——————————————————————————————————————–
Lesson Start Date – 31 October 2022
We are doing a lot of work to get everything ready for our start date of 31st October. Many thanks to Andi Foote and Anne Temperley who helped the Trustees to clean and decorate our office and rest room.
We’re very excited to let you know we have agreed a provisional start date for RDA sessions at Kirkley the week beginning 31st October. Unfortunately getting up and running has taken much longer than we anticipated and we’re sorry for the delay. This has been frustrating for everyone concerned, our volunteers and especially our riders but we’re nearly there and appreciate your continued support.
We’re going to have an Open Day at Kirkley Hall on Wednesday 26th October to which everyone is invited – come along for tea and cakes, see our ponies and have a look around (details to follow).
*************
We held a mini competition for our riders who were unable to take part in the national championships. Well done to Liam, Jordan, Imogen, Kaelin and Emily.
Once again a huge thank you to everyone who gave up their free time to help to run this event.
RDA National Championships 2022
Morpeth RDA riders have had another really successful trip to the RDA Nationals at Hartpury, despite the heat!
We would like to say an enormous Well Done to everyone who went to Hartpury. The riders and the horses were fantastic and the support team outstanding.
We had some fantastic results and we have two National Champions riding under the Morpeth RDA banner. All the photos from Hartpury are available to view on Morpeth RDA website – please do take a look at them. The full results are:-
Mason Shield Graham
Showjumping Level 4 – 1st
Dressage – 3rd
Countryside Challenge – 4th
Freya Carr Wright
PVI Dressage – 1st
Countryside Challenge – 2nd
Tom Leach
Dressage – 2nd
Countryside Challenge – 4th
Lily-May Henderson
Dressage – 4th
Countryside Challenge – 4th
——————————————————————————————————————-
Congratulations to Gail, Georgina and Lydia on completing the sponsored Fire Walk in aid of Morpeth RDA. There’s still time to donate if you’d like to using the following link
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/FireWalkMorpethRDA
All of the money raised will be used towards the care and welfare of our fantastic ponies.
—————————————————————————————————————–
RDA Regional Championships
Many thanks to everyone who helped to make the Regional Championships such a wonderful event. We could not have done it without all the help and support which was given so willingly.
Fantastic results for Morpeth Group!
| Class | Rider | Pony | Result | Qualify for National Championships |
| 10 DR | Emily Jones | Baz | 1st | Qualified |
| 11 DR | Mason Shield Graham | Maeve | 1st | Qualified |
| 12 DR | Liam Barnes | Chief | 2nd | Qualified |
| 12 DR | Jordan Hartley | Chief | 1st | Qualified |
| 12 DR | Heidi Armin | Taffy | 3rd | |
| 13 DR | Lily Mae Henderson | Gypsy | 2nd | Qualified |
| 13 DR | Kim Eaton | Bluebell | 1st | Qualified |
| 13 DR | Tom Leach | Bluebell | 3rd | |
| 13 DR | Joshua Benkhoeed-Housie, | Gypsy | 2nd | Qualified |
| 14 DR | Kaelin Fairgrieve | Chief | 2nd | Qualified |
| 14 DR | Freya Carr Wright | Baz | 1st | Qualified |
| 15 DR | Imogen Foster | Bluebell | 1st | Qualified |
| 18a SJ | Mason Shield Graham | Maeve | 1st | Qualified |
| 19a SJ | Mason Shield Graham | Maeve | 1st | Qualified |
| 22a CC | Heid Armin | Taffy | 6th | |
| 23 CC | Kim Eaton | Bluebell | 2nd | Qualified |
| 23 CC | Tom Leach | Gypsy | 1st | Qualified |
| 23a CC | Liam Barnes | Chief | 4th | |
| 23a CC | Jordan Hartley | Chief | 5th | |
| 23a CC | Lily Mae Henderson | Gypsy | 2nd | Qualified |
| 24 CC | Joshua Benkhoeed-Housie, | Gypsy | 2nd | Qualified |
| 24a CC | Emily Jones | Baz | 1st | Qualified |
| 24a CC | Mason Shield Graham | Maeve | 2nd | Qualified |
| 26a CC | Kaelin Fairgrieve | Chief | 2nd | Qualified |
| 26a CC | Freya Carr Wright | Baz | 1st | Qualified |
| 27a CC | Imogen Foster | Bluebell | 1st | Qualified |
| 28 DR | Kira | Dominic | 2nd | |
| 28 DR | Lucy | Patsy | 2nd | |
| 28 DR | Masie | Dominic | 1st |
——————————————————————————————————————–
Good luck to everyone taking part in the Regional Championships at Pegasus on Thursday 5th May.
The following riders are representing Morpeth Group:
Emily Jones,
Mason Shield Graham,
Liam Barnes,
Jordan Hartley,
Heidi Armin,
Lily Mae Henderson,
Kim Eton,
Tom Leach,
Joshua Benkhoeed-Housie,
Kaelin Fairgrieve,
Freya Carr Wright,
Imogen Foster,
Chloe, Kira and Lucy Carson
Alice Jane Watson,
we wish them the very best of luck.
—————————————————————————————————————-
Update about the relocation of Morpeth RDA to Kirkley Hall.
We can confirm that we will be moving to Kirkley Hall at the beginning of May. Lessons will continue as normal next week with the exception of Thursday 5th May when we’re hosting the Regional Championships. From Saturday 7th May RDA sessions will be temporarily suspended. Ponies will be taken to Kirkley Hall on Sunday 8th May where they’ll be turned out in an isolation field for 3 weeks. This is purely a precautionary biosecurity measure. We’re aiming to restart sessions during the week beginning 13th June.
Trustees have visited Kirkley Hall and were very impressed with the facilities. There is some upgrading work to be carried out to make the site fit for purpose for RDA but once this is completed we’re confident that the dedicated RDA facilities will meet all our needs. We feel this is a great opportunity and we look forward to working closely with Northumberland College.
Morpeth RDA has been providing riding sessions for just over 50 years. This is the start of a new and exciting chapter for us and we very much hope you’ll be part of it with us. The move will give us the chance to improve and build on the opportunities we can offer our riders but we very much need the support of our volunteers to do this so if you’re able to continue volunteering we would really appreciate it.
We’re extremely grateful to Michael and Daphne Jeans for allowing The Pegasus Centre to be the home of Morpeth RDA for the last 14 years and we appreciate the support we’ve had from Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland during this time.
We’ll arrange an open day at Kirkley Hall in due course so you can all come and see our new home. In the meantime if you have any queries please get in touch.
With very best wishes
Michelle
morpethrdavolunteers@gmail.com
Tynedale Group receiving their Easter Rosettes
————————————————————————–.
| Pony Routine Check-up – February 2022 Ewan and Robyn came to the see our ponies for their annual vet check and routine dentals . Thanks to Alnorthumbria Equine for all their continued care and support.   |
Morpeth RDA Tea with a Pony
Our first Tea with a Pony drop in session was a very happy event. We all enjoyed a cup of tea and pieces of home made cake and then spent some time in the company of our lovely pony Daisy who made some new friends.
——————————————————————————————————————-
——————————————————————————————————————
And to NCEA for their art entry
——————————————————————————————————————–
Tynedale group receiving their rosettes after taking part in an in house dressage competition
——————————————————————————————————————–
——————————————————————————————————————
We know that Baz is a particular favourite with many of our supporters and thought that some of you may have missed the following article appeared in the Hexham Courant
National recognition for Morpeth Group Riding for the Disabled Association’s Baz
A PONTELAND pony has been recognised as one of the best nationally.
Baz, who is loaned by the Errington family, of Ogle, to the Morpeth Group Riding for the Disabled Association, finished fifth in the RDA Horse/Pony category of the first, virtual SEIB Search for a Star competition.
The volunteer-led charity, based out of the Pegasus Centre, in Tranwell, aims to improve the lives of children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities through sport.
The centre’s horses and ponies provide vital therapy, achievement and enjoyment to over 100 riders weekly.
And despite Covid-19 putting paid to the group’s sessions, their animals are still getting the recognition they, rightfully, deserve!
With over 300 entries across 10 classes, judges Richard and Marjorie Ramsay had the difficult task of selecting the top RDA Horse/Pony.
Richard said: “Again, a hugely difficult class to judge because we did look and thought, these are the sort of animals, good bodies, that basically if you put a saddle on them and a disabled rider, they look very much like they’d be able to carry that person.”
Whittling down the class, Baz was selected as one of a “mixed bunch of six animals” that they ‘really really liked.’
Another of the group’s horses, George, was also entered into the competition, but was not placed.
In a statement, the RDA said: “Following the decision around the lockdown from November 5 to December 2, the majority of RDA sessions will have to be suspended over this period.
Riding centres and stables can remain open for the care and exercise of equines during this period to protect animal welfare.”
The Pegasus Centre is a partnership between the RDA, Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland, the county’s sporting body, who manage the facility.
Due to mark its 50th anniversary in 2021, the Morpeth Group relies on donors and fundraising efforts to deliver its vital work to young people and adults across the county.
And in a bid to keep funds up, the Group has launched an Adopt a Pony Scheme, with donations going toward hay, farrier and vet bills.
——————————————————————————————————————–
The Trustees working hard at the Pegasus Centre
—————————————————————————————————-
Resent Comments