Elections 2011

 

 

 

Mr David Broome:                                           -                                      Wales and West Mercia

Mr James Loffet                                               -                                    Central West

Mr Alan Tredwell                                              -                                    Central

Mrs Jane Twemlow                                          -                                    South East

 

 

 All members residing in the South West, with voting rights, should receive two voting forms – One for Regional and the other for National. 

 

Having retired from most business interests over the last decade this has allowed me more time to devote to showjumping in general and further develop the Dorset Showground. During the last 3 years I have actively represented the views of your Area Representatives and their Committees at Board meetings and to head office to further the interests of the South West region. 

 

Having negotiated a ‘trial run’ special dispensation for classes in Cornwall this summer, I am hoping head office will allow this to continue and become available to Devon.

 

During Spring and early Summer I was able to negotiate an agreement between South West Showjumping Club and Clinton Devon Estates that enabled the shows planned for 2010 to continue at Bicton. This has also given time for the club to plan their 2011 schedule and retain continuity for the very popular shows they run. 

 

As you are all aware the Board is trying to introduce a revised constitution and again their collective views have been submitted in detail by me on several occasions when debated. We are hopeful that a revised version will be available that satisfies the concerns voiced to date in our region.

 

If re-elected I shall work to establish a smaller board of Directors as you have requested which will hopefully be up and running by summer next year. The Regional Representatives positions would then cease and be incorporated within the proposed Sporting Council. 

 

I have run my own design and printing business since 1984, have been married for 29 years with 2 daughters who all ride and compete on horses. My hobbies are Amateur Dramatics, singing and skiing as well as running showjumping events and commentating at several sports. Since becoming Area Representative for Somerset I have opened up a new centre in Stretcholt, Bridgwater indoor and outdoor venue. 

 

I have been running a British Showjumping ring at Tytherleigh Horse Show for a number of years and help generally at any show I attend.   I would have worked hard to keep open the three equestrian centres and greenfield centre that have closed in our Region and, if I were elected, will do so if anything similar happens again. In addition, I will, if elected, do my best to help the South Western Showjumping Club to operate effectively and its members to work together for the benefit of the Region. 

 

My aim is to find a way to have Regional Champion’s at several levels, to hold several rounds of competitions at various heights, amateur as well as Newcomer and 1.35m, where the rider/horse combination can discard their worst two scores, we could have league tables and end up with a Regional Champion at each height. I believe, this would raise standards in riding and competitiveness without travelling vast distances. 

 

The other venue where I am close to holding an event is Weston Beach. I do think we could have a summer tournament on all large British beaches.   This I feel would take our sport to the masses and in return bring new life into the sport. 

 

Everyone, with voting rights, should receive a national Voting Form with their magazine. 

Four National places are available on the Executive Board from the following seven candidates: 

 

We have seen many recent changes to British Showjumping and exciting times lie ahead for our Sport as we strive to modernise it. 

 

Being a member of the Executive Board for over 15 years and for the past three years being Chairman of the Showjumping Development Committee I am not yet ready to hang up my boots; with the lead up to 2012 there are so many important things to be done. I maintain daily contact with the sport at all levels, being a familiar face that’s easy to talk to at many shows. I strongly support the Amateur competitors as well as the Professional riders and always support the member’s interest, having played an instrumental part in the Amateur Classic Final going to HOYS and the Welcome to Yorkshire Amateur culminating at the new Yorkshire International Showjumping Event. I hope that by now my CV speaks for itself, and I hope that you will vote for me knowing that you will receive 100% dedication and commitment. 

 

Up to 2007, I had served 14 years as a member of British Showjumping’s Board. I have benefited immensely from a 3 year absence as I have had no political nor self interested involvements thus enabling me to realise how the showjumping has deteriated as a national sport. Suggestions and ideas that needed reviewing and revamping, that I proposed in 2007 have not happened, and whilst the International scene has improved, due to the presence of a new Team Manager this is for the direct benefit of a minority of the membership and they thoroughly deserve it. But the national non-progressive non-policies have made the sport for the majority of its members an unsatisfactory experience. The sport needs modernisation, something that I have advocated for years and the existing Board are still finding it difficult. Perhaps some Board members are wisely stepping down and others that are interested in improving the governing of showjumping are there only for that reason. 

 

I have / am still riding, running shows and have many friends at all levels of our sport – this sport is for EVERY MEMBER. 

 

I understand our sport, its challenges and opportunities having competed at most levels, organised numerous successful shows and served as Shropshire’s Area Representative for some years. I also have the commercial experience of running my own businesses, developing strategy and opportunity. I receive no financial benefits from showjumping, thus, have no conflicts of interest. 

 

I served on the Development Working Party which followed the Deloitte Touche Report into modernising Equestrian Sport. This report spelt out clearly what needed to be done but, unlike the other Olympic disciplines. The BS Board have not delivered their declared intent to become a much leaner better managed organisation. 

 

The consequences have, sadly, been evident in past few months by the Board’s mismanagement and poor presentation of their proposed new constitution which will already have cost members c. £25-£30,000. 

 

Our sport clealy deserves better and we must stop the endless time and money wasting so that we can clearly concentrate upon making British Showjumping, stronger, bigger and more able to meet the challenges of today.

 

With your help, I want to ensure that British Showjumping gets the modern flexible governance so needed. British showjumping can then take advantage of new opportunities, retain sport funding and grow the opportunities that you pay your membership fees for, not waste them. 

 

 

I am a great lover of horses and have been involved with them most of my life. In my early years I was a Pony Club member and later in my teens and early twenties competed at local British Showjumping Shows. I am a life member of British Showjumping and for the past 7 years have been heavily involved in Pony and also now Young Riders as my 3 daughters, Rebecca, Robert and Emily are keen competitors and have all represented our country on Nations Cups and some European Teams. My whole family are regulars on the circuit attending numerous events from local shows to Internationals. 

 

I am totally self sufficient and have no commercial or financial interest in the sport other than as an owner. My business interests are in farming, property, plant and vehicle rental. I feel I can make a large contribution to British Showjumping at all levels as I have a great passion for the sport and believe training from an early age is the key to success. I also believe our organisation has a limited budget that needs tight control. 

 

Please only vote for the one person you wish to see elected, voting for more just because you can will dilute your real vote. 

 

An active supporter of British Showjumping for many years, currently owner and support of Young Rider. 

 

I have a wide range of experience of establishing and running successful businesses and recently as an independent member of the British Showjumping Remuneration Committee, where I was able to see at firsthand how our organisation is run both from the committee and individual member perspective. It is vital our great sport is managed more professionally for all our members. 

 

I would bring to the Board not only an extensive business experience, but also a mission to radically improve communications between the Board and ALL our membership in order to have a healthy viable and growing sport, with a strong leadership that encompasses all its members and their concerns. 

 

It is time and essential for the success of the sport for changes to be made. 

 

I am an International Showjumping Trainer. I have been involved in the business all of my life and have had success both riding and training. I have represented my country at the highest level of international competitions having been on numerous winning Nation Cup Teams all over the world. The highlight of my career came in 1984 when I was a member of the Silver Medal winning team at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. I now dedicate all of my time to training students both at national and international level. I am a British Showjumping Accredited Coach and sit on the Training Committee. 

 

I feel that by being on the Executive Board I help in bettering the communication between riders and the Board/Head Office. I also feel that the Board benefits from my experience and knowledge of the sport both from a rider and trainers perspective. 

 

Having been a jumping member of British Showjumping for many years. I have seen the sport evolve to where it is today. I have three sons, a daughter in law and one of my son’s girlfriends competing from International down to local show level and a grandson competing in Juniors at age 7.

 

I have a showground that runs regular affiliated and unaffiliated shows and I am a Median course builder and Area Representative. My wife and I also have two retail outlets of which the main theme is supplying the equestrian market. 

 

My view for the future of British Showjumping is to recognise all our members; our amateur, professional and International riders. All are important to our Association but all have slightly different needs. Importantly we must also respect each other as riders, show organisers and officials and remember we all do it first and foremost for the love of our sport. We also must have more transparency in how our sport is run.