A RIDING team from Welburn Hall School near Kirkbymoorside has performed with flying colours at a recent equestrian contest.

The Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Team Welburn were competing at the RDA North East and South Yorkshire Regional Finals for the Countryside Challenge and Dressage Competition.

Alistair Scott, Beatrice Baldwin, Alice Lamb and Zac North are all pupils at Welburn Hall.

Zac was the winner of the Countryside Challenge Competition on Dennis, with Alistair coming second on Hattie, Alice finishing third also riding Dennis, and Beatrice fourth on Hattie.

Beatrice Baldwin was the winner of her section of the Introduction to Dressage contest.

Alistair came second, Alice third and Zac finished fourth.

Elspeth Crookenden, of the school group, said: “They all did extremely well on the ponies lent by local families, but especially Beatrice who was thrown from her horse in the final practise due to a very low flying aircraft that frightened all the ponies.”

She added: “We are totally self-funding and rely on support for our fundraisers to give our riders opportunities they would not have otherwise.”

To raise funds for the RDA group this year, Tracy Shaw is opening her garden at Rose Cottage, Boltby, near Thirsk, on Friday, June 22, at 6.30pm. Entrance is £5 to include a drink.

The RDA Regional Finals are held all over the country in preparation for the National Championships - RDA’s flagship event, held at Hartpury College in Gloucester since 2002.

The National Championships bring together hundreds of competitors of all abilities in events, including carriage driving, countryside challenge, dressage, showjumping, vaulting and showing.