last updated on February 05, 2010 10:20

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe recently joined the newly-appointed East Midlands Champion for Community Sport Manjula Sood at the Scropton Riding and Driving Centre in Derbyshire to observe how they are getting hundreds of disabled young people into equestrian sports.

At the centre they enjoyed a paraplegic carriage driving display by Terry Kirby, recipient of the senior Disabled Sports Award for South Derbyshire as well as a display of para-equestrian dressage by 15 year old Matthew Dalley, a member of the East Midlands Regional Foundation Squad. The Sport England-funded squads, which are coordinated by the British Equestrian Federation, have been set up across five regions with the aim of producing regional talent pools of riders to support their ambition to progress to World Class level.

Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) said: “Sport England funding has had a clear and definable impact on equestrian sport in this country. This has been a fantastic showcase of just some of the work we have been able to achieve with this support. We strive to ensure as many people as possible can discover the benefits of getting involved with horses...”

Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe said: "It's always a pleasure to meet the committed people who work in community sport. We have an unrivalled opportunity to become a more active nation in the run up to 2012 and beyond so it was great to meet the people in Derbyshire who are working hard to make sure this happens."

Pictured: from left – right: Andrew Finding, Ed Bracher, Terry Kirby; Gerry Sutcliffe; Matthew Dalley; Ann Ripon; Manjula Sood; Chris Marbrow, Trustee of Scropton Equestrian Centre.

For more information on Regional Foundation Squads click here

For more information on Para-equestrian dressage click here