SILSDEN RIDING CLUB, HISTORY

The club was formed in 1955 by Bill Hartley of Sykes Lane, Silsden, for a few local children. They made their own jumps out of spare wood and old oil drums.

Then Dennis Swinton left the Royal Horse Artillery and built a bungalow on Sykes Lane. Dennis made the club's first set of jumps.

Soon after 1957 the club moved to a field off Holme Lane in Sutton. All the equipment was stored at Mrs Moon's barn in Cross Hills.The club held small shows every weekend and about this time the first committee was formed.The shows continued to be held at this site until houses were built on the land, now known as Shielings Estate.

After Sutton, the shows moved to Howden Lane, back in Silsden. The land was owned by Ronnie Webster and Julie Dawson. Julie and Chris Megan, with his father, ran the classes at the local shows and the number of members increased year by year.

At this time Mr Crabtree from Riddlesden asked the club if they would be interested in purchasing a field in Riddlesden. After much debate the field was bought.

Dennis Swinton and Jack Beaver from Cross Hills Post Office went to Leeds to get a grant from the Sports Council to equip the field.The show rings had post and rail, painted white, and the jumps were kept out all summer.

Silsden Riding Club held annual shows in Victoria Park, Keighley, every July and local businesses helped to transport all the equipment as it became a very big exercise.

During Silsden Riding Club's early years, the shows were attended by Michael and John Whittaker, who came with their grandparents transporting their ponies in a sheep trailer. Harvey Smith and the boys attended as well.

About this time, Ronnie Webster moved from Howden Road to School Master Place Farm, which had a indoor school and parking.

Silsden Riding Club was invited to use the facilities, which meant if the weather was bad they could hold the shows in the indoor school.
During the winter months the club held lectures by top rider and producer Pat Swinton and others.

Over the years membership has increased steadily. The club last year had approximately 115 members. In 2004 the club once again purchased a large area of land in Silsden after renting land over previous years.The new site is at Swatha Lane, with easy access for horseboxes and trailers.

The club has actively raised monies for charities in the past for causes such as the Haematology Trust Fund at Airedale General Hospital.