Dear RDA UK volunteers and staff,

Kicking off with a sad one today as we announce the death of Lady Rosamund Gladstone, who devoted many years to RDA, firstly as a founder of Deeside RDA, then as County and Regional Chair for North Wales and latterly as Trustee of Clwyd Special Riding Centre, where she was Chair for over 20 years.

Thanks to Ann Lambert for the write up about Lady Rosamund’s dedicated association with RDA, which you will find here: www.myrda.org.uk/in-memory-of-lady-rosamund-gladstone/

 

RDA Virtual National Championships

Thanks to all those have entered the RDA Virtual National Championships, presented by Oliver Wight EAME LLP. The judges have been kept very busy and here in the office we are just adding up scoresheets and sorting out the results. 

The Virtual event will take place on 25 & 26 September and we will be showing the top six from each class in reverse order. You can find (and share!) all the details - including timetable - in the event programme here: www.rda.org.uk/rda-virtual-national-championships/ This is also available to view on MyRDA on the National Championships page.

We will notify all groups next week if their riders have been placed in the top six. Those riders who haven’t been placed in the top six will know their result.

Scoresheets and rosettes will be sent out to the groups after the virtual event on the 25 & 26 September.

Any queries or questions please don’t hesitate to contact Fiona Harris on fharris@rda.org.uk / 01926 405967

Championships merchandise

Please see here a message from our clothing and merchandise suppliers, Wainwright Screenprint:

“Wainwright Screenprint are suppliers of the 2021 RDA Virtual Championships merchandise.  You may have seen us at The National Championships at Hartpury as we have supplied the clothing since the Championships began and we have been official suppliers of RDA Group Clothing and supported RDA for over 40 years.  The team at Wainwrights offer our customers a personal service and we will be pleased to help you.  We are offering Polo-shirts in Mens, Womens and Childrens Styles and Hoodies too.  

You can purchase your Virtual Championships Polo -Shirts and Hoodies on our website by clicking the link www.wainwrightscreenprint.co.uk/man/259 or by requesting a price list/order form or by Telephone 01258 837364. You can personalise your garment with your name, your horse's name or your group name on the sleeve for an extra £4.00.  Orders requiring personalisation should be done by email or telephone.” 

 

World Alzheimer’s Month & Tea with a Pony workshop

September is World Alzheimer’s Month and The Alzheimer’s Society is asking for support in fighting the stigma around dementia. We are using this opportunity to encourage groups to take part in Tea with a Pony, offering support and a meaningful experience for those living with dementia (and their families).  There is also a Tea with a Pony Facebook page to share photos and experiences, and to help groups find out more about what’s involved www.facebook.com/rdateawithapony. Use the hashtag #WorldAlzheimersMonth to show your support.

Workshop 23 September

We are holding a Tea with a Pony online workshop on the 23 September for groups who are looking to get started.  Groups should email Lucy Wake onlwake@rda.org.uk to book a place and we hope to accommodate everyone who would like to attend.   

 

A message from Joint Helicopter Command – Help us to protect you

Please note this message refers to specific events only – not routine RDA activity.

The Joint Helicopter Command operate multiple military helicopter types. They often fly at very low levels above the ground, at speed, as part of operationally essential training and tasking.

Equine events that have been pre-notified to the Low Fly Tactical Plans Cell are captured on a NOTAM which is a distribution system to all military airspace users.  This mandates crews to avoid the area by an appropriate margin.

At all other times our crews operate a “see and avoid” policy. This means if they spot an event that has not been captured on a NOTAM they will do their very best to avoid it, by as much as they safely can, IF and WHEN they spot it.

In order to help them to protect us, event organisers are encouraged to provide the following details at least a week in advance to SWK-MAMCLFTP@mod.gov.uk

Date of event

Timings of Event

Exact location of event – including a grid reference

This will allow a NOTAM to be raised so that our crews know where to avoid which significantly reduces the likelihood of alarming a horse with our operations.

 

Calling all Physios and medical practitioners!

British Equestrian is running a National Para Equestrian Classifier Course for qualified physiotherapists or medical practitioners that wish to become a national level para equestrian classifier on 6 -7 November at the BEF office in Warwickshire (Equestrian House, Abbey Park, Stareton CV8 2RH).

The two-day course is designed to call on delegates’ medical knowledge to apply it to the equestrian classification process, in both a practical and theory-based manner. You will be given the opportunity to put your learning into practice; working with other physiotherapists and volunteer riders, taking part in four core activities that are carried out during the classification process.

The booking deadline for this course is 30 September 2021. Please contact Felicity Towers at British Equestrian for a flyer and booking formfelicity.towers@bef.co.uk.

 

Best wishes,

Caroline

Caroline Ward
Head of Communication & Insight, RDA UK
01926 405968
cward@rda.org.uK