On Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th July the Centre was well represented at the RDA National Championships held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.

Also at the RDA National Championships for the first year The President’s Award was introduced as part of the 40th Anniversary Celebrations.
 
This new award was presented by The Princess Royal to 20 RDA representatives nationwide, including from our region Sue Mack Mid-West Regional Instructor, Jane Matthews retired Wiltshire County Chairman and our very own Gill Edwards for her their exceptional dedication to the association over many years.
 

Jane Matthews, Gill Edwards, Sue Mack

On Sunday 11 July, over 50 cars set out from the Centre in glorious sunshine on the second annual Bristol & Bath Classic Car Run, cheered on by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. Following an 80 mile route around the Mendips and the Cheddar Gorge, and past Bath’s Royal Crescent, the cars returned to the Centre in the afternoon for a BBQ and Jazz Band.

The stunning array of cars ranged from a 1933 Morris Minor to a one month old Morgan, and included a rare Jaguar SS100 and our patron Lord Cope’s 1939 Bentley. Certainly a lot more horse power than is normally seen at the Centre.
  

 
Our thanks are due to the main sponsor, Bristol Honda and to Sainsbury’s Clifton Down for their assistance and, most particularly, to Bill Phillips for organising the event for the benefit of the Centre. Many other supporters turned up to assist, making this an extremely memorable occasion for all participants – who we hope will return next year.
 

All photos courtesy of Bob & Frances Underwood - check out their Facebook Page for more photos!
 

The Centre was recently awarded a grant from Aiming High for Disabled Children, which is a programme run by Bristol City Council to provide funding for capital equipment in childrens charities... and at Avon Riding Centre that would be horses and ponies!
 

With thanks to Hayley Pert and her team at Bristol City Council we have recently been able to purchase new ponies Squiggle and Foxy, who are settling into Centre life very well.  Please visit the horses page to meet our new residents.
 

We are delighted and very proud to be able to announce that the Centre has been awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
 

 
This most prestigious award reflects the enormous value of the work we are doing.
 

To celebrate we will be presented with the award at a special event to be held at the Centre in September.  Details will be available within the next week.  In addition four volunteers will be attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace during the Summer.
 

Many congratulations to everyone connected with the Centre.
 

Kevin Hateley,
Chief Executive.

As well as recently receiving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service the Centre was also award with a Bristol Business Award.
 

Avon Riding Centre were runners up the category of Social Responsibility, narrowly missing out to another local charity.
 

The RDA Mid West Regional Championships were held at Urchinwood Manor Equestrian Centre on Thursday 20th May.

Over the last couple of weeks the Centre has been extremely busy raising funds at various events.  
 

On Thursday 22nd April we had a visit from Samantha Cameron along with the local Conservative social action team who were in Bristol ahead of the Live Leaders Debate.
 

On Monday 22nd February we were delighted to receive an official visit from HRH The Princess Royal.