Edinburgh University Riding Club introduces the committee members and tells us about the club activities, and social shenanigans...

Edinburgh University Riding Club is an active, sociable and competitive, studentrun club. This year we have sixty-three enrolled members, although the number of active members is somewhat smaller than this. Despite the diversity of the members in age and riding experience, the male: female ratio is somewhat uneven! However, the male riders who do join tend to become very involved in the club and its events. This year we've had three males who all decided to learn to ride together which has been great!
We are lucky as we are able to get to our local stables using public transport, making it easy for everyone to get to the discounted lessons on Wednesday afternoons. There are lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders, and hacks in the surrounding hills - the perfect way to relax and escape from exams and essays!
The club enters three teams into the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) leagues, with each team being made up of four riders selected through trials. The A-team were very successful this year, winning their league and getting through to the Regionals which were held at Gleneagles in March. Club President and team Captain, Fiona Pawson, competed with team members Rhian Fitzgerald, Ro Robertson and Jude Fidley, against Glasgow and Robert Gordon universities, but unfortunately didn't make it through last year. The B-team also had a great year, just losing out to Glasgow in the league. Laura Hayward had an outstanding year, coming first in two competitions and second in the other two.
We also compete at The Scottish Universities Sports (SUS) Championships held annually. Scottish universities can enter a team of three riders to compete in the dressage and show jumping and no previous qualifications are required to take part. The dressage involves all three riders performing the test in the same arena at the same time, which is quite a sight to see!
The club try to organise lots of riding activities for members who aren't in the teams. This year we''ve had two inter-club competitions, one of which was organised like a BUSA competition while the other was a show jumping
competition with several different classes. Other activities have included beach rides, group hacks and a chance to ride Icelandic horses just outside Edinburgh.
As well as horsey activities, Rosie, the club's social secretary, organises lots of pub crawls and days out which bring everyone together and are, most importantly, brilliant fun! We have weekly socials at a local pub which is a great chance for us all to catch up and discuss our lessons and competitions, among other things! Our social events this year have included two (rather messy!) outings on the infamous Edinburgh Party Bus, a four-legged pub crawl, a day at the races, a horsey-themed pub quiz and a Christmas meal. The club also gets tickets for the annual Edinburgh Sports Union Ball, where this year our President from last year was given an award for services to the club. Just the excuse we needed to celebrate!
The club is involved with a local branch of the RDA, gathering a few members every year to become weekly volunteers. This is a hugely rewarding experience as well as being a great way to spend time with horses while helping people at the same time.
Plans for the future involve a massive effort to encourage more of the members who join at the start of the year to become active members through offering fun outings to the stables in Freshers Week and having a social in the first week of term. We also have our eyes set on being BUSA national champions this year!?

Fiona Pawson
Position: President
Course: Veterinary Medicine at The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College Edinburgh
Year of Study: 1
Horseography: I have been lucky enough to have ridden all my life. This started in the North Northumberland Pony Club, where I competed successfully in all the area teams as well as Prince Phillip Cup Games and Polo. I then started British eventing when I left Pony Club and spent one year training with the British Olympic rider Karen Dixon.
Successfully competed on her young horses and went with her to the Europeans at Puncheston in Ireland. After returning home I set up my own business, training and riding for owners as well as competing my own horses. I rode to British Eventing two star level, with my biggest achievement qualifying for Bramham Horse Trials in the summer of 1996. I also instruct and presently am finishing off my teaching hours for my B.H.S. A.I at Houston Mains Riding School, Broxburn, Edinburgh, as well as holding my stage four exam. My aim is to attain my B.H.S.I.I. this summer.
Likes: Other than riding horses I love skiing, keeping fit and all things veterinary. I have three pet sheep, one dog, one cat and my horse Charlie!!! I love everything that goes with horses... It has been a big part of my life.

Rachel Hayes
Position: Treasurer
Course: Business Studies
Year of Study: 4
Horseography: I started riding at eight years old, though I've never had my own horse. I was on the club's C-team this year and had a great laugh at all the BUSA competitions. I especially enjoy jumping and am a massive eventing fan.
Likes: Eventing, cross-country jumping, being around horses in general!
Dislikes: Washing muddy legs, when horses spook at photographers at the start of a dressage test.

Katharine Nierop
Position: Club Secretary
Course: Psychology and Linguistics
Year of Study: 3
Horseography: I began riding lessons with my brother when I was six years old, on a Shetland named Jigsaw! Unfortunately, I have never been lucky enough to own a horse. I joined the Riding Club in my first year, and have made some fantastic friends as well as gaining competition experience from the friendly competitions.
Likes: Morning hacks, animals, swimming and cooking
Dislikes: Big spiders and fussy eaters!
Anything else: After graduating from Edinburgh, I would love to be able to own a horse.

Rosie Baring
Position: Social Secretary
Course: Psychology and Linguistics
Year of Study: 2
Horseography: I've been a member of the Pony Club for about 12 years and have competed in the Open National Championships at Sansaw. I have a beautiful but moody Selle Francais Mare who I competed up to IN British Eventing but who is now in foal - due in July! In the meantime I am competing my Mother's horse in the Pre-Novice Championships and bringing on a couple of young ones at Intro while working at my local yard. I am an eventer through and through and love my cross-country, but still have a lot of work to do on my dressage!
Likes: That tired, satisfied feeling you get after an event.
Dislikes: That sick stomach, jelly legs feeling you get before an event!
Anything else: I love being part of the Riding Club, not only for the riding but also the social aspect, our club is really close and we have such a good time.

Laura Hayward
Position: Competition and Team Co-ordinator
Course: Sport and Recreation Management
Year of Study: 2
Horseography: Eventing is my main passion, but I have taken part in all Pony Club activities since I can remember. I have owned my own horse from the age of five until last year when I had to sell due to being at university. This season I have managed acquire a horse on loan to keep me occupied and out of trouble! I joined the Riding Club in my first year where I started life as a reserve and then onto the C-team. This year I have been lucky enough to have a place on the B-team and captain them.
Likes: Apart from riding I like organising anything and everything, mainly sporting orientated. I also enjoy most sports such as skiing, tennis and hockey.
Dislikes: The fact the uni work reduces my free time to ride! Bad weather and disorganisation! How much everything in life costs!

Lauren Bleach
Position: Kit Officer
Course: Pharmacology
Year of Study: 2
Horseography: After growing up looking over a dressage yard I decided I wanted to ride, I started when I was four on my best friend's shetland pony. I then went on to ride at a riding school until I was given a black cob to ride. I mainly hunted and show jumped with her until she was sold a year later. After a run of bad luck with a couple of horses and lameness I started sharing Fred, otherwise known as Freddy Kruger. Despite being quite evil both to other horses and anyone around him we got on well and competed locally in dressage and show jumping until I had to give him up to go to uni.
Likes: A good gallop and skiing
Dislikes: Riding in the rain

Helen Bray
Committee Position: Publicity
Course: English Literature
Year of Study: 2
Horseography: I started having riding lessons at a local riding school when I was nine and stayed there for about seven years. I had several ponies and horses on loan over the years, including my favourite - a 12.2hh black pony called Holly! I finally persuaded my un-horsey parents to buy me a horse when I was 15. We went to lots of local shows, crosscountry events and Pony Club rallies together, some more successful than others! Now I ride in the C-team for Edinburgh during the term which is brilliant fun, and scrounge rides off friends with horses when I'm at home!
Likes: Cleaning tack (? - ED), gallops along the beach and the road trips to our away competitions!
Dislikes: Traffic jams

Emma Jamieson
Position: Fundraising, Sponsorship and Riding for Disabled Association Co-ordinator
Course: Community Education
Year of Study: Graduated 2006
Horseography: Have ridden from the age of six, had horses on loan, worked on a Stud and Livery Yard and exercise horses.
Likes: Socialising, so much so even won award for being most sociable member!
Dislikes: Anchovies

Melanie Oakley
Position: General committee member
Course: Biology
Year of Study: 3
Horseography: I have been riding since I was eight and spent a lot of that time riding at my local riding school or scrounging rides on friends horses. In the last few years, I have been a bit lax with my riding and the club has been an excellent opportunity to get back into it. Whilst I do enjoy my jumping, I'm still a kid at heart and nothing beats gymkhana games!
Likes: Procrastinating, music and drinking - Often at the same time!
Dislikes: The cold.