WHO WE ARE
Mark Davies was an event rider who died as a result of an accident at the Burghley Horse Trials in 1988. His parents, Jane (and her late husband, Michael) decided to establish The Fund in his memory, to help injured riders. The following make up the list of Trustees:
JANE DAVIES Trustee & Co-Founder
Co founder of the MDIRF with her late Husband Michael has worked tirelessly over the years to improve riding hat standards and has received the BHS Sefton Award in recognition of her work in the field of safety. At the time, the judges remarked: ”Jane is a very special person with a strong sense of right, who will fight to help where she sees a genuine need and has worked so hard over the years to help improve safety and awareness.”
THE TRUSTEES
Chairman: Sarah Bullen
Sarah was a great friend of Mark Davies, has ridden since a child and evented at International level. She breeds event horses, trains an International Italian rider and is a selector for the British Young Rider team, as well as running a functions business from her home which includes Fundraising activities for the MDIRF.
Cathryn Godfrey
Cathryn became involved in the charity following a riding accident in which she suffered a spinal injury. Fortunately she made a full recovery and realises how lucky she is when she now meets others with more serious injuries than her own and sees the effects they can have on day to day life: “Anyone who is involved with horses could be involved in a serious accident and due to my own circumstances it made me realise how important it is that the charity is able to assist when the worst happens. ”
Paul Crago
Son of international Riders Brian & Judy Crago, Paul has represented GB in Show Jumping and is well known for producing young horses to international Level. He also is a BSJA Accredited coach, his wife Karen is a competitive dressage rider. Paul has organized some very popular balls in aid of the Fund
Pippa Funnell
Pippa is an International Event Rider, with a long and successful career, which includes winning the Rolex Grand Slam in 2003 when she was ranked number one in the world. She has been a ‘regular’ representing her country, winning medals at both the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games. Pippa now has some very exciting home bred young horses coming up through the ranks, as well as the proven string already in the yard.
Edmund O Reilly Hyland
Businessman Edmund has been involved with horses for over 50 years having show jumped ponies in Ireland, hunted in Ireland and the UK. He is currently a master of The Surrey Union Hunt having evented played polo and been hospitalised a dozen times over the years. This explains his support and understanding for the MDIRF. Edmund kindly hosts the Annual Golf Challenge at Wildwood Golf and Country Club, as well as the Art and Christmas Evening.
David Pease
David has been a Trustee since the Fund started in 1998 he evented in the 80s; point-to-pointed in the 90′ and now hunts from his home in Leicestershire where he lives with his wife and 3 children.
David has worked in Lloyds as a reinsurance broker and has recently started his own business Alpha One insurance. He currently monitors the investment strategy for the fund and has been involved in various fund raising activities for us.
Dane Rawlins
South Londoner and former amateur boxer, Dane Rawlins is better known as the founder and organiser of Dressage at Hickstead, which hosted the 2003 European Championships.
He is a member of the International Dressage Trainers Club and the British International Trainers Foundation. Dane is also a recipient of the BHS Trainers award and holder of the BEF Medal of Honour. He is the creator of the Premier League series and co-developer of the British Young Rider Dressage Scheme, known as BYRDS.
Dane runs a dressage yard in West Sussex and is joint director of Stables on Site, which is a company providing temporary stabling. He also competes at international level with Lady Harris’s horse Wily Earl.
CO-ORDINATORS:
Rosemary Lang Administrator and Fund Coordinator
Rosemary has been involved with the Fund since it was started in 1988, was a friend of Mark Davies and of the Davies Family, She oversees the daily running and coordination of all aspects of the Fund as well as its trading company, working closely with Catherine with the event organizing.
Claudia Fisher Fund Raiser / Event Coordinator
PRESS OFFICER:
Sandy Thwaites
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
Gill Brown National Rep
Gill has been involved with the Fund for ten years, since her son Hugh a keen show jumper died. She started raising funds with an annual Ball and has gradually become more involved. Gill now edits the MDIRF Mark Times.
Martha Ivory National Rep
Martha has been involved with most aspects of horses throughout her life, knew Mark Davies well and is a friend of Jane Davies. Currently working with the Cranleigh CAB, she helps with fundraising activities as well as on the Trades stand at several events.
