FOUR members of the Disabled Riders Club at Widbook near Bradford on Avon have finished in the top five at the Riding for the Disabled Association’s national championships in Gloucestershire.

The Saxon group picked up two second places, one third places and a fifth place at the annual riding championships for people with disabilities.

Darren Ashton, 24, riding a Welsh Bay called Caellyn Haf, was placed second out of 32 competitors in the Countryside Challenge with one side walker, while Alasdair Kennedy, on Caellyn Haf, was placed second out of 13 competitors in the Couuntryside Challenge for Visually Impaired riders.

Sarah Hannaford, riding Caellyn Haf, took third place out of 17 competitors in the RDA Showjumping, while Lucy Wells, on Jacko, finished fifth out of 32 competitors in the Countryside Challenge with one side walker.

In addition, Caellyn Haf took the Harvey Cup for the best all-round horse/pony – making it a double celebration for the Saxon group.

Championships Secretary Sarah Hadley from RDA UK said: “Many congratulations to all the riders at Saxon RDA who took part in our National Championships. They all did really well and even their pony Caellyn Haf won a special award too.

“It can be a nerve-wracking experience taking part in a national competition but they all seem to have taken it in their stride. I hope they enjoyed their time with us and that they will try to qualify again for next year’s competition.”

The Saxon Riding for the Disabled group has 21 members who meet every Monday morning for riding lessons. They are taught riding by a team of 28 dedicated volunteers, including committee members.

The RDA national championships took place at Hartpury College, Gloucester, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 14-16 July. More than 450 disabled riders took part over the three days of competition.

The RDA National Championships is RDA’s flagship event, bringing together hundreds of competitors of all abilities in events including carriage driving, countryside challenge, dressage, showjumping, vaulting and showing.

The Championships has grown year on year and is now bigger than the Paralympics and Para World Championships combined. In previous years it has proved a springboard for the Paralympics, with many of the current Team GB having competed at the championships.

Since 2002, the RDA National Championships have been held at Hartpury College. Riders who compete at the championships will have first qualified at a Regional Qualifying Competition in one of the RDA’s 18 Regions.