North Midlands Regional Countryside Challenge Qualifier 2025
Monday 19th May 2025
We were excited to host our first of this year’s Riding for the Disabled Association Regional Qualifiers, the Countryside Challenge, at Scropton Horse Centre, Derbyshire on Monday 19th May 2025.
31 competitors represented five RDA groups from across the North Midlands region took part in this competition: Belvoir Vale, Kimberley House, Nottingham, Scropton and Wenlo RDA.
This year we welcomed new judges Theresa Drake and Toni Gasside who did a fantastic job judging the countryside challenge course along with their scribes, Jane and Jackie. It was really lovely to have judges from different RDA regions to witness our riders showcasing their abilities at all the obstacles on the course, and all in lovely sunny weather.
Our Countryside Challenge Judges
Theresa Drake and Toni Gasside both smiling after the competition finishes as they both enjoyed judging!
Mia Leathborough of Belvoir Vale RDA started off the competing, setting a good standard of riding which continued right through to the last rider, Isobel Howard from Kimberley House RDA.
Eleven North Midlands Countryside Challenge riders secured qualification to the RDA National Championships. Milena Harding from Wenlo RDA was thrilled to be awarded the Pumpkin Shield for the highest junior score of 84.8% and Tara Redfern from Belvoir Vale RDA was awarded the Mike Betts Shield for the highest senior score of 85%. Huge congratulations to both riders
Highest Junior Score - The Pumpkin Shield
Milena Harding of Wenlo RDA recieves the Pumpkin Shield for the highest junior score of 84.8% from one of the judges, Toni.
Thank you to our brilliant event volunteers for making this event so successful; the scorers, first aider, stewards, safeguarding officer and those in the Coffee Bar providing some refreshments. We couldn’t run this event without you!
Our thanks also to the team at Scropton for hosting the event and their fabulous work behind-the scenes building the course and preparing for our riders, volunteers and supporters on the day.
North Midlands Regional Chair Glynis Dalley said “It was lovely to see so many riders from across the region enjoying taking part in this event. The Countryside Challenge is a great opportunity for riders to compete, showing off their riding skills and partnerships with their ponies. So much work is put in to preparing for this event by the riders and volunteers within the different RDA groups, and of course the ponies too! Congratulations to everyone who took part and good luck to everyone who qualified to ride at the RDA National Championships in July.”
We’d also like to say a big thank you to our event photographer Nigel Kirby who worked tirelessly to capture lots of photos throughout the day – Nigel gives up his time as a volunteer to support RDA every year. He will be back for our Regional Dressage Qualifier in June to capture more photos. The images for the North Midlands Regional Countryside Challenge Qualifiers are now available to view here.
Our Arts & Crafts Regional Qualifier was also held on the same day with some brilliant entries including Paintings & Drawings, Collage, Sculptures and Photography all judged by Marisa Bretherton Mackay from RDA UK. Well done to those participants who were placed first in each of the different classes, securing their qualification to the Arts & Crafts classes at the RDA National Championships.
Some brilliant entries for the Regional Arts & Crafts Qualifiers from our RDA participants this year!
The results of the regions virtual Show Jumping qualifier was also announced, with Isabella Fogg qualifying to represent Wenlo RDA at the Championships.
We’re looking forward to the Dressage Qualifiers on 2nd June to be held at Belvoir RDA in Nottinghamshire where more competitors from the North Midlands region will have their opportunity to impress the judge, riding down the centreline and hoping to secure their qualification for the Championships.
