14/09/2024
To all the Wild Atlantic Dressage Festival supporters, I'm writing this with a heavy heart and regret to announce that WADF will no longer be running.
Due to a decision by the Dressage Ireland board, the board will no longer support an individual, in this case me, to run a show or festival, the region is presently in discussion on the option to hold their own MWR festival.
I personally took on running WADF to provide a festival in the West of Ireland to showcase and promote dressage, that was self sufficient.
In the process, it generated levies for DI for four years, without any financial risk to anyone except myself.
To top it off over the four editions of WADF, we raised thousands of euros for various charities, by running an auction.
Year on year we introduced an new element, a commentary team, freestyles, on site social media coverage, livestreaming and WADF merchandise.
It started as an idea myself and Mum, Julia had together and gained approval from the 2018 DI board, who I wish to thank for their support and faith in me.
WADF has always been referred too, "as Simone's show" and I used to brush that off, but now on reflection it was my baby, I described WADF as a show ran by a rider for the riders, thank you to all the riders who ever supported WADF, without you there would be no show or dressage.
Thank you to the Reape family and especially Carole who always went above and beyond to help and support the running of the show, who provided what I consider the best venue in the West, the jumps can stay up now lads!
Thanks to Martina and the staff of the Waterfront Hotel, who looked after the judges for their stay, as well as donated vouchers for the famous auction.
For all the donations of items for each year's auction it was overwhelming the support it received, thank you to you all and to everyone who put their hands in their pockets for such worthy charities.
Now to two very special groups of people who without them, I couldn't have done it at all.
The sponsors, every year I was blown away by your support, they included friends, clients and businesses I know, I'm never afraid to ask and all of you were never afraid to say yes, every year WADF had at least 25 sponsors, thank you each and everyone of you.
The volunteers, this group of people were the life and soul of WADF, every year giving their time, travelling from near and far, what a reflection of WADF when people ask to help and the list is so long there's not enough jobs to go around, thank you is never enough but I truly hope you enjoyed being part of WADF.
Thank you to Vida Tansey for looking after all things related to judges, Jane Whittaker for taking care of the online department, times and results.
Thanks to Karen McKim for providing live entertainment every Saturday evening and Sean Winstanley for providing the livestreaming which was a big hit.
And we certainly can't forget Catherine Meenaghan the social media wizard who made WADF come alive before it even started, she put in a huge amount of her time, thank you.
And that's it, the Wild Atlantic Dressage Festival took months of work but it was always worth it come Sundays prize giving, I hope you all enjoyed it, however you were involved as much as I did!
As they do say "all good things must come to an end" but I'll add my bit to that....
"so new adventures can begin"!
Thank you,
Simone Hession
WADF Founder.
