RDA NI Sizzels at Hartpury
Getting ready to compete is Omagh Rider Naomi Elkin with her own horse Ben. Naomi was placed 6th and 8th in her respective competition
Temperatures reached thirty two degrees last weekend at the RDA National Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire! Thirteen riders, five horses and approximately thirty parents, carers and RDA volunteers made up a very successful squad with the riders having one of their best Championships ever. Members from Omagh, Coleraine and Newtownards came home laden with rosettes and trophies- some of which barely fitted into the suitcases so the riders had to wear their hats onto the plane in order to make space for the silverware!
The largest cup was won by Newtownards rider, Austen Burns, who- riding a borrowed pony- won the class 1A dressage competition and was second in his freestyle class, totally justifying his place on the Irish paralympic training squad. Fellow paralympic hopeful, Louise Greer from Coleraine group also had a great weekend with success in both her classes. Other dressage riders- all of whom received rosettes (mainly red!)- included Omagh riders, Zoe O’Malley, Gavin Forsyth, Grace McSorley, Naomi Elkin, Naomi Connell, Lucy Smyth, Louise Bogel, Tobin Greer and Stephen Yetman.
Saturday evening saw the first ever RDA show jumping competition and again Team NI were leading the field! Omagh’s Naomi Connell continued her success with first place in her class and fellow Omagh riders Naomi Elkin and Gavin Forsyth also placed. Popular Newtownard’s rider, Bobby McAllister won a very credible third rosette in his class.
The very professionally designed Countryside Challenge course provided few problems and Newtownards riders Alice Sharkey and Bobby McAllister were placed third and fifth respectively.
The weekend’s excitement did not stop there! Opportunities, often denied to our riders, to help prepare the horses for competition and look after their welfare were possible and may of the NI riders “had a go” at the Horse Knowledge section. Here riders had to identify and discuss many items of grooming kit, points of the horse, breeds, and colours and know about all elements of owning a pony. Young Gavin Forsythe from Omagh was the only person to score 100% when it came to identifying the farrier’s tools!
The RDA National Championships are the largest para equestrian event in the world- bigger than the Paralympics and the World Equestrian Games. It is run by RDA to the highest possible standards with total professionalism. Unfortunately Just William, one of the Omagh horses required the services of the onsite vets and had to be admitted to the Three Counties Equine Hospital as precaution. However he has made a full recovery and returned to Omagh this weekend.
All in all we had a memorable weekend- loads of competitions, loads of sun and ice cream and a few “sights” at the fancy dress disco on Saturday evening- mainly RDA CEO, Ed Bracher dressed as Dolly Parton! Thanks must go to everyone involved in Team NI’s success- those who trained our riders, organised the logistics of the weekend, and all who cheered the team on. Already we are talking about next year and we would love to see some new faces join us for the “craic!”
Category: Dressage, News, Other, Show Jumping
