Showjumpers’ aim to get their voices heard
Riders’ club would aim to work in partnership with the governing body
BRITISH showjumpers looking into setting up a club to represent riders hope it will be a positive move for all involved in the sport.
Tim Stockdale and Robert Smith are among those hoping to recreate the Professional Showjumpers’ Association, known as the Riders’ Club, which has been “dormant” for some time.
Tim told H&H the feeling had been growing among riders that such a body would be beneficial for all concerned.
“We’re trying to encourage riders to work together to be positive,” he said. “It’s not an ‘anti’ club or about causing trouble, by any means, it’s one for good.”
Tim said an initial meeting was due to be held at Arena UK yesterday, to gauge the interest in and level of support for the plan.
“If riders aren’t interested, it’ll be a no-go but it doesn’t seem that way,” he said. “The old one was a good outfit that could get things done.
“It would be a body of people who could put things forward and hopefully have a say in decision making. That’s how it was before; a working partnership between the riders and British
Showjumping (BS).
“In future, decisions could be made with riders saying a situation has come up, and should we go left or right, and we can ask members how they feel.
“Everyone working together is the strongest thing we can do; getting riders involved in how their sport’s run can only be a good thing.”
Tim said if the club goes ahead, riders will be encouraged to put their names forward for different roles within it, such as committee members.
Robert Smith, who reiterated that the idea was to be a force for good in the sport, said the move is “by popular demand”.
“We should probably have kept it going last time,” he told H&H.
“But it will be back now, hopefully, to let people’s voices be heard. It’s not about making trouble, just making sure the riders’ point of view is put forward, so there’s understanding from people on the ground.”
H&H has approached BS for comment.