Rain Fails to Dampen Success and Spirits at RDA South East Region’s Hickstead Dressage Qualifier

The worst of the rain held off until prizegiving at the Riding for the Disabled’s South East Region’s Dressage Qualifier which was held at Hickstead recently. However, riders from groups across Kent, Surrey and East & West Sussex converged on the prestigious Hickstead showground to show off their accuracy skills in dressage riding, despite the drizzle. While the results were being collated, the numerous and impressive entries to the annual Arts & Crafts competition were judged by local artists Bob and Pip Sampson.

There were 25 classes held across three arenas in all, of which 13 were qualifying classes for the RDA National Championships at Hartpury, Gloucestershire in July.

Phillip Mumford, Managing Director of RDA Regional sponsors, Cowan Architects, presented the prizes. “It is such an honour to present these prizes, particularly when they have to struggle against the awful weather. They are inspirational and they are all winners in my eyes” he said.
Caroline King and Katherine Swan were big winners for Bradbourne RDA (nr Sevenoaks, Kent) as they both qualified for Hartpury riding the same horse, Bill, with only a couple of points between them but the rivalry was stronger between brothers, Jon and Matthew Sullivan of Epsom RDA who were also both happy to qualify in the same class and on the same horse, Fahrenheit. Matthew, however, pipped his brother to win the Tankard for the highest senior qualifying score for the second year running.

There were a couple of annual trophies presented where Hope in the Valley riders, Toby Skerman won the cup for the Highest Led score and Hannah Mohan of Quest won the Cup for the Highest Junior Qualifying Score. Bradbourne’s, Sophie Stroud, was delighted to win the Astor of Hever horse trophy for the highest score in the non-qualifier classes. Hannah Mohan also won a trio of books as the highest placed junior newcomer which had been donated by Michelle Charman of Forelock Books, which specialises in pony story collectables for young, pony-mad readers. Emily Robinson’s win on Monreith Marigold for the junior qualifiers gave Epsom a hat-trick.

There were numerous entries in the Arts & Crafts competition this year which made the judging particularly hard, but Dylan Peter from Cranleigh RDA was a winner in the individual paining class while Sandhurst RDA bagged a win for their sculpture of Harvey. Among the other classes, Court Meadow (Burgess Hill) won the group collage with Dreaming of a Grey Pony and Amanda Hardy of Happy Landings (Horsham) won the individual collage with an exquisite embroidery. All these Arts & Crafts winners will now go to the Nationals Competition in Hartpury in July.