RECORD NUMBER OF RIDERS QUALIFY FOR CHAMPS

A record number of twenty riders at the Riding for the Disabled Association’s Unicorn Centre at Hemlington near Middlesbrough are celebrating after qualifying to compete at the RDA National Championships this summer.

They’ll all be competing in showjumping, dressage or the Countryside Challenge at the RDA National Championships in Hartpury, Gloucestershire on 15-17 July.

Riders who qualified for the dressage finals are Cheryl Clark and Emma Wood riding Louistic de Sei, Lucy Akbudak on Noah and Nikki Gardner and Tamara Ullyart on Fizzy Izzy.

Also qualifying in dressage were former Diploma student Jamie Gargett riding his employer’s horse DJ and Anna Chadfield  and Brookleigh Johnson on their own ponies. 

Five riders qualified for the show jumping: Laura Curson and Callum Martin riding Fizzy Izzy, Lucy Akbudak on Louistic de Sie, Jamie Gargett on DJ and  Adam Allison riding a borrowed pony. Last year Callum was the only show jumping qualifier from the Unicorn Centre.

The Countryside Challenge qualifers are Angela Cockerill riding Alfie, Keira Atkinson riding Spike, Kate Telford on Louistic de Sie, Abbie Maddison on Fizzy Izzy, and Louisa McGregor-Smith, Sean Laver and Brookleigh Johnson riding borrowed pony Wrentnall Showman.

Rider Emma Wood said, “I adore riding dressage on Louie. He performed perfectly and I hope we’ll be able to bring home lots of rosettes from the Championships. I can’t wait to go!”.

That’s the good news.  The bad news is that the Centre can only take three horses to the Championships, and with competition taking place over three days, they will not be able to provide a ride for each of the qualifying riders.  Unless cash is raised to hire horses at Hartpury, some very disappointed riders will have to be left behind.

The Unicorn Centre is organising a huge team to accompany the riders and the three horses including coaches, and volunteers along with some learners studying on the Unicorn Centre Diploma courses in Work-Based Horse Care.  It will cost £2500 to pay for transport for the horses and the team, horse hire, stabling, food and accommodation, entry fees and equipment.

Centre Manager Claire Pitt said, “Our finances continue to remain under huge strain and we cannot cover all the expenses to support these talented young people.  I’m appealing personally to everyone in the community to help us by making a donation towards our costs. Otherwise we are facing the appalling possibility that all our qualifiers may not being able to attend this world status event.

She continued, “This is the twelth consecutive year we’ve had riders qualify for the National Championships, with numbers growing year on year, and we’re so proud of their achievements.  It would be great if we could find some funding to help them in their desire to succeed.  They’re training so hard and really want to go to the Championships.” 

Donations for the Unicorn Centre team can be made direct to the Unicorn Centre by calling 01642 576222 or by visiting their BTMyDonate page at https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/rdaunicorncentre

Issued 20.05.16