Long drive to mark disabled milestone

One Yorkshire group decided they would like to do something a little more adventurous than usual to raise funds and to mark the occasion, which is why two of the volunteers will be setting off on a 170-mile sponsored ride/drive next weekend.

"I have always fancied doing a long distance carriage drive, so when we were looking for ideas, I suggested this," said Angela Payne, from the Ebor Vale RDA group, which is based at Harswell near Market Weighton.

She will be accompanied by fellow volunteer Jo Pilling. Both are riding and carriage driving instructors with the group.

During their seven-day journey, they plan to visit nine RDA groups in the region.

"Getting the ponies fit and planning a route has taken a lot of organising," said Angela. "We haven't done anything on this scale before and we are looking forward to it. People have been very kind in offering B and B for the ponies en route."

Other members of the group will also be helping along the way.

The route will take them from Market Weighton to North Ferriby, Bishop Burton, Lelley, Driffield, Speeton, Snainton, Sinnington, Welburn Hall then past Castle Howard to Stamford Bridge and back home to Harswell.

They aim to raise 50-a-mile for the group's funds. They teach over 20 carriage drivers and 20 riders every week, some of whom travel from Hull, York and Goole to attend sessions. Angela and Jo will set out from Harswell on July 25. Sponsorship details at www.justgiving. com/cookie2010.

THE RDA group based at Welburn Hall School, Kirkbymoorside, is to receive a cheque for 1,000 from Rydedale Show. The cheque will be presented in the main ring at the show on July 27.

The money will help to refurbish the arena where the surface was washed away during the recent floods. It will also help to fund two of the group's pupils, Eleanor Senior and Ryan Clarkson, who have both qualified for the RDA National Championships to be held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.

LAURA Bechtolsheimer, 24, and Mistral Hojris have moved up to third place in the FEI World Individual Dressage rankings.

The partnership between Bechtolsheimer and the 15-year-old gelding has gone from strength to strength. They played a major part in Britain's success at the European Championships at Windsor and have continued to be in great form, smashing previous British records.

They began 2010 with exceptional scores at Amsterdam CDI-W, where they finished second in both the grand prix and freestyle, close behind Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas. They also had convincing wins at Lingen CD14 star, winning both the grand prix and grand prix special.

"I am absolutely thrilled, pleased with my consistent achievements over the last two seasons and hope to build on it for this year,"

aid Bechtolsheimer.

Mounting up for Geneva games

THE fun of competing in mounted games does not have to stop when riders leave the Pony Club.

The Mounted Games Association organises events for those who want to continue.

"You can keep going as long as you can run and jump on a galloping horse," says England team trainer Jackie Kinsey, from Ackworth near Pontefract.

Jackie and her daughter Ruth Walker, who is a member of the England team, leave tomorrow for Geneva where the World Team Championships are being held and in which 18 teams will be competing.

Two other Yorkshire riders, Sam Clements, from Thorner, and Will Robinson, from Doncaster, have been selected for the team putting on a display of mounted games at the Royal Welsh Show on July 19 and 20.

para-equestrian dressage will be included for the first time in the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. It is a sport at which this country has excelled since equestrian events were first added to the Paralympics in 1996.

David Hunter, performance manager for the team, says: "Our aim is to maintain our team gold position and secure a fifth rider spot for the Paralympic Games in 2012. We receive four places as hosts but add an extra place if we finish in the top three as a team."

CW 17/7/10