arenas that are no more

[DarkHorseB]

Lots of happy memories of pony days jumping at Lethame House and Kilmardinny in Milngavie. Anyone remember SHOYS there?

There was a time when the outdoor at Jumps was the newest and best thing in the area, and Devon Leisure was a real loss.

I used to go for riding lessons at Kilmardinny before I had my own pony as my brother rode there when we still lived in Glasgow.
Competed at Lethame House and went on a Steve Hadley course there back in the 1980s
Also remember the one at Newton Stewart was it called Ace? Lady Jane Forbes place. Don't think it was that big an arena as remember jumping a Grade C in there and the fences seemed enormous in a very small area!
Absolutely loved Jumps - many a happy show there

 

[Mike007]

Stocklands in Hampshire.Oh its already had a mention. Nowhere near Hickstead . It was near what is now the Horspital at Liphook.

 

[Quadro]

I miss Jumps but i know it will never hold a show again
Q

 

[RoseGrey]

I used to do BSJA at March Wiel(Wrexham), South View(Wettenhall), Bold Heath(Widnes), Belle Vue(Chester) & 'Lannys' (Goostrey Arena)....many years ago.

I don't know if any of them are still going.

 

[Millie-Rose]

East Midlands people, do you remember;

Syston EC (nr Leicester) - was a caravan showroom last time I drove past
Poskitts EC (nr Lincoln) - now an industrial estate
Newark EC - still there but privately owned

There were also some lovely country fairs (Rempstone Steam Fair, etc) and county shows which have fallen by the wayside

Used to love Poskitts went friday night jumping there and to the Hykeham riding club shows in the summer also used to have lessons there and took my stage 1 and 2 feel so sad when I drive past it now

Does anyone remember the Baston RC shows at Bourne it was only a small arena but we had such fun there on our ponies its now a housing estate

 

[JCWHITE]

Siennamum

Your story is a real blast from the past for me.
Certainly do remember so well the old BEC at Stoneleigh, great pic by the way,
Whyever did it get pulled down, seems so sad.
I remember those planks , they were so heavy!, and the Wrathalls,

Many memories of Balsall Common arena.I would imagine one of the earliest types, late late nights, competing till gone midnight sometimes.
So sad its all finished now,

 

[Capriole]

Oh I forgot about Bold Heath and Belle Vue.

 

[Little Nell]

Mill Lodge - went every year for the pony teams. Lots of memories none suitable for the internet

Church Farm - Always seemed to end up in the water jump despite never winning the derby

Kilmardinny - won the scottish 12.2 championship there

Lethame house - where i learned most. Liz and John Fox used to run training/schooling nights every Wednesday and we were there every weekend in the winter

The Balcormo Derby - I know Balcormo is still very much up and running but they don't have the big 3 day derby shows any more. First derby i jumped in. My little 12hh pony jumped straight off the top of the derby bank

 

[meardsall_millie]

Used to love Poskitts went friday night jumping there and to the Hykeham riding club shows in the summer also used to have lessons there and took my stage 1 and 2 feel so sad when I drive past it now
(

I did my stage 3 and PTT there! Wonder if we were there at the same time?

 

[Little Nell]

and how could i forget Stoneleigh indoor shows and Town and Country show

 

[measles]

Little Nell - I also remember riotous Balcromo derby shows from my pony days. Happy memories

 

[lyndsayberesford]

I used to do BSJA at March Wiel(Wrexham), South View(Wettenhall), Bold Heath(Widnes), Belle Vue(Chester) & 'Lannys' (Goostrey Arena)....many years ago.

I don't know if any of them are still going.

South view and bold Heath still going! The rest have gone

 

[Zerotolerance]

Anyone remember Stags End Equestrian centre nr Hemel in Hertfordshire. I knew it as 'Huskies' back in the early 1980's although I can't remember why.

I can remember show jumping there in the early 80s. We went on a Thursday evening and sometimes on a Saturday and Sunday as well. I survived my early teens on chocolate cake and chips from their cafe. No wonder I was spotty!

The indoor school is now used to store antiques as it's now Bushwood Antiques.

I also remember Box End. I remember the indoor being very small.

I used to keep horses at livery at Stags End back in the 80's. Didn't stay very long as they never settled there - none of them would lay down in their stables and were always spooked. Riding though the woods was very eerie with all the crows squawking! After I left I heard a story that I can't remember the full details of, but something to do with a murder/suicide thst happened there.

 

[dixie]

Exeter EC has gone although only a few years ago.

And Coombe Park.

Between the two we had a decent winter circuit. Now there's nothing without travelling for a couple of hours - hence I no longer BSJA.

 

[Little Nell]

Little Nell - I also remember riotous Balcromo derby shows from my pony days. Happy memories

Ha ha I seem to remember all the parents unloading the Bacardi before the ponies at these events Happy days x

 

[Prince&Porper]

Im not usually a poster but this time I just cant resist as you have brought up my favorite soap box subject!
I remember Harwood Hall from a wonderful childhood where weeknight jumping (Thursday if I remember correctly) meant that anyone jumping the open would need to be prepared for midnight (and thats if you didn't make a visit to the bar!), I can now be found wandering around at evening jumping mumbling about the appalling entries, classes starting at 1ft and it wasn't like this at Harwood!!
The "proper" jumping in the summer on the grass ring in front of the big house always looked huge to us little girls, but an inspiration when we got home to see what we could put on top of the oil drums to make bigger jumps!!
Oh to be a junior again (only if it can be in the 90s though)!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

I kept my pony at church farm a few years back. Used to love jumping the water jumps, the bank and the old derby fences! Even the one donated by the queen!

 

[Firewell]

People in hampshire around me still remember showjumping at Stocklands, bit before my time though. I remember friday night showjumping and wednesday BSJA at the priory equestrian centre in frensham. They just run the odd unaff dressage there now but it used to be a main BSJA venue that ran national classes. Hard to imagine now with the modern equestrian centres as the indoor is very dark and small!

 

[Firewell]

The Stocklands I'm thinking of is definitely just outside of Liphook - there is still a signpost on the road down to Forest Mere and the horsepital. It was over 30 years ago that I competed there too. Maybe there are 2 Stocklands?

The stocklands in Liphook is the one I know of as well . I never remember seeing it but then I was only a bubba.

 

[Honey08]

I did my interview for my AI at Newark Equestrian Cente and the course at Poskitts for the first year. Poskitts was lovely - such a shame!

I also live about 5 miles from Birchinley Manor. It opened 5 months after I left to do my AI, and closed 18 years later when I moved back to the area, so I never rode there!! I remember Arena UK opening at the same time, and look how well that went. Funny how some work, others don't. People said it was dreadfully managed.

 

[Tiarella]

I live in balsall common, and the equestrian centre was derelict but one building was a 'mans' club. Me and my friend (age13/14) that kept her horse there for a short space of time used to find all sorts of 'unsuitable stuff' and used to get scared of being down there alone. It's now all totally knocked down and is a care home for old people

 

[barneyhunter]

The stocklands in Liphook is the one I know of as well . I never remember seeing it but then I was only a bubba.

I remember Stocklands - brilliant you could be SJ on a Sat and then back to dressage on the Sunday. Absolutely fantastic. Didn't John Parker (transport) run a dealers yard and "in transit stabling" there for a bit? My memory might be clouded as it was a long time ago, but definately viewed a foreign horse there or next door about 20yrs ago.

How about Parkhurst near Ockley? Massive indoor school and lots of SJ comps

Parwood and Prior also already mentioned but they used to have regular competitions.

 

[Capriole]

@Honey.

Really was. Shame as it was a nice place.

Where are you? I used to live in Littleborough, used to work at Fenn's Equestrian centre, remember that? Thats gone also, I believe, but wasnt a venue as such.

 

[dafthoss]

I think its still there but lordsbridge used to run lots but now doesnt.

 

[humblepie]

Lots of blasts from the past.

Jumped at Stocklands once (was a bit far for us to go), likewise once jumped at the old Stoneleigh arena, never managed to convince parent to drive as far as Balsall Common or Hilton Park.

The one I referred to in another post was the Show Jumping Course of Wessex - late 1960s/early 1970s possibly? Was near Salisbury.

Re the showing shows that the Richard sisters used to run, they were ideal for young horses. Can always remember one of them sending me a card saying how much they liked my new horse that I had brought to their previous show. They wouldn't have known me from Adam for want of a better phrase but I thought that was lovely.

 

[cobwithattitude]

Was it Longlands in Basildon? and there used to a great pro-am show by Cardiff Castle, also a place by the M25 in between Cheshunt and Enfield, with a xc that went along side the M25 for a bit.
Remember the arena in Balsall common - there was a window at the bottom level with the ground, where you could see people playing pool!!! (or am i imagining things?)
Loads of shows on grass have come and gone too -
Do Writtle still hold shows and xc events? And Woodredon?

 

[Swirlymurphy]

People in hampshire around me still remember showjumping at Stocklands, bit before my time though. I remember friday night showjumping and wednesday BSJA at the priory equestrian centre in frensham. They just run the odd unaff dressage there now but it used to be a main BSJA venue that ran national classes. Hard to imagine now with the modern equestrian centres as the indoor is very dark and small!

I remember the Friday night showjumping - used to go on for blooming hours!

I know these are all SJ venues but anyone remember Shamley Green horse trials? Dunsfold Ryse? Lovely venues.

I remember Burwood Farm in Guildford - I'd take hours to hack there and home again, usually clutching a consolation rosette or two!

 

[siennamum]

Don't get me started on horse trials. I competed at:

Kilsby
Wellesbourne
Everdon
Great Missenden
Shelswell House
Northampton

All gone - boo hoo

 

[Rambo]

There was also a big horse show at Great Missenden too. I remember trawling all the way up there to jump a Foxhunter Regional Final once because I had not been able to jump my local one. My gran lived in Great Missenden too so even she came along to watch.

I still have some old video somewhere of Matthews Riding School and Harwood Hall.

 

[sabel]

cobwithattitude, Longwood EC in Basildon is still up and running - still hold BS shows although I haven't been for years.

I remember Towerlands and Harwood Hall very well. Jumped as part of a team for the very first time at Harwood, pony belonged to a riding school and I fell off before the bell went. He trotted over to where the bar was and put his nose up to the window. I was horrified, esp when commentator said " He's thirsty, someone get him a pint!"
There is now an old people's home where the indoor school was.