Minster Vets - Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Practice Partners in the Equine Department:

	Mark Collins BVSc. CertEP, CertESM, CertES (Soft Tiss) MRCVS Mark qualified with honours from the University of Liverpool in 1980 and joined the practice following graduation. He became increasingly involved in the equine side of the practice and was made a partner in 1983. In 1990 he spent a stud season in Hamilton, New Zealand. In 1985 he obtained the RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice and in 1989 the RCVS Certificate in Equine Stud Medicine. Last year in 2007 he obtained the RCVS Certificate in Soft Tissue Surgery. Mark’s main areas of interest are conditions affecting the performance of the racehorse, stud medicine and soft tissue surgery. He is a past Chairman of the Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons and is be Senior Veterinary Surgeon at York Racecourse. Mark served on the council of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) from 1994 to 2002 and served as president for 2001. Mark is currently a member of the RCVS Equine Subject Board representing stud medicine. Mark is married with two sons. In his spare time he likes running (completed the London Marathon 3 times), fish keeping and runs a small thoroughbred stud from which he has bred 11 winners of 35 races at home and abroad.

	Julian Rishworth BVetMed. MRCVS Julian joined the practice in Aug 1993 and became a Practice partner in March 2000. Julian is one of the team of surgeons at the clinic, he also deals with the majority of the dental cases as well as running the clinic’s Artificial Insemination programme and the clinic laboratory. In addition to the dentistry side of clinical work, Julian’s other main areas of interest are Stud work and conditions of the sports horse. In his own time, Julian breeds potential event horses and Flat-coated retrievers. Snowboarding and scuba diving are his favourite none-horsey activities.

Assistant Veterinary Surgeons at the clinic:



	Keesjan J. Cornelisse DVM, MSc., PhD., DipACVIM., MRCVS Keesjan joined the practice in October 2009 to take up the role of senior medicine clinician. Keesjan is a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, a specialist qualification which is the American equivalent of the European DECVS. Keesjan qualified from Utrecht in the Netherlands and he spent a couple of years working in the Neonatal foal intensive care unit. From here Keesjan completed a residency in Equine Internal medicine at Michigan State University during which time he also attained his MSc. on the effect of tongue ties on upper airway mechanics in the horse. After completing the Residnecy, Keesjan obtained a PhD. on the effects of Steroids in horses. Prior to joining the practice, Keesjan has spent time heading a research group in Pfizer concentrating on companion animal vaccine development.

	Charles Cooke BSc. B.Vet.Med., Cert EM(Stud Medicine), MRCVS "Charlie" joined the practice in July 2009. He has worked in Yorkshire in the past, with Johnathon Pycock but after spending several years in Newmarket with Rossdales and a stint in the west country, Charlie with his Wife Annie and two daughters have returned to Yorkshire. His areas of interest are stud medicine including foal care.

	James Christie BVMS MRCVS Jamie graduated from Glasgow University in July 2003. He worked in mixed, mainly equine, practice in Chepstow for three years before travelling and working in New Zealand and Australia for 18 months. In January 2008 he joined Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic as an ambulatory assistant. His main professional interests include conditions affecting racehorses and lameness investigation.

	Gemma Dransfield MA VetMB MRCVS Gemma graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2005. She worked in equine practice in East Sussex for 2 years before joining The Minster Equine Clinic in March 2008. Her main interests lie in equine medicine and orthopaedics. Outside of work Gemma’s main interest is polo, this began at the Cambridge University Polo Club in 2003 and she has continued to play at local clubs since graduating. Gemma spent last winter in Australia on a six month stud work sabattical, she has now returned and is one of the four stud vets in the practice. .

	Annie Cooke B.Vet.Med., MRCVS Annie qualified from the RVC, London in 1997. She worked in equine practice in Buckinghamshire for 3 years before returning to her native North Yorkshire to work in an equine practice in Malton for 2 years. It was during this time that she met her husband Charlie. After a further 3 years of equine locum work she moved to Newmarket to work at Rossdales and the Animal Health Trust spending 2 years at each. After having two children Annie is working for the practice 3 days a week, where her main clinical interests are racing yard work and lameness.

Interns at the clinic:
Interns are employed in the clinic each year, they start in July and while they are fully qualified Veterinary Surgeons, the intern year is a great first job in which they gain fantastic experience from being involved in the large numbers and diversity of cases that come through the clinic, while always having more senior vets available. The interns are a vital part in the day-to-day care of the equine patients, in the clinic.

	Leo Hirson BSc. (Hons) BVSc., MRCVS Leo qualified from Bristol University Veterinary School in July 2009 and has joined the clinic as an Intern. His extracurricular interests include Polo, Showjumping and bringing on young stock in both disciplines. When not horsing around, he enjoys going skiing or lying by a pool.

	Catherine Donnelly BVSc. MRCVS Catherine qualified from Bristol Vet School in July 2009 and joined the practice as an intern in April 2010. She hails from Northern Ireland, originally. Her main interests lie in foal care and equine anaesthesia. In her spare time she enjoys dressage and the races, although to keep the balance right she also enjoys baking and then running to burn the calories off.

Consultants at the clinic:

	Graham Munroe BVSc.(Hons), PhD., DESM., Cert EO., DECVS., FRCVS (RCVS specialist in Equine Surgery) Graham has been a consultant to the clinic for many years and comes for 2 or sometimes 3 days every week. Graham is our principal orthopaedic surgeon and also sees many of the lameness cases referred in to the clinic. His skills cover a wide area and also include ophthalmology, stud work and dental surgery. Graham has been team vet to both the GB Driving Trials team and the Dressage team in the past.

Nurses and Nursing Assistants at the clinic:

Alex Clifton RVN MBVNA A1 Assessor (Head Nurse)

Alex joined the practice originally in 1996 in our small animal department and gianed her Veterinary Nursing Qualification. While mainly a small animal nurse, at that time, Alex always worked at the equine clinic as well, putting her knowledge and interest in horses into practice. After having her two children and gaining a host of addtional qualifications including C-SQP and A1 Assessor Awards, Alex returned to the Equine department of the practice as Head Nurse in 2007. Alex was instrumental in the clinic gaining its designated Nurse Training status and oversees the clinic's nurse training programme.

Lucy Holmes
Lucy Joined the Clinic in February 2008 and started the 2 year Equine Veterinary Nursing (EVN) Course in November 2008, and is due to complete the course in 2010. After doing A-levels, Lucy qualified with NVQ level 1 from the Northern Racing College and spent 3 years in racing before coming to the practice as well as working with big cats, in a bookmaker’s and as a riding Instructor.

Jemma Swain
Jemma joined the clinic in 2007 and in November, the same year, began the 2 year course towards qualification as an Equine Veterinary Nurse (EVN). Jemma has just passed her first year exams. Jemma is currently on maternity leave and had a lovely baby boy, Kieran, in June.

Catherine ("Cat") Luke

"Cat" joined the clinic in November 2008 with a view to starting the 2 year EVN training course in 2009. Her main clinical interests are in the intensive care nursing and diagnostic imaging. Cat is keen to develop the skills and knowledge she gained in her previous position at another large equine hospital, in working towards the EVN qualification. When not working, any left-over energy is taken up exercising her very enthusiastic Spaniel on long walks.

Nursing Assistants

Katie Banks
Katie initially joined the clinic as one of the team of grooms in 2001 and became part of the nursing team in 2003.

Grooms at the clinic:

	Mandy Deighton Mandy has been with the Clinic since 1999. She has many horses of her own and competes in Endurance riding and helps her son, Carl, a talent rider, himself and a budding Showjumper.

	Annie Saaliste After spending most of her career in racing Annie joined the Clinic in January 2007.

	Oliver Hart Oliver joined the Clinic in March 2008 as the weekend Groom. He is currently also a student at Askham Bryan College on the Animal Management course.

	Kim Bennington Kim started at the clinic as the weekend groom but has returned after a break to have her first child, a son Rhys and now fills the afternoon groom role.

	Graham Dickson Graham joined the clinic in March 2007, originally he filled the afternoon groom's role but now he works part time. Graham is a particularly useful member of the team, helping out on the nursing side when required and his adaptable nature means he can turn his hand to pretty much anything when required

Administration Staff at the clinic:

Helen Jackson, Clinic Manager
Helen joined the Practice in 1994 as a general receptionist, when the Equine Department moved to the new Clinic in 1998 she came with us as our receptionist. As the Clinic has grown she was made Clinic manager and is now the nerve centre of the day-to-day running of the clinic. Helen has ridden most of her life and used to hunt regularly with the York and Ainsty(South) Hunt, for whom her husband, Malcolm, was Whipper-in for many years. Malcolm has also played a very important part in the development of the clinic through building substantial parts of it.

Madeline Piper

Madeline Joined the practice in June 2006 after completing BHS stages 1 & 2 as well as NVQ's in administration and Customer Service. Madeline works as the main receptionist at Poppleton.

In her spare time she competes her horse "Sharp Spike" in affiliated dressage, to medium level. In the last two years she has represented England as part of the Northern BYRDS young Rider Squad at the Marlton under 21's International in Ireland, coming 2nd and 4th, individually. Madeline is sponsored by the clinic for her dressage competitive riding.

Debi Dales

Debi joined the Clinic in 2004 as typist and receptionist. Debi has several horses of her own, and has a special interest in spotted horses, this extends to her dog, too, a Dalmation! Debi and her husband also have an impressive collection of Koi carp.

Caryl Alcock

Caryl Joined in August 2008 and works part time covering Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Monday Afternoons. Caryl has recently completed the first year of a HN|C in Equine Management at Bishop Burton College. In her spare time she rides her ex racehorse Billy and they are having dressage lessons together.

The Minster Equine Veterinary Practice, Bawtry:
This was a unit set up in November 2006 when the Practice bought the equine work from a practice in Gainsborough. The unit functions as an separate 3-vet equine practice based at the St.Ledger Country Park, where the Northern Racing College is also based. The unit services an area to the south of Doncaster, extending to North Lincolnshire and North Nottinghamshire. The vets in the unit can cope with the full range of ambulatory work but will refer horses requiring surgery or more sophisticated investigations to the clinic in York.

Vets at Bawtry:


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	Gemma Kirk BVetMed MRCVS Gemma g raduated form the Royal Veterinary College in 2008 and spent just under 2 months doing voluntary Veterinary work and travelling in India before starting with us at Minster in January 09. She is interested in all areas of equine practice but has a particular interest in Stud Medicine having bred from her own mare and undertaken a research project reproduction at Hobgoblins Stud. She has Evented throughout Pony Club and enjoyed a good few days hunting with the Quorn this season before starting at Minster.

	Jack Wallace BVM&S MRCVS Jack qualified from Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh in 2008. Jack has been working in a practice in Inverness before joining the team in Bawtry. Jack is a keen rider in his spare time and holds an amateur Jockey License. He is bringing his Point-to-pointer , a 4yo Maiden called Rocket who was bought at Doncaster Sales, with him to Bawtry and will be training and running him during this season. Jack's main clinical areas of interest are Lameness and Dentistry.

	Susan Jones MVB MRCVS Susan joined the practice in March 2010 having qualified from University College Dublin and subsequently completed an internship at the Bell Equine Clinic in Kent. Susan hails from Cork, Ireland originally and has always been involved in horses at home. when not involved with the horses, Susan plays a bit of Hockey.

	Helen Jackson, Clinic Manager Helen joined the Practice in 1994 as a general receptionist, when the Equine Department moved to the new Clinic in 1998 she came with us as our receptionist. As the Clinic has grown she was made Clinic manager and is now the nerve centre of the day-to-day running of the clinic. Helen has ridden most of her life and used to hunt regularly with the York and Ainsty(South) Hunt, for whom her husband, Malcolm, was Whipper-in for many years. Malcolm has also played a very important part in the development of the clinic through building substantial parts of it.

	Madeline Piper Madeline Joined the practice in June 2006 after completing BHS stages 1 & 2 as well as NVQ's in administration and Customer Service. Madeline works as the main receptionist at Poppleton. In her spare time she competes her horse "Sharp Spike" in affiliated dressage, to medium level. In the last two years she has represented England as part of the Northern BYRDS young Rider Squad at the Marlton under 21's International in Ireland, coming 2nd and 4th, individually. Madeline is sponsored by the clinic for her dressage competitive riding.

	Debi Dales Debi joined the Clinic in 2004 as typist and receptionist. Debi has several horses of her own, and has a special interest in spotted horses, this extends to her dog, too, a Dalmation! Debi and her husband also have an impressive collection of Koi carp.

	Caryl Alcock Caryl Joined in August 2008 and works part time covering Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Monday Afternoons. Caryl has recently completed the first year of a HN\|C in Equine Management at Bishop Burton College. In her spare time she rides her ex racehorse Billy and they are having dressage lessons together.