Gate Inn Riding Club
Curiously named as the current site is nowhere near its namesake public house. The Gate Inn Riding Club held its first show in the field by the pub then owned by Mr Fred Dale. It was started as several local families had ponies and wanted a Gymkhana type events. Mr Jack Wassal (who later lived at Redlands Tamworth Road) organised the inaugural show on Remembrance Day in November 1959. Jack owned a shoe shop chain (later Bentons) and financed much of the clubs activities in the beginning. At the start equipment was borrowed until the club was in a position to buy their own. Six experimental shows were tried in 1960 and it was at the second of these that Mrs Kath Lapworth helped the secretary out and subsequently became the club secretary from 1964. Mr Pete Lapworth first started his involvement by undertaking the announcing and so began an association which was to last until they both Kath and Pete retired from the club in 2014.
The clubs first course builder was Dave Terry who came from Coventry. He had quite a long job as in those days the shows ran from 12 to 8pm. By the late 1960's the club was expanding and moved to its present site in Coton Road. At the time the site was owned by Mr Frank Hill who was also the first chairman of the club. At this point Pete Lapworth became treasurer but soon added the of course builder after being trained by Dai Williams.
The field was eventually purchased by the Club and the Sports Council (from the Hills) and the club continues to flourish to this day.
Current news can be found at their website here.
Source - interview with Mr Pete Lapworth March 2017
Curiously named as the current site is nowhere near its namesake public house. The Gate Inn Riding Club held its first show in the field by the pub then owned by Mr Fred Dale. It was started as several local families had ponies and wanted a Gymkhana type events. Mr Jack Wassal (who later lived at Redlands Tamworth Road) organised the inaugural show on Remembrance Day in November 1959. Jack owned a shoe shop chain (later Bentons) and financed much of the clubs activities in the beginning. At the start equipment was borrowed until the club was in a position to buy their own. Six experimental shows were tried in 1960 and it was at the second of these that Mrs Kath Lapworth helped the secretary out and subsequently became the club secretary from 1964. Mr Pete Lapworth first started his involvement by undertaking the announcing and so began an association which was to last until they both Kath and Pete retired from the club in 2014.
The clubs first course builder was Dave Terry who came from Coventry. He had quite a long job as in those days the shows ran from 12 to 8pm. By the late 1960's the club was expanding and moved to its present site in Coton Road. At the time the site was owned by Mr Frank Hill who was also the first chairman of the club. At this point Pete Lapworth became treasurer but soon added the of course builder after being trained by Dai Williams.
The field was eventually purchased by the Club and the Sports Council (from the Hills) and the club continues to flourish to this day.
Current news can be found at their website here.
Source - interview with Mr Pete Lapworth March 2017