Roydvale Branch

McLeans Island Road, Christchurch.

Roydvale is a fast growing pony club situated by the National Equestrian Centre in Christchurch. Roydvale has a fun and friendly atmosphere with a strong sense of team spirit. The club is located in grounds which are developed to cater for all levels.

Roydvale branch is known to many as the "friendly" pony club. It is ever evolving, and strives to offer good facilities and instructors for its members. We now have a cross-country course which ranges from Intro to Open.

Alan Mahony

It is with much sadness that we advise that Alan Mahony passed away on the 23^rd of  September 2008. We at Roydvale Pony Club speak for all other Pony Club members in the Christchurch area, when we say what a deep loss we share at Alan’s passing. All of us have stories to tell of the times he has touched our lives and made them all the richer.

A lot of you will know that Alan and Dulcie were founding members of the Branch, which is about to celebrate its Silver Jubilee. They formed the Branch in 1982 after many years of involvement with Riccarton Fendalton Branch. They have continued their involvement over the ensuing years, beginning with supporting their four young daughters riding and continuing to the present day supporting countless young riders over the years.

Alan has always been happy to step in....teaching at rallies, taking young riders through their certificate work…he has always been a stalwart of the Pony Club Movement.

Even when most people would be stepping down from their workload and heading for their armchair and slippers, Alan was prepared to still put 100 per cent into our Branch. Last month at the time of our ODE, illness put another of our great helpers, Stu Schroeder, out of action. That left us with either deciding to run or to cancel the event at the last minute. Alan stepped up to the mark and took on the extra responsibility – no problem at all! Sad as we are, we have much pride that our event was his last TD engagement.

Alan was great at sharing his knowledge. He had a knack for explaining how a cross-country jump should be judged, in a way that even the newest and most reluctant of conscripted parents could understand. I noted this year in particular, how patiently and diplomatically he also dealt with queries from young riders and their very zealous grooms at the end of the day.

Alan was a stickler for the rules and there were no grey areas as far as he was concerned. Woe- betides any rider who didn’t see the necessity of a hairnet! He was a man of charisma, impeccable manners and he was a true gentleman who earned the respect of everyone he met. His ability to relate to all ages is reflected by the young people who attended his funeral, and by those who formed a Guard of Honour in his memory.

Obviously no man can devote this much of their life to something without the support of a great woman. For Alan, this was Dulcie. She was always at his side and her support is so greatly appreciated by us all – we always know that she is on the scene when a lovely vase of fresh flowers appears in the loo!

I feel strongly that we at Roydvale, have lost four people with Alan’s passing – our Founder, a life member, a mentor and a friend.

We will always be grateful, Alan, for your part in our lives.

Margaret Frankish

President

Roydvale branch of Christchurch Pony  Club

Pony club Members form a guard of honour at Alan’s funeral

• Alan Mahony obituary - 270.89kB PDF