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Meet the BHS Cumbria Team
There
are currently over 600 BHS members in the County of Cumbria.
The County Committee meet regularly - usually near Penrith - to plan various activities including pleasure-rides and talks.
New committee members, willing to help with fund-raising activities, are always welcome. Cumbria is a huge County and we are always keen to have people join the committee who are keen to represent their local area –no matter what their particular equine interest.
If you think the time might be right for you to offer your time and energy to BHS activities, then don’t hesitate to contact Wendy, for details of how to get involved!
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CHAIRMAN/COUNTY WELFARE OFFICER/DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE (Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland)
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Jean Rogers BHSI lives with her husband David near Cartmel, where they farm cattle and sheep and run Birkby Cottage Stables, a BHS Approved Riding establishment for over 25 years!
Jean’s family were farmers who also stood two stallions – breeding and producing horses for eventing, hunting, the mounted police and show-jumpers. As a member of the Pony Club, she would ride 8-10 miles to mounted rallies.
Jean “rode anything and everything” at home which gave her an excellent grounding in horsemanship – although many good horses were “sold from under” her. As a teenager Jean whipped in with the Vale of Lune when needed. Then followed training with Miss Bickersteth (a breeder of bay Fell Ponies) at the Institute of the Horse.
Jean formed the Lakes Riding Club with her sister. She is also on two access forums and is a founder member of the Cumbria Bridleways Society – a very busy lady indeed!
Jean’s membership of the BHS began aged 18 as a gift from her parents, she is now a Chief Examiner and trains many exam students and competition riders.
Jean loves: Teaching, seeing a horse and rider working in harmony and her role as Chairman of “the super BHS Cumbria Committee”.
Jean dislikes: Driving in fog, modern and superficial horsemanship, being cold, overfed and under-exercised horses and phone calls after 9.30pm after a long and busy day from people seeking free advice.
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EVENTS SECRETARY
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Mrs Catherine Bult
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SECRETARY |
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Cath
Wrigley lives in Silecroft with her husband Phil and three sons
aged fifteen, eight and three years. Cath moved to Cumbria from
Macclesfield six years ago to fulfil a lifelong dream of owning
property with enough land to keep her horse.
In 2002 Cath opened the BHS approved Murthwaite Green Trekking
Centre and now has 18 horses and ponies – and very little free
time!!
Prior to moving to Cumbria, Cath worked for The Open University
in Manchester for 12 years and kept her horse on DIY livery.
Cath was a regular competitor in affiliated eventing and show
jumping on 'Laura' a 16.2hh Shire x TB who she has owned since
1993. Unfortunately, due to travelling and lack of time, since
moving to Cumbria Cath has not competed at all.
Cath likes: Takeaways,
teaching, galloping down the beach, chocolate
And dislikes: Cooking, any form of housework, flying, wet and
windy weather.
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TREASURER
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Joan Chapman is from Keswick and worked for a chartered accountant before her retirement.
Joan wanted to ride from the age of six but never had the chance to ride “anything except donkeys on the beach” until her late 30’s when she went on a week-long trekking break with the Youth Hostelling Association.
The following year, Joan undertook a course to learn to ride properly and unfortunately had a bad fall causing severe injury to her back. When she could walk again, Joan was determined to find a horse to try again – albeit a bit more slowly!
Ten years on and Joan had gained her Preliminary Teaching Test and was teaching disabled riders. Sadly the back injury prevented Joan from completing the riding part of the Assistant Instructor Certificate, however, a blind member of her class (an osteopath by profession), helped fix her back and she has been able to ride more comfortably as a result.
When Joan’s predecessor retired from the committee in 1982, Joan took over the role as Treasurer and has managed the accounts ever since.
Joan loves:
and
Joan dislikes:
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PRESS OFFICER
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Sue
Wardle moved to Brampton in Cumbria over twenty years ago, which allowed
her to fulfil a childhood dream of owning a horse.
Sue has owned Guard's Joseph (a registered fell pony), known to
his friends as Balin, since he was a fat, unfit, green seven year
old – he is now in his late teens. After two years of dieting and fitness
programmes – for Balin too!!! – Sue and her equine partner took up endurance.
The rest is history as they achieved their Gold Thistle Final in
2004 (2 x 50 mile rides at 8 mph to the rest of us).
Sue and Balin also compete in dressage, BHS TREC, cross-country
and working hunter pony competitions – and are past winners of the Fell
Pony Society One Day Event! Phew!!
Sue has a new love in her life - a five-year-old
Welsh Section D cob, with the very grand name of Oakbury Lord Chief
Justice! Sue has high hopes for her new star – watch this space for details
of progress!
Sue loves: her dog Spencer
and dislikes: never having any spare time or money!
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ASSISTANTS
(National Park) |
Carole
Barr is originally from Cumbria and lives near Coniston where she
has run a riding and fell trekking centre for the past fifteen years.
Carole's interest in Access and Bridleways developed around ten years
ago when she met Chris Clark and subsequently joined the Cumbria Bridleways
Society.
Carole has been involved with BHS Cumbria for over five years and covers
the Lake District National Park with June Chapman.
In her spare time, Carole breeds and shows rare-breed pigs including
Gloucester Old Spot and British Lop.
Carole loves: Chocolate
And dislikes: Whisky and Reality TV shows – especially Big Brother.
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ASSISTANTS
(National Park)/RDA LIAISON |
June Chapman was born in Yorkshire where she owned ponies as a child through to her teens – she then had a break from horses for many years. June moved to Cumbria over thirty years ago and now lives near Broughton.
June’s interest in horses was re-kindled via her involvement with the Riding for the Disabled Association and she now owns several horses and ponies.
A desire to ride the fells has led June into Access and Rights of Way work – she joined the BHS when embarking on the first Challenge Ride to Jordan in aid of BHS Welfare - and has since completed many challenge rides around the world.
June enjoys all sport and has recently spent several days at Wimbledon catching up on the action.
June loves: driving her Highland pony ‘Flint’ and Trail Riding
and dislikes: Liver
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ASSISTANTS (Obstructions)
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Mrs Helen Kerry. Helen is a Principal Lecturer working for the University of Central Lancashire at their Cumbria Campus where she teaches Environmental Management.
Owns Gentle Breeze, a 17-year-old chestnut mare who is a super all-round family horse.
Competes in dressage, jumping and cross-country, but doesn't bounce quite so well these days when she hits the deck!
Has ridden since the age of 5 years and has come up through Pony Club and Riding Club. In her younger days she represented the Holderness Hunt Pony Club and White Rose Riding Club in various teams.
Likes: riding, shopping, books and watching the racing on tv - not necessarily in that order.
Dislikes: ironing and meetings with no outcomes and action!
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ASSISTANTS (Trail Riding)
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Gay Parkin has
lived near Ullswater all her life and says she can’t recall not riding.
As a child, Gay was fortunate to have access to ponies and has
ridden the fells for as long as she can remember.
Gay runs Swarthbeck Farm Holiday Cottages, as part of Horse Holidays
in Cumbria (HHIC). This collaborative scheme offers the opportunity
to take your horse on holiday to enjoy some of Cumbria's finest scenery,
staying in B and B or self-catering accommodation.
Gay has been busy doing freelance work for the Cumbria Tourist Board,
auditing equestrian businesses in the County (at presenting numbering
over 400). This is an ongoing project and Gay is keen to hear from anyone
with news of new ventures.
The latest project for Gay is involvement in the creation of a County
Trail or indeed Trails, which could possibly link into the soon-to-be-opened
Pennine Bridleway. Gay is amongst many who feel that Cumbria has such
a superb network of bridleways that a County Trail should be quite possible
to put in place.
Gay loves: riding the fells in the company of friends
and dislikes: anything that prevents her from doing the above!
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COUNTY ROAD SAFETY OFFICER
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John Collier BHSI is originally from Oldham but has run the very busy Blackdyke Farm Riding and Competition Centre near Carlisle, with his wife Anne for 26 years. They recently were thrilled to receive the BETA/SEIB Small Business Award in recognition of their continued success.
John learned to ride as a child and whilst studying for a Degree in Economics at Trent Poly, he joined the University Riding Club.
John now spends a great deal of his time teaching and thoroughly enjoys helping both beginners and advanced riders to raise their game.
John is also a BSJA Course-builder and Judge and is a familiar face at many of the major shows. He is renowned for his own brand of humour – which is frequently misunderstood!
John loves: Teaching, eventing, home cooking, shooting, making things, shopping and flower arranging (those of you who know John will no doubt spot the jest)!!
John hates: Telephones and painting and decorating.
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COMMITTEE MEMBER
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Betty Walker
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