MACKAY & DISTRICT
TRAIL & ENDURANCE HORSE RIDERS CLUB
2008 Events
With the EI situation lessening, and travel restrictions easing, events are back in full swing. ATHRA have allowed trail events to proceed once again.
So our calendar of events - both trail riding and endurance - is looking quite full for 2008!
Please see the club calendar on the Newsletter page for further information on the club activities: http://www.freewebs.com/mackay_trail_endurance/newlettermembershipinfo.htm
CLUB CONTACTS
Address for Correspondance:
Breakaway Horse Riders Club
PO Box 5957
Mackay Mail Centre Qld 4740
Website Email Contact: Juanita Lamb - juanita@mackay.net.au
Committee Contacts:
President – Kath Ryan ph 49664472
Vice President - Mike Teuwsen 49540242
Secretary – Joanne Davis ph 0418751154
Treasurer - Vicki Crowley ph 49597007
Ride Secretary – Juanita Lamb 49597048
Safety Officer – Mike Teuwsen ph 49540424
Athra Liason - position currently vacant
Junior Vice President – Kyle Bourke
Publicity Officer – Lian Meaney 49514339
Newsletter - Nicole Swords ph 49564707
Fundraising Team - Vicki Crowley, Fiona Brady, Lian Meaney ph 0749597007
DPI Liason - Ian Howard ph 49597484
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Our monthly meetings are held at the Sugar Cane Court, Mackay Showgrounds, on the first Monday of each month at 7.30pm. See the latest newsletter for any meeting changes.
Members and prospective new members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
At these meetings our monthly trail rides are co-ordinated, and our twice yearly endurance rides planned.
THE HISTORY OF OUR CLUB.
The Mackay Trail & Endurance Horse Riders Club (previously known as The Breakaway Trail Horse Riding Club) had it's origins in the Kuttabul District.
Past member, Ross Dodt, after some research, put pen to paper and wrote the following.
HISTORY SNIPPETS – from notes prepared by Ross Dodt 1996.
PRE 1986 – The Breakaway Trail Horse Riding Club had it’s origins in the Kuttabul District. On 9th June 1986, Graeme Cameron & John Fry attended a meeting of the Kuttabul Sports Club.
The Kuttabul Sports Club involved a small band of district families who were primarily concerned with the development and promotion of sport for district residents. Football and cricket were the main sports. The district also boasted soccer, indoor cricket, tug of war and softball teams as well as organised boxing tournaments. Mention is also mad in their minutes of a donation from the Kuttabul Rodeo Club.
Apart from being Kuttabul residents, the reason for the attendance of Graeme and John was to seek support from the Kuttabul Sports Club to promote Trail Horse Riding.
The incentive for regular trail horse riding activities came from several fields:
- In 1985 Mirani butcher, Les Butterworth, member of a well-respected family with horse and cattle interests, organised a horse ride from Nebo to Pinnacle. An overnight stop was made at the ‘Old Bikies’ hut on Waldons property. This non-profit ride was supported by over 100 riders. Local media gave outstanding support with film clip from this ride used in later promotions by North Jacklin Motors and Mackay Tourism.
- In 1986, Les organised a second ride. This ride a ride on behalf of Tracey Petersen an entrant in the Cattlemans Union Miss Charity competition. Money raised was donated to the multiple sclerosis founation.
- A 250km endurance ride, promoted by the Stockmans Hall of Fame committee based in Longreach, was also stirring the Australian public in the lead up to the Bi Centenary celebrations in 1988.
At a meeting of the Kuttabul Sports Club on 14th July 1986 the following entry was recorded in the minutes:
"The trail ride held on the 12th & 13th July went well. Due to the horses breaking out the clubs name was formed – BREAKAWAY. Twenty eight riders turned up and some from Mackay"
The next activity was a ride from the Mackay Showgrounds to Greenmount Homestead to raise money for the Cancer Foundation.
The closing record of the meeting dated 20th October reads:
"As there weren’t enough members at the meeting it was decided to close the club for 1986, hoping that 1987 would have new and interested members."
While the Kuttabul sports club was running out of energy the Breakaway group was busy planning a "camp out’ Christmas breakup. Thiswas held at Oakdale station on 14, 15th November. The aim was to check the suibability of Oakdsale as a venue for an endurance ride.
The first raffle of 10 cartoons of beer was also organised.