was also a council member of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, for which he was chairman of the horse committee and chief steward for many years, and latterly a vice-president.

During his career, Ronnie was also very keen on coursing and had been a judge, slipper and, until it ceased in 2004, secretary of the Waterloo Cup.

Locally, he had been chairman of the Herefordshire Country Fair, chairman of the Bishopstone group of parish councils and was a past chairman of the Ledbury Hunt.

Ronnie also found time in his busy life as a farmer for another pastime. A keen golfer, he was a member of the Burghill Valley Golf Course, always keen to support local charities in their pro-am tournaments and an early sponsor of their golf pro, David Park, when he first went into national competition.

A close friend of mine died of cancer last year. She had offered me much support in my equestrian career and I wanted to do something to remember her by. I set myself the challenge of swimming 10 miles of the English Lakes in the Lake District and raise money for charity.

For the last 6 months I have been building up my swimming stamina in rigorous sessions after work. To begin with 10 lengths seemed to take a lifetime, and I have built this up to a total of 150 lengths (3 km) in just over one hour. The biggest challenge I would face would be to swim in open water which was also cold, so I also went to a boating lake near Tewkesbury to become accustomed to outdoor conditions. It was very difficult to fit in my training around the busy Dressage competition season as I am also a professional groom and as we all know, that involves unpredictable hours! However, I was determined not to give up so that I could raise money for MacMillan Cancer Relief.

So, last weekend, 4th-6th August I made my way to scenic Windermere where I would be based during my challenge. I met up with other swimmers who were also raising money for their own charities. On Saturday morning we drove to Buttermere where I squeezed my now toned body (!) into a rubber wet suit, (photos available at cost)! a group of ramblers gathered to watch the spectacle, I am not sure if they thought the content of their hip flasks was affecting what they were seeing...With some trepidation I set off on the 2.5m swim, I had a shock when I realised that the bottom of the lake was a good 60m below me! Later that day I shoehorned myself back into the now soggy wetsuit and set off across Crummockwater, approximately a 3m swim.

On Sunday I woke up aching and looked out of the window to see Lake Windermere covered in low cloud and fog, there was a strong breeze, large waves and lots of ferries and water skiers, it was then I realised I was mad, but the thought of my friend and her strength during her illness spurred me on. It was a somewhat eventful swim 3m across Windermere as the ferries full of tourists passed close by although the clapping and cheering coming from the boats kept me going when the other side of the lake appeared to be moving away from me. Throughout the swim hot energy drinks were thrown at me from the support boat, and I had to tread water as I drunk them, as in Channel swimming regulations you cannot touch the boat!

Later that day one of the most challenging swims, 2m across Coniston Water, concluded my weekend. By now it was raining which is surprisingly unsettling even though you are already wet! I was very pleased to have completed all of the swims and had not been hauled out like a drowning rat into the support boat. The biggest complement of the weekend came from two anonymous ageing holiday makers who likened me to Halle Berry (James Bond girl) as I staggered, dripping and disorientated, up the shingle beach from the water.!! Ironically I felt differently about it.

To date have I raised over Ł400 for MacMillan Cancer Relief. If anyone would still like to donate money, please contact me on 07968 352 223.

The Supporters Club had their annual Fun Ride on Sunday 7^th May at the Hunt kennels. It was a very successful day with about 230 people going round.

The weather was very kind to us with sunshine all day. Thank god well weren’t going on the Monday!! That wasn’t so nice! The bluebells were looking great this year, and with the ride route changed this year new areas were seen. No one seemed to get lost which was good! We were able to put a few extra fences up this year which was good. Hope the photographer got some good photos!

We must give a big thank you to Mr Winsor Clive, Eastnor and Bromesberrow Estates for letting us ride over their ground. People who come on the ride are very lucky to see such beautiful countryside. Also to all those people that helped on the day and prior to the event rebuilding fences and putting out jumps. Without this people we would not be able to hold these events and raise money for the hunt.

I finally got round to organising a skittles tournament this season, having said I would do it ages ago!! I thought most people would have played skittles before, but in the Ledbury it was very much back to basics for some of the teams!!

We started with 12 teams; I made things slightly complicated by having a Losers Competition so that everyone had at least two matches. It sort of worked!!

Anyway, after much chasing to get everyone to play their matches on time we got to the final on Saturday 18^th March at the Walwyn Arms Much Marcle. The final was between Pete Robinson and The Pony Club. The Losers Final was played first between Tom Leek and Andrew Bishop

Late as usual!! Andrew and Tom kicked off and Tom’s team seemed to be getting very young!! A good game was had with Andrew’s team victorious!! Can’t remember what the scores were as I was sorting out the rules of the final with Pete and Sharon (very important!!!)

The Pony Club were flying on the first couple of legs, and then Pete’s team came back in the next two legs. At the end of the Sixth Leg it was even!! Amazement all round. Now the barracking really started!! I should think the noise woke the whole village. It was so close that is was down to the final two players. Nigel for the Pony Club going first had real pressure!! What a star he got 9!! Major pressure for Steve, for Pete’s team now, the atmosphere was great… he had 5 with one ball left… and he fluffed it!!!! (Sorry Steve, but you are a league player after all!!)

So the Pony Club were the winners of the first Ledbury Hunt Skittles competition and took home the Walwyn Arms Cup, very kindly sponsored by our hosts the Walwyn Arms

Thank you, to all that came on the night it was a really good evening and I am taking teams for next year, so get your money out!!