North Midlands Championship Event a success!
Monday 15th August saw sixteen riders from across the North Midlands area gather at Scropton Horse Centre for a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Championship competition.
The RDA National Championships takes place in July each year, but this year due to extreme temperatures, the RDA were forced to cancel the events Sunday classes. The North Midlands RDA Region quickly decided to run a replacement event for those Sunday classes, meaning their participants were able to compete after all. It could not have been possible though without the fantastic volunteers from the region who both organised and ran the day.
Riders came from Belvoir Vale RDA in Nottinghamshire, Wenlo RDA in Leicestershire, and both Helen Atkin RDA and Scropton RDA in Derbyshire to compete in both Dressage and the Countryside Challenge.
Luckily the weather was perfect for competing and the day got off to a great start with the Countryside Challenge, judged by Kyle Palmer from the Elisabeth Curtis RDA Centre in Bedfordshire. The Countryside Challenge tests the partnership between horse and rider, showing their skill at negotiating a series of obstacles and activities. Kyle was certainly impressed with the riders he was judging, remarking on the “high caliber of riding skill demonstrated by all”. He particularly commented on “The smiles of both participants and volunteers showing their level of enjoyment”, saying that the event had been “A huge undertaking which couldn’t have been achieved without such a great level of volunteer support”
“The smiles of both participants and volunteers showing their level of enjoyment.”
Kyle Palmer judging the Countryside Challenge classes.
The day continued with Dressage including 'Freestyle to Music’ classes. Olivia Langley of Wenlo RDA got the classes underway riding Clancy. She had been particularly disappointed not to have been able to compete at the National Championships last month as the had won a medal for her inspirational dressage progress, but was delighted to be able to compete at this event.
Scropton RDA rider, Chloe Davies was also excited to be able to compete alongside her pony partner Cody in the Grade 1 Championship test and Grade l Freestyle to Music class in front of judge, Moria Richardson. Chloe & Cody were delighted to score 68.1% for the Championship test and 66% for their freestyle to music “The show was amazing. I am still on a high and I am so proud of Cody. It made all the difference having people watching which gave it a great atmosphere.”
“Cody was amazing and we got a brilliant score for my championship test. It was my first ever freestyle test which was really good and fun. Everyone’s comments and feedback were very helpful.” said Chloe.
“Cody was amazing and we got a brilliant score for my championship test. It was my first ever freestyle test which was really good and fun. Everyone’s comments and feedback were very helpful.”
Chloe Davies, Scropton RDA Rider