Home of Morpeth RDA Group
Registered Charity No. 1123482
Tranwell, Morpeth. NE61 6AF
Tel: 01670 518219
Mobile: 07725 602549
Email: martin.peagam@northumberland.gov.uk
RDA North Region Dressage
& Countryside Challenge Championships
Below is a copy of an article published in the Journal on 22/05/2010
The new million pound Pegasus Centre and Morpeth Riding for the Disabled Group played host to this year’s atmospheric and good humoured RDA North Region Championships, bringing together six groups aided by an army of dedicated volunteers to compete in a range of classes including qualifiers for the RDA National Championships in Gloucestershire.
Morpeth RDA Group fielded eighteen junior / senior riders in dressage and countryside challenge classes selected from well over a hundred disabled riders who usually ride at Pegasus in sessions spread throughout the week. National Chairman and group leader Samantha Orde commented, “We were proud of all our riders and ponies who went very well and particularly delighted to have three riders qualify for the National Championships. This means fundraising to enable Susan Innerd, Robyn Todd and Andrew Gillies to get to the championships with our horses Lily and Winston.”
Nineteen year old Pegasus based rider Andrew Gillies who has cerebral palsy came first in the unaided dressage with a score of 69.1% and first in class 13b of the countryside challenge with a score of 75%. He said, “This is the first time I have ridden without a leader for the dressage part of the competition. I am delighted to be going back to the Championships for the third consective year. I came first in my class walk and trot and countryside challenge at the National Championships in 2008 and 2009. In the 2008 competition, I rode a Highland pony called Harperland Macgregor belonging to the Etal RDA group and in the 2009 competition rode a chestnut coloured Anglo- Arab horse called Springcroft Legend belonging to Joan Stewart . I had been going to the Etal R.D.A. group since I started first school until last year when I left school and became too old to attend Etal. I now go to the Pegasus Centre for one hour a week and ride a chestnut mare called Blackwater Lily donated to the Pegasus Centre after her show-jumping and dressage career ceased due to an injury.”
Newcastle and District Group based at Westerhope headed by Janet Livingstone and Avril Lomas put forward four young riders from Regent Farm First School Additionally Resourced Centre for Visual Impairment of whom one finished 3rd and another 5th in their Countryside Challenge class. Jake Ternent, an individual rider, also took part in the Countryside Challenge and also dressage, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in his classes. All the entrants rode Honey, a wonderful friendly and trusty Highland pony. In addition Kieran Little has already qualified in dressage for the National Championships. The group give lessons on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays to 20 adults and children, own two ponies and also borrow others from kind owners as required. They rely totally on charitable funding.
The Slaley Group of RDA founded 25 years ago this year by Mrs Brenda Hutchinson of West Burnside, Slaley sent Megan Armstrong from Prudhoe, to the Regional Championships Megan has been riding with the group for three years and came to RDA through the Charity Useful Vision for whom Slaley group did a ‘taster day’ Proud Megan had seven volunteers on hand to achieve a 2nd in her Dressage class & 4th in her Countryside Challenge class. In the early nineties the group moved to Linnel Wood, the home of Bob & Sarah Charlton and the famous Linnel Fell ponies, where it remained for 10 years. Due to a shortage of suitable ponies the group moved its’ activities to Bradley Mill Riding Centre in Wylam where the group meet every Monday afternoon in term time. Volunteer Pauline Harrison said, “The majority of our riders come from The Priory School in Hexham. We have two sessions with 4 or 5 riders in each. All the children are at different stages of development in their riding. For some the physical act of riding is the main benefit while for others the games we play on the ponies with coloured objects & letters is a mental stimulation & helps with co-ordination.”
Wear Valley RDA Group riders with a results history scooped 3rd, 4th and joint 5th in the dressage and scooped all 1st to 6th places in the independantly ridden Countryside Challenge Competition. The group based around Christine and Nick Barratt – Atkin’s coverted farm called The Riding Centre for Special People specialises in riding therapy and day care for people with all forms of disabilities. Riders travel from all over County Durham and beyond for lessons/ hacks out and also have the opportunity to gain acaedemic qualifications. A hydraulic lift and overhead hoist has been installed in the centre's lovely indoor arena, enabling people to mount who cannot use a mounting block. The Centre is still looking for an experienced and safe driving pony of around 14hh to loan or buy. So if anyone out there can help have a waiting list of disabled clients eager to experience carriage driving.
Three long distance and adventurous young riders from Keswick Centre branch of The Calvert Trust Group took gains at Pegasus, Susan Fearon riding Domino 1st in Class 11, Alan Gillespie riding Bob 3rd in class 11 and Rachel Armstrong riding Domino who is new to competition and showing great potential. The Calvert Trust aims to enable people with disabilities together with their families and friends, to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure in the countryside. There are three Calvert Trust Centres, the Lake District, Keilder and Exmoor.
Neil B. Jones