Bob Howells is running the Brighton Marathon on April 14th to raise money for East Park RDA! Bob finds his job as a driving instructor too sedentary and started running to get fit. Last year he ran his first marathon, at Brighton, and this year he is going to do it all over again to raise funds for us. Bob can be sponsored via his fundraising page on BT Donate as follows: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/roberthowells1. Do please go to the page and sponsor Bob.

The Regional Challenge was held at the Felbridge Showground on 1st May, and the weather was infinitely better than last year.  Our riders excelled themselves, with 5 riders qualifying to go up to the National Championships at Hartpury in July.  All the riders except for Darcy are from the visually impaired unit at St Stephen’s School, South Godstone.

The results were:

Junior Countryside Challenge National Qualifiers

Lead –

1^st Darcy riding Liquorice QUALIFIED

2^nd Orla riding Star QUALIFIED

3^rd Jasmin riding Liquorice QUALIFIED

Lead + side walker

1^st Zoe riding Star QUALIFIED

2^nd Evie-Mae riding Guy QUALIFIED

Joint 3^rd Kyle  & Ghaalib

5^th Erin

Songbirds, a community fundraising choir based in Crawley, have chosen us as one of their three charities for the current year.

They are holding a Charity Carol Concert on Saturday 9th December at 5 pm at St Mary’s Church, Southgate, Crawley, West Sussex.  Entrance is free, and there will be refreshments available and a retiring collection.  It’s a perfect opportunity to get yourselves into the Christmas Spirit, and we hope to see you there.

More information about their activities can be found on www.songbirdschoir.co.uk.

A Quiz Night is being organised on Friday 19th January at 7.30pm at Blackwell Primary School in East Grinstead. The cost is £10 per head to include a Fish and Chip supper. Teams of 2 – 8 people. Bring your own drinks. To book tickets, please contact Saz on 07711 106857.

Songbirds, a community Fundraising choir based in Crawley, have included us as one of their three chosen charities for the year. Their first event is on Saturday 9th December from 5.00pm until 7.00pm at St. Mary’s Church, Southgate, Crawley, West Sussex. Entry is free and there will be refreshments. Donations will be asked for as attendees leave, which will go into their charity pot for distribution at the end of their financial year. Sally and James will be attending to talk about our work.

One of our helpers has nominated us the beneficiary for a Quiz Night in Copthorne on 29th November at 7.45pm. We are not yet sure if tickets are open to all, but we will find out. Sally will attend to  talk about our work.

Saz and Caroline are also organising a course of dance classes in the Spring. Details to follow.

On Tuesday 6th June, as the rain poured and the wind blew, four of our six entries qualified for the National Champoinships being held at Hartpury  from 14th to the 16th July.

Amy and Leroy both rode Rosie and Kyle and Jasmine both rode Liquorice, and will now compete in the Countryside Challenge at the Nationals.

The RDA Countryside Challenge is a development of the skills acquired in RDA sessions. the course being focused upon school movements, both challenging and stimulating the rider, but with the focus being on “fun”. During the course, riders have the opportunity to put their skills to the test through challenging tasks, going through a farm gate into the farmyard encountering sheep and hens! Steering, balance and confidence are all put to the test.

We wish all our riders the best of luck.