Chair and Area 12 Rep
Catherine Withers
07811 937542
Chair@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Area12@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
Hi I’m Catherine and have recently taken over as Chair. I have had horses for the last 8 years having had ponies when I was younger. I had never had a lesson before I bought my original horse Rosie, who is now being brilliant for another family, I didn’t understand what being on the bit was, but luckily one of my best friends is Katie Milne and she spent a year being very patient with us, second time round I wanted to do it well and am desperately still trying.
I teach aerobics, Pilates and Yoga and am a personal trainer based in south Bristol, but am very lucky to be able to keep the horses at home.
I currently compete at dressage, show jumping and eventing usually at BE100, but am hoping to go Novice if all goes well this season, I bought two youngsters from Tim Warren, one for me and one for my daughter, they have been fantastic, and now my daughter has temporarily given up, I have had to learn to ride a Chestnut mare.
I thrive on having regular lessons and some recent improvement has shown what a wise investment that is.
I am very ambitious for the club and would love to be on some teams with fellow members at championships in the future.
I have recently competed at Badminton Grass roots championship and would like to say a massive thank you to so many friends who supported me and Ziggy, most of these friends are people I have met through riding club and I’ve only been a member for 3 years!
Vice Chair
Claire Curry
07845 560001
Vice-Chair@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
I’ve been riding for now for 20 years and I’ve been very lucky to have my own horses for the majority of those years. In my “fearless” teens and early 20s I did a lot of PC stuff and local competitions and went to college where I gained a National Diploma in Horse Management and BHS Stage 1&2. After college I didn’t pursue a career in horses but now work full time for Clarks in their IT department
I nearly gave up riding about 5 years ago after suffering for many years with “a horse from hell” which utterly ruined my confidence. After I sold that horse I was unsure if I wanted another one however I went on to a lovely horse who gave me my confidence back. I now own a young ISH called Riley which I am hoping to produce to go eventing and I will also be hoping to compete for many of the Area teams for BMRC
The Riding Club has played a big part in helping me get my confidence back and build a brilliant partnership with my all my horses. I would truly recommend joining to anyone who has an interest in horses as it’s a fab way to get out and about locally with your horse and have some fun and also meet likeminded people in your area.
Treasurer
Hannah Pearce
07879 812507
Treasurer@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
I’ve been with the club for a year now just starting to get back into my riding after having 3 boys. I’m from a farming background so the outdoors is a must for me and my boys. We currently farm over 2000 acres in the Winford and Dundry area with cows sheep and of course 5 horses.
My level of riding has come on leaps and bounds since joining the club last year so much so that it gave me the confidence to compete in my 1st dressage comp and am proud to say I WON!!!
My hopes for the future would be to compete in a hunter trial and one day event so watch this space!
Hope to meet you at RC events.
Secretary, Club Camps & TREC
Hilary Barnard
01761 462538
Secretary@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Camps@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Trec@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
Hilary has been a member of the Club for around 12 years and on the committee for 2. She has a New Forest pony, Harvey, and takes part in a variety of RC events and TREC competitions whenever she can. A busy job and family life necessitates some juggling at times but most days enough time is made to ride! Hilary organises TREC training for the Club and also runs the camps.
Membership
Anna Patch
07748 645607
Membership@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Hi i’m anna, I’ve been a club member now for 3 years, I enjoy doing fun rides, club lessons and camps as it’s a great way to meet and have a laugh with people who have the same love and passion about horses as yourself.
The club often uses our family business Regil Lane Livery for for lessons, members days and even a one day event. I live just a few doors down so i’m always on hand if there’s a problem.
I’m married to Kevin and have two sons George who is 17yrs and Jake who is 15yrs.
I have two horses Oliver and Mando, Oliver my big bay had to have a year off last year due to an ongoing problem so that’s when I bought Mando my project horse!! He’s 6 yrs but acts more like 3yrs!! he was from a driving home before so it’s been very challenging getting him to soften, relax and use his body in a completely different way, all of his muscles were in the wrong place mostly in his neck and shoulders!!, i’ve still got a long way to go, but i’m enjoying the journey.
Winter Dressage and Club Newsletter
Clare Savas
07970 559812
dressage@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
newsletter@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
Hi I am Clare and I have recently joined the Committee and I am completely ‘Dressage Mad!’
I love to follow the European Dressage riders as they are a great inspiration to me and especially Edward Gal and the harmony he creates with every horse he rides, not just Totilas!. I followed him before the success with Totilas and could see he was a very special rider; there were many times in the early days he should have won more!
I have been riding since I was 10 years old and got the Dressage bug about 15 years ago. I have owned my ‘Dressage Diva’ Barr since she was a youngster and she is now 14. She knows she has great looks, personality and is very clever; she is always one step ahead of me and can read me like a book!
I have been on the BD Judges Panel since 2003 as a List 5 Judge. I am hoping this year to upgrade to List 4 and to push Barr up to Elementary/Medium if we can. She has had the last couple of years’ taking it easy, due to me getting married in rather a hurry! I went to Turkey in 2005, met Umut and got engaged in 2 weeks and got married six months’ later in early 2006. Umut is now running a successful Café/Restaurant here in Bristol which has now given me masses amounts of time to Ride, Judge and Compete! Dream come true!
I hope to see you out and about at Events and we can have a good natter about Dressage!
Mechandise
Emma Vowles
07833 995053
Merchandise@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
Hi I’m Emma and sadly I lost my young horse this year, but I have been lucky to ride Fred for the past four years, Fred is a jack of all trades a master of none, but he tries his hardest all the time. We enjoy lessons with the riding club, and had a wonderful time at camp. Everyone is very welcoming and we have always been made to feel welcome. I would recommend the riding club events to anyone, its all about having fun and enjoying yourself.
Flatwork
Kaz Crew
07811 256216
Flatwork@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Hi my name is Kaz and I’ve been a member of the club for over 6 years now so it’s probably about time I volunteered to help!!
My love of horses began before I can even remember then at the age of 13 my parents bought me my first pony and that’s where it all began.
I’ve owned Mick for nearly eight years now he lives at home with me , my husband, two children, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks etc….. We have achieved a lot in those last eight years and couldn’t have done it without the fantastic instructors we are lucky to have, not to mention the help and support of the many friends I have made through being in the club..
My main aim when I first bought Mick was to achieve a clear round in a show jumping class, we managed that and more also having competed for the club in the area 12 show jumping in 2007 our team came 3rd and Mick and I came 2nd overall. Show jumping is what we both get a buzz from, sadly he is now retired due to his lameness (My photo was last time we jumped and we came 2nd) and is enjoying his time now with my new 4 year old Gradie who I have high hopes for wanting to hopefully compete in one day events so lots of work ahead!!
So see you around Kaz x
Show Jumping
Claire Curry
07845 560001
Jump@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Cross Country
Anna Patch
07748 645607
xc@BlackdownMendipRC.co.uk
Other contact emails for the club
General Enquiries Info@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
Website (Karl Edmond and Claire Curry) Webmaster@blackdownmendiprc.co.uk
