About NRC - Committee
Neralie Coulston - President/Co-membership secretary
Fortunate as I was to be born to horseloving family living in the country, I began riding at age 4. Riding has been my constant passion since then, and it remains so, many years and horses later. Presently I have a feisty chestnut TB gelding (aren't they all!!) called Skippy, who I've been jumping at Northside regularly for the last few years. He is agisted at Terrey Hills, and receives the pleasure of my company (I'm not sure he sees it quite that way!) most days either pre- or post-work as I commute between Avalon (home) and North Ryde (work).
I came to Sydney 10 years ago to attend Uni, and have remained on the Northern Beaches ever since. I gained an honours degree in Biotechnology at UTS, worked at UNSW and CSIRO, and am now a research scientist with a small biotech company, Human Genetic Signatures. During that time I also instructed for 8 years at Forest Hills Pony Club, but with my younger sister, Eliza, now 'all grown up' and out of FHPC, I have more weekends to dedicate to my own riding. 2006 was my third year as joint showjumping phase head and in 2007 Jane Robinson are teaming up again as joint Membership Secretaries.
Jane Robinson - Vice President & Co-Membership Secretary
Also originally from England, with a feral pony past, I arrived in Australia in 1987. Here I found the most amazing riding and great jobs – so no way was I going back. For the past 15 years I have run my own graphic design business, and a couple of years ago I took on the job of putting NagRag together! I think I was the right decision and has certainly given me an opportunity to get involved with many aspects of the club, especially with the showjumping team and now the executive.
I have a gorgeous husband Blue, noted for his elusiveness around horses (hayfever!) My amazing little mare Rain and her daughter Hail will be out and about this year Expect to see us at dressage, showjumping and maybe eventing and generally having a lot of fun.
Rachel Smith - Secretary and Nag Rag Editor
I loved horses as a child, but came from a very non-horsey Northern Beaches family. In my mid twenties I adopted my first horse, a standardbred named Bobby. He was probably not the best choice to learn to ride on, but I still have him and we have been competing at Pre Novice Eventing. He is a super star!
My real job is a primary school teacher but I have spent the last twelve months studying to be a riding coach with the EFA and I love teaching adults who are learning to jump. I remember how enormous those 50cm jumps looked when I first gave it ago. Hopefully I will inspire some NRC members to challenge themselves and become Eventers!
As the new Nagrag editor for 2007 I am very keen to develop my love of photography and graphic design. I am looking forward to taking submission from all the equally enthusiastic Northside members about themselves, their riding and their horses.
Nicky Newton - Treasurer
Welcome to our new Treasurer. Profile coming soon.
Celjan Paynter - Hacking
It’s a wonderful opportunity to take on the role as Hacking Phase Head. I am thrilled to be working along side a committee that is so dedicated to providing a club that has so much variety to the horse enthusiast, and not to forget their accreditations that have achieved from various endeavours.
As horsey girl, it all started at Rosehill Racing Stables. To my parents disdain, I told them I wanted to be a Jockey and I wanted a horse! Well!! It's been many years that I have been involved with horses and I am still learning! On the current wave I manage an agistment complex and just starting to embark on breeding. At present we have an Arabian Pony, Fairlight Acres Carrington (Stormy) – and yes he lives up to his name. An Arabian Warmblood, RP Magnifque by Victorieux affectionately named Maggie, and my first Mare in foal Blue Gum Eve (Eve). Stormy - Jumps, Breed & Ridden Classes, Maggie - Dressage and Eve - Breed & Ridden Classes and now a Maiden Mare.
I have a few aspirations for the Hacking Phase, I am open to hear your opinions and views, please feel free to approach me.
Hope to see you all soon – “Hackie Hackie Hackie Oi Oi Oi”
Mandy Jones - Co-Dressage
I’m another little girl from Sydney who loved horses and never grew out of it. I started riding lessons at age 6, mustered bareback as a teenager then decided to get a bit more serious and became a BHS and EFA coach. I evented and taught for years but that’s gone by the wayside with family etc so here I am years later - just a Galloping Housewife, still besotted with horses.
My current horse is Manolo – so named because when I don’t have a horse I buy shoes. His stable name is Grey Horse (I have a ‘shoe thing’ but not a huge imagination). I think GH would love to be an eventer, but in my riding dotage I’m quite happy pottering around a 60x20 - for the time being at least.
I have been a member of NRC for about 20 years, except for a couple when we lived in Melbourne. I had hoped to ease into a committee role, but have hit the ground running. Kay and I have a few ideas for NRC dressage, and we’re keen to hear your suggestions.
Kay Barney - Co-Dressage
I grew up on a property on the Central Coast and was a typical "horse crazy" girl who was lucky enough to have horses as part of my life for many years. After a break from riding to have my three children, I began riding again when we moved to Terrey Hills in 2003 and found the lure of the horses all around me too much to bear! I became interested in Dressage around this time & have been hooked ever since ! I joined NRC in 2005 and shortly after became active with the Dressage committee. I love the opportunity to be involved & meet lot’s of others who share my riding passion.
I live in Terrey Hills & work in Willoughby where I own & run my own business, Corporate Housing. In between times, I have a busy family life with 3 children aged under 10.
I have a beautiful, talented thoroughbred gelding known as Jazz, who I bought a few years ago and has introduced me to the world of dressage competition. Jazz & I are steadily improving our work, whilst enjoying our lessons & the odd local competition. I also own a lovely Arabian mare who is a wonderful trail-riding horse & we have undertaken several “big” rides together including the MS Ride (2006) and Carry on to Corryong (2007).
Amelia Coates - Dressage Clinic coordinator
My love affair with horses started when I lived in England, with my Dad leading my brother and I along the cliff tops in Cornwall. It’s safe to say the obsession began when I started having lessons at the local riding school at 7 (dragging my brother, mum and dad down with me I’m proud to say.)
We moved to Australia when I was 9, and one of the first things my mum did was hunt out the riding schools in the area. I started riding at Palomino Riding School, as did my brother (who’s unfortunately now stopped), and mum. I’ve always been more of a dressage person, but one who’s loved jumping when I’m coaxed into it, thankfully I have a wonderful friend and instructor who’s going to try her hardest to make sure more of that happens this year.
I have a wonderful 16.2hh chestnut warmblood (who seems to be taking longer than we hoped to get over the flu) who I share with my mum, and occasionally now, my dad. As a distraction from my first year at University (Chiropractic Science), I'm hoping to plan some enjoyable dressage clinics that can get us all back on our horses and thinking about things that have been long forgotten for the past few months.
Erin Nield - Horsemanship
I have been riding since 1984. I got my first horse in 1985 a 3 year old galloway and had that same horse till 2005, when he unfortunately died. I grew up with Taffy and we learnt all riding skills together. I was a member of the Forest Hills Pony Club (at the original grounds) until 1989, during this time Taff and I gave everything a go.
After my HSC Taffy and I moved to Wagga Wagga where I completed the Bachelor of Applied Science Equine Studies. During these 3 years I competed Taffy in Endurance. In the course we had to work on the uni’s stud, “break” and train racehorses. The theory of the course was very much into nutrition, pasture management, anatomy and physiology. It was a good course for learning a lot about horses and I heavily studied science as well. After completing the course I came back to Sydney and worked at a Quarter horse stud for a while. I decided that it was not a career I wanted, so I went back to uni and completed my Diploma of Education. I am now teaching Science at Knox Grammar School.
As for riding Taff came back to Sydney with me and has moved around a bit until he settled back at my parents place at Terrey Hills. We pretty much just did trail riding, Hacking and Horsemanship at Northside up until his death at 24.
I have just bought a new horse, Ernie. He is a 12 yo TB who is mainly my new trail horse. My son (almost 4) has a pony, so Ernie is quiet enough to lead Snoopy. Ernie hasn’t done much so horsemanship will be good for both of us. He is super quiet and very easy to ride. My riding focus has always been enjoyment not competition. My sister Blair will also be working in the horsemanship phase to design competitions and act as a judge.
Julie Preston -Eventing
I have been in love with horses ever since I can remember. I grew up on the South Coast and had my first horse when I was 8, I didn’t have a saddle, just a bridle and taught myself how to ride everywhere bareback. At the age of 15 I was a keen endurance rider and completed many long hard rides on my beautiful part appaloosa.
Then at the age of 18 I moved to the big smoke ‘Sydney’, after 5 or more years of living the City life and either commuting to Sutherland to ride or spending all my pay on board at Centennial Park Stables I followed my passion to the Northern Beaches, where I could live and spend more time riding. Northside Riding Club has been a big part of my competition experience and introduced me to dressage, jumping then onto the Hunter Trials which has led me to become very keen on Eventing. In 06 my partner and I had a beautiful little daughter which has kept me busy for the past few months.
I recently acquired another new addition to the family, Barney - a lovely TB gelding and I am sure he will be tagging along at most competitions. I am looking forward to taking over the Eventing Phase at NRC in 08 where I can continue to learn and help others enjoy this great sport.
Jess Canabou - Non Competitive
My name is Jess and I will be running the Non-Competitive phase again at NRC this year. I was born in Sydney and lived in Narrabeen until I was 6, when my parents moved up North to a town just out of Byron Bay. This is when I got my first horse, joined pony club and became horse mad. After a couple of years off riding, I moved back to Narrabeen when I finished school and decided I couldn't bear not having a horse. Hence, my involvement with Northside.
I have a background in maths and computers. Still studying (will it ever end), and currently work for a local IT company.
After many crazy horses, I think I have now found my equine soul mate. His name is Max. He’s clydie/thoroughbred, and a familiar face around Northside Riding Club. We try a bit of everything, but you’re most likely to find us out on the eventing circuit with the rest of the event mad Northside crew HAVING FUN.
I'm looking forward to meeting new people this year, and also catching up with all everyone I’ve met throughout my 3 years at Northside. Please feel free to contact me at any stage for any reason!!