Question for people in the Cirencester area

[RobinHood]

Those who compete in the cirencester area, do you feel there is a lack of regular dressage and showjumping competitions, both affiliated and unaffiliated?

I'm currently exploring the possibility of setting up a new venue but I've hit a brick wall with people saying the market it saturated and I disagree. All I can think of is hunters in cirencester, and then west wilts and summerhouse which are far enough away, and a search on riding diary confirms this.

I'm thinking along the lines of large indoor school with a proper surface, decent outdoor warm-up, regular dressage and show jumping both in the week and at weekends, clear rounds, clinics etc. with the facilities available for hire to individuals, pony clubs, riding clubs, rda...

Where do you currently travel to compete and do you think there is a need for another venue in the area?

 

[flyingfeet]

I would say market is quite saturated, but hold some show jumping!!

For dressage there is:
Abbey Dressage (Tewks)
Home Farm EC (Chelt)
Hunters (Ciren)
Knapp Farm (Ciren)
Wickstead (Highworth)
Crown Farm / Lyneham (Burfordish)
Hill Farm (Witney)
Hartpury (Glos)
Summerhouse (Glos)
West Wilts (Wilts)
Burrows court (Dursley)
Aderro (Dursley)

 

[flyingfeet]

Chelworth Fields (Cricklade)
Also Chelt RC run things at the RDA Centre
There is also Worton Park in Witney

 

[Nicco]

I think there is a great need for another competition venue in the Cirencester area.
There used to be competitions at Talland - many years ago now- and Soley (Boomerang near Hungerford) when Sandy Phillips was there. Both those are no longer and there is a need - especially for show jumping - and dressage over the winter months when Hunters is closed.
Keep my fingers crossed you do set up a new centre - we will be there!!

 

[flyingfeet]

Whereabouts are you thinking of in Cirencester? Thinking about it there are quite a few captive markets - Old Talland House (Nr South Cerney) has over 20 liveries and most are RAC students, also quite a few people at Talland (Ampney Knowle) so if it was somewhere hackable, you'd pick up the local trade without transport

I'd love another unaff or Aff indoor SJ venue - as currently only Hartpury and Home Farm run indoor SJ'ing and the latter isn't great to get to in a lorry (risk of scratching the sides due to mad locals)

 

[3BayGeldings]

I don't know how anyone would think there's lack of venues in the Gloucestershire area... try living in the North East of England for a start.

(QR)

 

[Aniseed]

It would be great to have somewhere in Cirencester with an indoor shool that holds unaffiliated competitions. At the moment the only places I would go to are Knapp farm and Chelworth Fields as I am a bit scared of Hunters (it sounds like it is quite posh and I don't really compete seriously so like somewhere relaxed and informal). Chelworth fields doesn't have a warm up and I don't think Knapp Farm really do much over the winter.

There are a lot of livery yards in the area and mine has about 30 people who all compete unafilliated just for fun. I would also be really interested in clinics.

 

[flyingfeet]

Hunters is relaxed and informal and has lovely cakes!!!

They are a bit anal about tieing your horse up outside and mess left, but you can see why when you look at the mess people make.

 

[Weezy]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - we need more SJ shows! The only centre in area 37 is Blewbury! I live in OX18 postcode and we have nothing within an hour (even Blewbury takes an hour)

 

[monkeybum13]

More SJ please, especially unaff

I'm in South Glos so for indoor sj it's either 50 mins to west wilts where they charge £11 and then you pay a pool for the judges (even if you were to enter the 1'6!), or over an hour to The Hand or Badgworth
I'm sure local riding club's would also like to hire indoor arena's such as KLRC, BDRC, FFRC
Extra dressage would also be great, both unaff and BD

 

[Grey_Showjumper]

PLEASE- everything takes an hour plus to get to.
This is for show jumping though- not really into my dressage.
It would be LOVELY if there was a venue that held regular shows within an hour of us!

 

[mac]

Show jumping-there is hartpury,Hand and west wilts. It would be good to have another indoor venue as i think people would choose it over summerhouses outdoor shows and bromyard non longer does BSJA

 

[Weezy]

Hand is around 2 hours from us, WW is about 1hr 30 and Hartpury is 1hr15 - that is without traffic

Those of us living around Witney to Stow are in the most goddamn awful place for SJing!