Harwood Hall Memories

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xxCMBxx

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Just wondering who remembers the fabulous Harwood Hall E.C in Upminster, Essex and if you remember roughly when the Thursday Night Shows finished. The amount of people I speak to and literally no one remembers it :'(
My little girl has just started riding lessons at Longwood E.C in Basilson and even talking to people there they don't remember Harwood.

I'm wondering I f anyone remembers when it actually closed as a show ground and whether anyone has pics or vids from back in the days they would like to share.

Showgrounds just don't seem the same anymore
 
I was thinking about this and i really do have so many memories of the place i thought i would expand, would be lovely to hear anyone else's too.
I went there in the early 90's and it was a great place as a kid to grow up, there were huge shows and fantastic demos. I remember so many big names coming and competing and the day they bought Milton, he was in a stable that's still there now....that was exciting! The lawn shows were a particular fond memory, i remember looking at the size of the jumps in absolute awe. Also the derby shows with the bank and the dyke that are also still there now albeit disheveled.
They used to hire the place out for the bikers or magna carta weekends which was incredible, concerts in the main arena and the wall of death for bikers. The fields were packed with bikers and it was awesome. They also used to have rodeo weekends there too and i will never forget the bull escaping in the car park and everyone running for cover!
Thursday nights were a mixture of people i guess as evening sj elsewhere still is, but mainly a chance for anyone to have a go at sj, shop in the saddlery, have cheesy chips and half moon cake in the cafe and sit in the bar with Mick afterwards having a drink (or a coke for me as i was underage ;). I will always remember the yellow and blue signs and jumps that were Harwood signature colours.
It was such an immense place which for me holds a lot of my childhood memories, there is still a livery yard there now but the area that was the main arena is now a retirement home. The lady who runs it now was the show secretary back then and still has lots of pics and stories of how it was. Such a shame it went but very happy that I had the chance to enjoy it in all its glory.
 
Farma, were you jumping there at the time of Claire Sims, Sarah Chaplin, Carly Holland, Jenny Allan, Russell Bouringer, Dee Morris to name a few. I remember Mick and Ann in the bar and also Matthew on the arena doors. Its such a huge shame that the show is finished now but I'm so pleased I managed to complete at such a great venue.
I was stable next door in High House Farm so every Thursday night would just ride across the field and yes, the bikers and rodeo, I remember it so well it's just a huge shame I haven't got any photos.
 
I don't suppose you know when it actually closedown do you? When I bring it up in conversation people don't even know the place and it'll be handy to be able to say when it closed
 
Yes i know all of those people and and still in touch with a few of them. I cant remember when it closed but i would hazard a guess at 1996 or '97 perhaps?
 
I'm still in touch with the Sims but I moved away from the area and now live in Hadleigh near Southend so just lost touch. I used to be extremely close to Dee, (Loud Irish Lady) it was her that taught me to ride.

Do you know if any of them still compete and if so where because it will be lovely to pop down and catch up with people.
 
Ha yes i know Dee, no description needed there :) she is still around Aveley area. No i don't know that any of them continued competing (except me) and none of them are stabled there now either, people move on dont they but very nice memories...thanks for posting, feeling all nostalgic now :)
 
Lol I don't know many people that don't know Dee haha. Well thank you for your replies and it's been lovely talking to you. If you do ever see Dee then can you tell her that Claire Argent said hello (I used to own the little Grey "Duncan" that she has stabled on her land) She taught me to ride on her mare "Morgan" about 20yrs ago (20 years... Omg it's crazy how time flies!)

Thank you for your replies, take care
 
I was stabled there well after it closed; 2008 - 11. (Met farma there.) I loved reading your description, it must have been amazing and v lucky you to have been there at the time! Don't think I've heard you talk about it much before! It's so different now.
 
HotToTrot said:
I was stabled there well after it closed; 2008 - 11. (Met farma there.) I loved reading your description, it must have been amazing and v lucky you to have been there at the time! Don't think I've heard you talk about it much before! It's so different now.[/QUO

Yes we were all lucky to have been there at that time, me and you would have had SO much fun together then!

xxCMBxx - yes i remember your pony, and Morgan although she died some time ago :(
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I grew up in Upminster, remember going along to watch SJ there when I was little, and going to the circus there. Such a shame it had to close that side of things down. I competed there a few years ago but it was very low key livery yard shows by that stage.
 
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