50th Anniversay & Club History

The Clyde Riding Club was founded in the late fifties to bring together riders in the Clyde Valley, to encourage riding as a sport and recreation. In the ‘early days’ the Club moved around the Valley, where local farmers would allow the use of their fields for the days activity. As the membership grew and it became more difficult to persuade farmers to give up a field for the day, the Club settled in a regular venue near Douglas, it now meets at Lower Carbarns, Netherton, Wishaw by kind permission of the Jordan Family. This is a lovely setting by the banks of the River Clyde. Together with the 'ordinary' days of Jumping and Games, a variety of events take place over the season i.e. Cross Country, Handy Pony, Showing, Fancy Dress etc… Recent fund raising events have enabled the Club to be proud owners of an extensive set of polymer show jumps. Membership is paid early in the year which covers the season. Each day points are awarded to members competing and at the end of the year there is a pretty impressive Presentation Night where all the trophies are presented to all the class winners followed by a disco. Normally a great night for all the family.

A 13-year-old Hamilton boy had given up his leisure time to buy a horse. Every morning and evening he delivered papers to save enough money to get a pony.He was at last offered a pony by the RSPCA, but then found out he would be unable to accept it as he had nowhere to house the animal.

John Gilroy, Roseberry Place, Earnock, started his paper round to earn enough money to feed a pony and his brother James even offered to help him.John first got interested in horses when he did a milk round and the owner had horses. John would get up at 5am and exercise one of the horses before he delivered the milk. He joined the Clyde Riding Club in Carluke where he did well in gymkhanas. John’s dream was of becoming a jockey.