Title: 21st Anniversary Launch
Location: The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Stamford, Lincs.
Link out: Click here
Description: Marking 21 years of the Charity’s achievements and launching our new Poundcatcher fundraising campaign and other activities for the year. Celebrity Ambassador Matt Baker will be joining us for the launch on the Thursday.
Start Date: 2009-09-03
End Date: 2009-09-06
Laura's team of channel Swimmers
Last week, Cardiff University student, Laura Beth-Pilkington, combined her two favourite sports – swimming and horse riding – when completing The Tri-Service Channel Swim in aid of The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund.
She was one of a six strong team from the Wales University Territorial Army competing against a Navy, Army and RAF teams. Laura is studying Medicine at Cardiff and her team mates were all students from universities in Wales.
Explaining her choice of charity, Laura said: “As well as swimming, I enjoy riding and had been having show-jumping lessons with the late Ian Olding from Sandbach who tragically died in an eventing fall earlier this year. I had grown up with him through Pony Club and competing at local events and when I found out about his accident it was devastating and so real. I wanted to do something, in Ian’s memory, to help other riders.”
The Swim took place on 21st of July and each of the six team members had to swim for an hour at a time, rotating. Laura was the first swimmer of her team and herself swam three times to contribute to a finishing time of 13 hours and 7 minutes. For Laura, it was the culmination of 12 months’ training and preparation which had included a 5km race in Lake Bala and open water training sessions in the sea.
“We were swimming into strong winds for the last part and it felt like I was on a treadmill sprinting but getting nowhere. The Officials said that a lot of teams would have turned around, the weather was so atrocious.”
So far, Laura and her team have raised over £500 for The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund but anyone inspired to donate more can email her at lbpilkington@hotmail.com.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ian Olding who sadly died in an eventing fall on Sunday 26 April at Belton Horse Trials. Our thanks go out in advance to all those who do contribute to the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund in his memory.
47 year old Ian was a BHS Instructor who was originally from Belfast and taught at Somerford Park Farm Equestrian Centre in Sandbach, for the past 4 years.
For more info www.horseandhound.co.uk
This year the new venue for this annual event was the magnificent setting of Cowdray Park. Our pro-celebrity teams were:
Group Clean: Lt Commander Al Wilson, Richard Dunwoody, Sam Thomas, Peter Woods
Transllloyd: Otis Ferry, Lucinda Green, Charlie Talbot Baker, Sgt Toby Horn
Food Furniture: Katie Price, Andrew Gould, Oscar Lawry, L/Bdr Peter Fry
Asian Woman: Sehr Ahmed, Lila Person, Charlie Mann, Sgt Kevin Britton
Throughout all the matches, everyone commented on the high standard all the players achieved, considering for some it was their first attempt at Polo. The runners up final resulted in a win for Translloyd and then the final took place between Group Clean and Asian Woman with a resounding win for Group Clean made possible by a fantastic goal from Richard Dunwoody. Lord Sebastian Coe presented the prizes to all the teams.
There was plenty for everyone to do throughout the day, the now renowned Silent Auction offering many “money can’t buy” lots, the fun fair, a shopping village with over 30 varied stands, also Pedigree kindly sponsored the Dog agility challenge run by Barrie Harvey, this provided endless fun for all the dogs and their owners who took part.
At 3pm everyone was treated to a spectacular high goal match between Talandracas and Atlantic Capital with Talandracas winning 15- 12. Both teams were scheduled to go on to participate in the Gold Cup Tournament later in the summer. This match showed everyone the wonderful skills of the players at this level and their fantastic ponies and has inspired all the celebrity players to raise their standard and return next year.
We would like to thank everyone who supported the day in so many different ways – without you all it would not have been possible. Please Watch This Space for next year’s date at Cowdray Park.
Title: Charity Golf Day
Location: Wildwood Golf Club, near Guildford, Surrey
Friday 18th September 2009
Thank you to everybody who participated in and supported this year’s event, particularly our Trustee, Edmund O’Reilly Hyland who kindly donated the use of his lovely golf course and Clubhouse Carvery www.wildwoodgolf.co.uk
A great, competitive day was had by all and we hope to be able to repeat this event next year.
Before teeing off the 40 players enjoyed coffee and bacon rolls. Everyone was in good spirits mainly due to the sunshine and the course being in pristine condition.
After finishing their rounds, the teams arrived back in the clubhouse and headed straight to the bar for a cold drink followed by a delicious three course meal and finally the prizegiving. Translloyd Developments were the winning team, Edmund O’Reilly Hyland presented the prizes.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped and a big thank you to Jane Louis-Hobbs who organised the day which ran smoothly. We raised £2300 for the fund.
Despite the rainy weekend, world class shone through at The 2008 St. James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials where the MDIRF was the official charity, represented on the trade stand.
Our thanks go to Mitsubushi, who once again kindly provided a Colt CZ1 3 door worth £6,250.00 in the Roll-a-Dice competition and a silent auction and raffles were also held on the stand, whilst spectators enjoyed world class eventing action with superlative spectator viewing at this prestigious venue in the Wiltshire Downs, near Marlborough.
Australian and British Olympic team members dominated the Barbury placings – as it turned out, a taste of what was to come in Hong Kong where they took the silver and bronze team medals, both only to be beaten by a very impressive, Germany. In the Barbury finale it was local, Devizes -based Australian team member, Lucinda Fredericks who took top honours with her little mare, Headley Britannia.
Congratulations to 33 year old, Rachel Booth who completed this year’s London Marathon in 5 hours and one minute, running in memory of her late mother, Jane Booth who was killed in a riding accident in September 2004, and has so far raised over £1,000.
“It was really tough as it was baking hot, but the crowds were amazing. I ran with a hobby horse to symbolise the MDIRF as well as wearing a T-shirt with the charity’s logo on it. Lots of people made comments about my horse!,” reports Rachel.
“The reason I ran for the MDIRF was that I was present at my mother’s accident and it’s taken a long time for my family and me to come to terms with life without her. Losing my mum completely shattered our lives. She taught me to ride at the age of 6 when my brother and me were lucky enough to get our 1st pony – a grey Welsh Mountain called Snoopy. Despite everything that’s happened, riding remains an important part of my life – keeping me sane! My mum would have wanted me to carry on riding, as it meant the same to her, it was her way of life, her passion. She always said you have to get straight back on when you fall off,” she continued.
Rachel originally came from Northumberland and is happily married and now living in Hampshire. Formerly a Firefighter, she is now a Secondary School Maths Teacher.
“Running the Marathon is a way I felt I could help others who have been involved in or affected by a riding accident. I also organised a non-uniform day at our school” adds Rachel.
If you’re quick you can still recognise Rachel’s efforts at www.justgiving.com/rachsrun
As champions of rider safety, the MDIRF stand (261, near the Main Arena) at Badminton Horse Trials (7-10 May) will be showcasing and raising funds through sales of two of the very latest safety initiatives now available to British riders:
In addition, a full body protector fitting and sales service will be available on the stand as well as a collection of top name clothes at super bargain prices. Please drop in and see us.
