Club History – Tamworth Junior Riding & Pony Club

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Details of the first few years of the Tamworth Junior Riding Club are somewhat shrouded as the early records are lost and memories are fading.

It appears that a meeting was held in 1949 to discuss the formation of a club to promote riding among young people. Thus, when the club was formed it as called the Tamworth Junior Riding Club. This meeting, held in the Peel Barracks Building, was attended by [amongst others] Mr Herb George and his son Graham, Mr Percy Cooke, Mr and Mrs Onslow Thompson, Dr Beattie, Jack Carey, Norman Peg and Tom Horneman, Geoff Thomas, Bill Ryan and a youthful Harold Dening.

Geoff Thomas was elected President, Tom Horneman, Secretary/Treasurer and Norman Horneman, Chief instructor.

The first camp was held in December 1950 but on the advice of Dr Beattie, subsequent camps were held in the spring. Some early instructors were Norman Horneman, Colonel Roberts, Joan Holten, Jack Carey, Judith Blanch and Terry Kelly.

It is a testament to a long line of hard-working secretaries that the minute books from 1953-1989 are still in the club’s possession today. It is from these minutes that following summary of the Club’s activities have been obtained.

MILESTONES

1953 – N. Horneman represented the Club at an EFA Conference in Sydney. One Hundred children attended camp, the fee being three pounds, fifteen shillings. J J Lyons drew up the constitution.

1954 – Bernie Howlett was champion boy rider at the Sydney Show Club members attended a Jamboree at Muswellbrook and the Club badge was designed.

1955 – The TJRC became affiliated with the Pony Club Association of NSW. Helen and Kim Murchison, Sam Campbell and Dianne Byrnes won the championship four at the Sydney Show. The Campbell shield was won by Tamworth.

1956 – Sam Campbell was champion boy rider at the Sydney Show. There were 144 in camp and a profit of one hundred pounds was made.

1957 – T. J. Campbell became president of Zone 5.

1958 – Camp was held over a full week and the Campbell Shield was competed for a Zone Jamboree rather than an Inter-Club day. 173 attended camp, the fee being four pounds. Visitors paid six shillings per meal and Cleveland Engineering made the Rider in Action Gates.

1959 – There were 160 in camp. Tamworth hosted the first Zone 5 Jamboree and the Campbell Shield was won by Tamworth. 1960 – The first group of Legacy children attended camp.

1961 – Toots Murchison and Fiona Hyem travelled the USA as part of the Victorian Pony Club Team and Ken Murchison became president of the NSW Pony Club Association.

1962 – T. J. Campbell was appointed chairman of the NSW Chief instructors Panel. Club banner was made, great camp concert.

1963 – The Club won the Campbell and Waterhouse Shields at Coonabarabran Jamboree.

1964 – A quiet year but a night watch man was employed at camp.

1965 – Tamworth hosted the Jamboree and Hiscocks had the camp forms printed for the first time and thence for the next twenty years.

1966 – There were 172 in camp and E. Simpson. D. Phelan and N. Vincent were in the Zone 5 team which came third at the Bathurst Championships. The TCC was approached regarding the possibility of establishing and equestrian centre in Tamworth.

1967 – Members were keen on meeting as it was decided to hold a meeting every three weeks during 1968.

1968 – The Club Badge was designed and ordered. This was perhaps a different badge to the one designed in 1954.1969 – The constitution was revised. Membership was 84 seniors and 145 juniors.

1970 – Fifty attended the AGM and it was reported that up to 60 were attending the monthly instruction days.

1971 – Blue jumpers became part of the uniform. The Lands department approved the use of land at Moore Creek for training. The ODE Championships at Warialda were attended by W. Davey, R. Cameron, C Dening, J. Easey, P. Phelan, G. Phelan and B. Lockwood.

1972 – G. Davey became Zone Chief instructor. Greg Lye did well at the Barraba Jamboree and R. Cameron travelled to Bega for the ODE Championships.

1973 – The MacPherson Shield was given to be awarded to the highest point scorer at the TJRC Ribbon Days. B. Bedville became the Senior Vice President of the NSW pony Club Association. Tamworth hosted the State Show Jumping Championships. R. Cameron and B. Allen were in the winning team at the Sydney Show and V. Dening, R. Cameron, G. Hill, L. Moore and D. Oliphant travelled to Yass for the ODE Championships.

1974 - The twenty fifth Anniversary Camp and Dinner were held. The executive resigned on 12.11.74. The Easter Trail Ride was held for the first time.

Minute books can be found in the Club House if you would like to know more about our History.

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70 Years of TJRPC

In 2019 Tamworth Junior Riding & Pony Club celebrated 70 years with a Reunion!! And what an awesome day and night we had!

We had special guest speakers Nial, Brian, Graham, Annabell, Ian and Don attend to share special stories and memories from their time with TJRPC. It was very clear that their time spent with our club was very dear to them and we will continue to honour your legacy in our Pony Club for many years to come.

We would also like to extend a thank you also to everyone who provided photos and stories for the 70 Years Celebration year book, it is so great to be able to have a piece of our History to share with future generations of our club.

Here’s to another 70 years!

Life Members

Life Membership has been bestowed on the following members in recognition of their exemplary service to the Club over a long period of time:

1957: T.J. Campbell, G.F. Thomas

1958: C. D. Beacroft, R. Douglas, Mrs Smith

1965: N. Horneman, J.J. Lyons, C. Sutton

1984: Harold Dening, P. Horneman

1986: Tex Cross, Jack Porter

1990: Alan Carmichael

1991: Brian Sullivan

1992: Ken Collier, Robyn Lewis, John Lynch.

2014: Jodie Smith, Joyce Walsh

2017: Ian Vaughan, Jenny Vaughan