FOUR riders from the Riding for the Disabled Association’s (RDA) Pegasus Centre at Tranwell near Morpeth will be competing against the best in the country next week.
Reece Sommerfeld, six, from Choppington, Jessica Southwick, 15, from Killingworth, Stephan Storey, 16, from Ashington, and Gayle Bloomfield, 40, from Seahouses, are travelling to Gloucestershire for the two-day RDA National Championships at Hartpury College.
The team, which will form part of a 350-strong field at the event, all qualified for the championships in May but a lack of funds put their participation in doubt.
Although the team managed to raise two-thirds of the transport, food and accommodation costs through a combination of events and a £250 grant from the RDA, they were still £500 short.
The organisers of nearby Burgham Horse Trials stepped in to make up the money.
Burgham Director Sunil Mehra said: “When we heard there was a risk the local riders could miss out on a dream weekend competing against the best in the country, we had no hesitation stepping in to fund the shortfall.
“We hope they have a fantastic time and wish them the best of luck.”
The Pegasus Centre has been working closely with Burgham to organise Para Dressage competition for disabled riders, which opens the three day event at Burgham Park on Friday July 22.
Pegasus Centre manager Wilma Lister said: “We can’t put into words how grateful we are, obviously the Burgham Horse Trials donation has made a huge difference.
“In the current climate, it is very hard to secure grants and donations.
“It went right up to the wire – we heard just the day before entries had to be in that we had enough money – and until then there was a very strong possibility we wouldn’t have been able to go.”
Picture by Trevor Walker
