Norton Heath / Lordsbridge??

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squid35

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Just wondered how many of you guys compete at Norton Heath or Lordsbridge?

Im in Norfolk and there are not many affiliated (jumping) indoor shows through the winter so im looking ath traveling a bit further afield!

Ive jumped at Norton Heath a few years back (been very into showing *job* for a couple of years) but just wondered what they are like nowadays and if i can expect to see any of you there!
 
I go to both, Norton heath has a nice surface but the warm up is terrifying! Nice cafe/bar

lordsbridge is old tired and really in need of a refurb. My horses hate the surface ther (it's like torm up plastic bags) and the warm up is also tiny.
 
Thanks Thistle,

I half expected it to be the otherway round! my boy is not to bothered about the surface as long as its not silly deepor slippy!

is the warm up an norton heath stll in that school in the hedges???

what sort of competition do you get there?
 
I find the Lordsbridge surface a little slippy. At NH the warm up is in a tiny school like the wall of death.

Only just moving daughter up to aff, NH can be a little chavvy, you need John Whitaker tack and lots of sheepskin to do trailblazers. Daughter is usually the only one in tweed. Ofter used to beat them though!
 
I compete at Norton Heath too. Nice venue, lots of parking and reasonably well run.

Agree re. the chav factor though
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A fight broke out between two girls next to our lorry this week!
 
OH DEAR! hee hee

i will not fit in with the chavsters as my boy is not your typical showjumper! hee hee

Mind you i went to a clinic at the weekend and he has suggested a stud guard as my boy tucks his toes up so much! so i will fit in a litle more! hee hee

not sure i like the idea of fights! what was it over???
 
I've competed BD at Norton Heath. The warm up was awful though! It was completely saturated, tiny and crowded! Nice shop and cafe though. The BD wasn't particularly well run but the SJ is prob different. They do have a nice big outdoor arena and the indoor had a good surface.
 
Actually, you're right Katiejaye I didn't enjoy warming up for dressage there, but is ok for SJ.

I have no idea what the fight was about but there were about 15 teenagers trying to break it up! Thought i'd parked in a quiet corner of the car park....
 
Well, i'm due to compete at NH this weekend. It will be our first time there but everyone I have spoken to has said it is a good venue. Not sure whether we will be indoors or on the outdoor surface arena yet though
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Norton Heath is fantastic outdoors, but have never competed indoors there.

Lordsbridge I have heard lots of negative things about but never actually been there ourselves..
 
I compete at Norton Heath a lot (it's my local venue)
The outdoor arena is big with a very good surface. The indoor school, again has a good surface & is a good size. There are 3 arena's to warm up in. Little indoor one can be a nightmare if it's busy, but if it's dry or you don't mind getting wet there are 2 other 20m x 40m outdoor arenas. The one near the indoor school can get a bit deep but the one near the outdoor arena is good. (The big/main outdoor arena is unfortunately never used as a warm up for jumping)
This time of year it'll now all be indoors.
Cafe is good & there is a great tack shop.
 
Hi, I went there last week to watch, well run although there were lots of knockdowns in the Novice Class, jumps were good height too. Everyone there is in the "in stuff" too so very funny whoever wrote above chaving! but if you are local to the place its good place to practise and have fun and eat cheesy chips with a glass of vino
 
With regards to NH, depending on the competition, there's often more than one warm up available - the small indoor, or one of the two outdoor 20 x 40 - one of which is quite deep and gets boggy and the other one very exposed and is bitterly cold in the winter!

The outdoor school is lovely for dressage or jumping, but as someone else said, not used for warm ups!

The indoor is nice and relatively non-spooky, although can be frustrating when people are continually going in and out during your test/round to go to the office and notice boards.

There's normally plenty of lorry parking, although it can get tight on busy days.

The cafe does good food, but the tack shop is quite dear.

They do hire the indoor or outdoor schools out, and they're actually quite reasonable (£50 an hour - sounds dear but the school is HUGE, and includes use of all the comp jumps). We did it for a group lesson, and despite me hitting the deck halfway through, it was well worth doing!

Incidentally, although NH is very chavvy, I've encountered far less b*tching there, than at most other Unaff dressage venues (can't speak for aff or SJ). They're 'normally' pretty well run and on time, but the ladies in the office are quite fierce, so that may be why!
 
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