A 40-YEAR-OLD equine club is desperately searching for a new venue due to growing membership demand.

Ulverston and District Equine Club (UDEC) is seeking a new venue to hold its shows and events after outgrowing its current facility.

The equine club, which is currently based at Newland Green Farm, caters for all abilities and ages, ranging from three years old to their oldest member in their 80s.

The club started off holding gymkhanas at Outcast, Ulverston before moving to Newlands 20 years ago.

Avril McKinley, club chairlady, said: “Our reputation and standards have now seen the membership grow to the point we have outgrown our current venue.

“We are one of the most successful riding clubs in the North West, and we send a team to the National Riding Club Championships at Aintree every year, where we have been consistently placed in the top ten since the event started.

“We have members from all over Cumbria and North Lancashire.

“We are desperate to find a suitable venue in order for the club to continue, as many of our members who have started to compete at Ulverston have gone on to compete at major national shows like The Royal International Horse show at Hickstead and Horse of the Year show at the NEC.

“We have a very dedicated committee who want to continue all our hard work and give local riders  a chance to continue to improve and aspire to their peers achievements.

“We are, and will continue to be, extremely grateful to Vivien Greenhow and Ian Scotty Fleming for allowing UDEC to use their home, to host our shows and events over the last 20 plus years.

“If a new venue isn't sourced for this season, they have very kindly offered their facilities to us to use again for 2023.

“However, UDEC will become a members only club, and we may need to cap memberships for this season.”

The club is open to moving to any suitable location in the Furness Peninsula which has a large field which they will maintain.

Contact Avril McKinley via private message if you know a suitable venue for the club.