Reaseheath rugby team show great promise

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Reaseheath rugby team demonstrated great sportsmanship during their recent game against Crewe and Nantwich Colts.

The two teams met at the Vagrants on Wednesday February 25th and played a celebratory match to mark the installation of Crewe and Nantwich RUFC’s new floodlights.

Despite Reaseheath loosing 29-3 to the Colts, our students demonstrated plenty of promise and it was a great experience for all of the players.

The game was exciting to watch and was played in good spirit with fantastic support on the touchline for both teams.

Reaseheath Rugby Team

It is hoped that playing against the Colts will become a regular fixture for the Reaeheath team, as this will be great experience for the students. This will also help to maintain and strengthen the link between the College and the Crewe and Nantwich RUFC.

Reaseheath rugby team have a number of fixtures left to play this season. Please continue to show your support as the team strive to finish top of their league.

You can keep up to date with the Reaseheath Sports department on Twitter @RHC_Sports

Horse care apprentices on show during National Apprenticeship Week

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Our Level 2 Apprentices in Horse Care organised a ‘Best Turned Out’ competition today (Monday) to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (March 9 – March 13).

The apprentices were assessed on their ability to present their horses plaited and groomed to perfection and also on their organisational skills. They also took the opportunity to raise money for Macmillan and World Horse Welfare through personal sponsorship.

Course manager Dawn Joyce said: “All the apprentices worked really hard and made a big effort to turn out the horses to a high standard. Hopefully they all learned a lot and enjoyed themselves at the same time!”

Our horse care apprentices travel into college for one day a week from their workplaces as far afield as Bolton, Altrincham and Stoke on Trent. They are also visited at their yards by Reaseheath assessors.

On successful completion of their programme, our apprentices collect an industry recognised qualification plus relevant additional awards such as health and safety and first aid.

For further details on apprenticeships see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/naw

On show: Apprentices Becca Raftery, Emma Sutton, Holly Whitehead and Leah Whitfield and pony ‘Jack’ show off their rosettes after the ‘ Best Turned Out’ competition

Reaseheath College apprentices feature in BBC Countryfile

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Reaseheath College agriculture apprentices featured in BBC’s Countryfile programme on Sunday March 8 as the popular series celebrated the launch of Apprenticeship Week (March 9 – 13).

The programme showed Level 3 apprentice Jason Smith, 21, being joined by presenter Matt Baker as he carried out the duties of assistant herdsman at his family’s dairy farm in Middlewich. Matt also discussed the benefits of the apprenticeship programme with Jason’s father, Adrian, and watched as Reaseheath Training assessor Anna Hughes carried out an assessment as part of Jason’s portfolio.

Jason was selected for the programme from several Level 3 agricultural apprentices who are studying at the Nantwich specialist college. Reaseheath is a leading trainer of apprentices throughout the north-west and also provides a valuable recruitment service for employers in the land-based sector.

Anna Hughes explained: “Jason is an outstanding student who is both hard working and entrepreneurial. He is typical of many next generation farmers who are learning their skills at Reaseheath and we had no hesitation in putting him forward to feature on Countryfile.”

Anna Hughes is joined by presenters Ellie Harrison and Matt Baker

Anna Hughes is joined by presenters Ellie Harrison and Matt Baker

The TV crew also filmed on Reaseheath’s campus, following Jason and fellow apprentices in the classroom during a session on cattle genetics with lecturer Jane Richardson and watching another group as they calibrated a fertiliser spreader and moved expectant ewes through a foot bath. Students were also filmed using a cutting edge tractor simulator.

Jason is the third generation of Smiths to raise and manage the Pedigree Holstein Bostock Herd at Brook House Farm, which is owned by the Tatton Estate. A former pupil of Leftwich County High School, and Sir John Dean’s College, Northwich, he hopes eventually to take over the farm’s management.

He said: “Filming with Countryfile was a brilliant learning curve and great fun.  I’d like to thank Reaseheath for suggesting me for the programme.”

Thousands of employers have benefited from training apprentices. Find out more about how a Reaseheath apprentice could help support your business by registering your interest on our website.

Header caption: Matt Baker with apprentice Jason Smith and assessor Anna Hughes

 

Elite dressage judge inspires enthusiasts at Reaseheath Equestrian Centre

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The world’s most senior and well respected dressage judge, Stephen Clarke, helped competitors, trainers and judges take their knowledge to a higher level when he gave an inspirational lecture demonstration at Reaseheath Equestrian Centre in Nantwich.

Stephen, who is based at Cotton Equestrian Centre, Holmes Chapel, was President of the Ground Jury at the London Olympics 2012. He is an FEI Official International Judge and has judged at all major competitions including three World Cup finals, three European Championships and the World Games. Throughout his career as an elite judge he has had a great influence in the development of judging systems and the training and encouragement of established and new judges in the UK.

In his current role as Dressage Judge General of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for all Olympic equestrian disciplines, Stephen creates and co-ordinates discussion among judges world-wide and ensures all conclusions are communicated to the FEI. His key aim is to create a common theme among judges, ensuring consistency in marking and equality in standards across the globe.

FEATURE Stephen Clarke 2 RHC web[5]

 

His evening lecture attracted judges, competitors and dressage enthusiasts from across the region, with tickets selling out months in advance. Four competitive rider / trainers rode tests ranging from novice to Prix St George, with Stephen awarding marks and advising the riders how they could improve.

In conclusion, Stephen told his audience: “The main thing for judges to bear in mind is that they should be influenced only by the movements within the test, award a fair mark for those movements and give constructive feedback which will encourage riders to progress.”

Reaseheath Equine Events Co-ordinator Heather Cooper said: “We were delighted to welcome Stephen to Reaseheath for the first time and extremely pleased that he was complimentary about our indoor arena and surface. Having such a well respected and prestigious judge here was a great coup for us and much appreciated by spectators.”

The next event at Reaseheath Equestrian Centre is on Thursday March 26th with three day eventer Michael Owen, click here for details and to buy tickets. For details of Reaseheath’s competitions, events and short courses see our Equestrian Centre page.

For details of Stephen’s latest training dvd see: www.throughtheeyeofthejudge.co.uk

Photos by Roy Gadsden

Twins Sienna and Jessica Nicoll 3 yrs from Crewe with Joe Roach

Lambs herald Spring at Reaseheath College

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Hundreds of families flocked to Reaseheath College in Nantwich over the weekend for the first of  two lambing events.

Spring has already arrived in the college’s lambing sheds with the arrival of the first newborns of the season. Visitors were able to meet the lambs and some were lucky enough to experience a live birth. The campus zoo, which is one of the best at any educational institution in the country, was also open to the public. Both attractions will open again next weekend – March 7 and 8.

Reaseheath’s lambing weekends have been a community highlight for over 20 years. The college has a flock of 460 expectant ewes which will produce 1,000 lambs before the end of the month. As well as meeting the ewes and their new families, visitors were able to watch a big screen showing highlights of the action and watch experts demonstrating the special care required for the delivery and care of the lambs.

There were also plenty of activities at Reaseheath’s zoo, which houses over 1,000 animals including meerkats, lemurs, tapirs, otters, birds of prey, companion animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, reptiles and amphibians. Highlights included ferret racing, hawk walks and a new harvest mice exhibition along with educational talks by Reaseheath zoo keepers.

Keeper Mitch Doyle and Johnny the striated Cara Cara with visitors

Reaseheath’s sheep unit manager Ollie Bagley, 22, a former Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture student, is in charge of the lambing flock helped by a rota of current students who are gaining practical experience in the lambing sheds.

He said: “Lambing is traditionally the first sign of spring and this event is always very popular, with some visitors returning year after year. Opening the lambing sheds gives us the chance to show what we do here and it’ll be even better next weekend because we’ll have even more lambs. As well as giving the public the unique experience of seeing lambs being born, it is also a great opportunity for us to educate them about the farming calendar and about the food on their plate.”

One of the lambs helped to record the action after being fitted with a mini video camera by animal management student and photographer Alex Lyth. You can view one of Larry’s videos here or to see more from ‘Larry’s lamb cam’ go to our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Reaseheath College’s lambing sheds and zoo will open again to the public on Saturday and Sunday, March 7th and 8th from 10am to 4pm. For further details on the 2nd Lambing and Zoo Weekend click here.