Regional Challenge Day success at Felbridge Show Ground

Riders representing RDA groups from across the South East converged on East Grinstead's Felbridge Show Ground to participate in their annual Challenge Day. Nearly 50 young riders came from across East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey to display their riding skills in a range of activities including the Countryside Challenge, which was a qualifying event for the RDA National Championships in Hartpury, Gloucestershire in July.

For the first time, there was a class for show jumping that proved to be a popular and successful introduction to the discipline. Most of the riders had come to go head-to-head in the Countryside Challenge, but there was also Handy Pony, a number of gymkhana games and the fabulous fancy dress competition which rounded off the day with a 'Heroes and Villains' theme. This was judged by David Cowan, Chair of the RDA's local sponsor, Cowan Architects, who selected Samber RDA, from near Woking, Surrey as the ultimate winners with their selection of Peter Pan favourites.

The Countryside Challenge follows a simulated course where the riders put their skills to the test by tackling obstacles and tasks they might find in the country. These include going through a gate, crossing a 'road', entering a farmyard, picking an apple from a tree and collecting eggs from a chicken!