South East Riders and Drivers excel at the RDA National Championships

Riding for the Disabled in the South East is celebrating the success of its wonderful riders and drivers who brought back numerous prizes and rosettes from the RDA National Championships, which were held over a long weekend in mid July at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.

Simply qualifying for the Championships is an amazing achievement but to prove yourself among the country’s best is quite remarkable.

It was the Carriage Drivers who set the standard on the first day, with Jack Marr of Bradbourne RDA (Sevenoaks, Kent) coming second in the Novice class, driving Disney. He was less than a point behind the winner so it was an exciting start. Then Sandra Spinner of Cherry Park RDA (Chichester, West Sussex) won the Intermediate Class AND the Championship setting the bar even higher.

Next the riders, with Zoë House of Fairlight Hall (Hastings, East Sussex) winning the senior class of the Countryside Challenge on Henna, while Rosie Turner, also of Fairlight Hall and riding Henna, came second in her Countryside Challenge class.

On Saturday, the juniors did not let the South East down as Hannagh Mohan of Quest RDA (Chobham, Surrey) rode her own Willow Fury’s Comet into 1^st place in the Dressage Freestyle and an excellent 4^th place in the Grade 1-6 class.

On Sunday, Sharon Kelsall from Cornilo RDA (Dover, Kent) won the senior Grade 3 Dressage Championship and came a creditable 4^th in the senior Grade 3 Dressage Freestyle.

The Region also scored exceptionally well in the Arts & Crafts competition with winners again for Fairlight Hall with Zoë House getting a 1^st in the Individual Sculpture as well as a 2^nd for Paint me a Picture. While the Group came 2^nd in the Group Sculpture and Sully Smith came 3^rd in the Individual Collage. Sandhurst Group’s Bagshot School, (Bagshot, Surrey) did well again for a second year running by winning the 50^th Anniversary competition with their entry.

About the RDA National Championships:

1. The RDA National Championships is the biggest event of its kind in the world for disabled horse riders and carriage drivers
2. Paralympians including Sophie Christiansen, Sir Lee Pearson, Natasha Baker, Ricky Balshaw, Deb Criddle and Liz Stone all began their competitive careers at the Championships 
3. This year over 500 competitors took part, with over 1600 rosettes presented over three days
4. 102 RDA groups travelled to this year’s event. The furthest travelling from Garioch 490 miles away
5. In recent years the Championships have welcomed VIP visitors HRH The Princess Royal, Carl Hester and Clare Balding
6. Since 1994 the Championships has been hosted at Hartpury College. Their support over the weekend makes them one of the charity’s biggest and most loyal donors
7. The Championships started as a dressage competition and now includes carriage driving, vaulting, showjumping, endurance, showing and countryside challenge
8. Countryside Challenge is a unique event to RDA. Styled as a ‘walk in the countryside’ competitors are scored on their execution of a range of obstacles including the apple tree, the bridge, the gate, the post box and archway.
9. The event is run by a team of over 160 volunteers – not counting the teams of volunteers who come to support their riders and drivers.
10. The Championships has no age restrictions. Competitors as young as four and in their nineties have taken part.