Hurdles too high for horse venture

Sep 3 2008 by Richard Fletcher, The Journal

AN international show jumping coach said the North East was squandering sporting resources after claiming his expansion plans have been blocked.

Stephen Gair, 52, read the front page of The Journal last Thursday when we revealed how the region desperately needs more money to train its young Olympic hopefuls.

Mr Gair, who runs the Bowes Manor Equestrian Centre in Birtley, Gateshead, has trained national and international show jumping medallists for the last 28 years and wants to continue hosting national competitions in the North East.

But he is furious after claiming Gateshead Council refused permission to expand his business, which means he can no longer host big competitions.

The council said it had only offered guidance to the show jumping coach that the planned development might not be suitable for green belt land and it would consider any exceptional circumstances he could provide.

Mr Gair said: “We’re losing customers to Scotland who have funding. All we get is ‘you’re not a club’ because I’m a private individual. But I can put expertise into the North of England. Because I’m a private business that shouldn’t be a problem. I saw The Journal about them wanting to fund sport – I haven’t had a penny of funding. All I’ve had is a stonewall attitude.”

We revealed how sports clubs and coaches across the region were worried young talent in the North East would be lost because they had to travel outside the region to train to the highest level.

But Mr Gair said he had the ability to train children to be medal winners. After humble beginnings keeping a horse in a garage in Sunderland, Mr Gair went on to train Genesis, which represented Great Britain and was later sold for £1.2m.

His centre has 70 ponies and has trained riders such as Kay Miller, a medallist in the European championships, Jade Flannagan, who won an international silver, and Mr Gair’s step-daughter Melissa, 17, who won a gold medal for England.

But he says if he cannot expand his indoor arena, the British Show Jumping Association will not let him host any more championship qualifiers.

Mr Gair said the council would not let him expand as the design encroaches on to green belt land, even though it provides entertainment and jobs.

Andrew Hickie, head of development control at Gateshead Council, said: “Gateshead Council has not taken any decision as we are yet to receive a formal planning application. We have provided advice and guidance only.

“We suggested to Mr Gair that the scale of his proposals – which would include substantial buildings, café and restaurant facilities, and retail uses – would be difficult to justify because of his location in a sensitive area of the green belt.

“However, we have also stressed that if he could make a case for exceptional circumstances then we would consider his application in the light of those.”