South and West Regional Team
Want to compete as part of Team South & West? Our Regional Teams give you the chance to represent the south west in a variety of competitions.
Whether you're a senior rider, youth rider, or para rider - there's lots of opportunities to compete for your region and fly your region colours! Each category has its own selection criteria and competitions that you can apply to be a part of.
Your regional representatives
If you want to find out more about competing for your region, your regional representatives are on hand to answer any questions you may have, simply click on the names below to email them:
- Senior representative: Nicky Du Plessis
- Youth representatives: Tina Burrow and Clare Deithrick
- Para representative: Mark Cunliffe
You can also find the details of our Country Ambassadors below.
| Berkshire - Angela Bellamy | Devon - Nicky Du Plessis and Sophie Douglas | Cornwall - Clare Deithrick and Nicky Allen |
| Oxfordshire - Amanda Rodgers | Gloucestershire: Youth - Melissa Smith or Senior - Chantelle Oliver | Dorset - Ellie McGuire and Gilly Wheeler |
| South Gloucestershire - Carolyn Taylor | Somerset - Tina Burrow | Wiltshire - Marie Kent |
| Isle of Wight - TBC | Channel Islands: Guernsey & Jersey - Claire Fox | Hampshire - Emma Mansfield |
Teams and competitions
Want to compete as a team? Our regional teams give you the chance to represent your region in a variety of competitions. Being in a team is a huge honour for anyone and there are opportunities in the regions to do just that! And…it’s an achievable goal for many riders, with competitions for senior, youth and para riders at regional or national levels.
Youth Inter Regionals & Home Nations
Inter Regional Teams are made up of three or four riders with each competitor riding the Youth Rider Skills Test for their relevant squad. Teams must include riders from a minimum of three different levels! Each region is allowed up to eight teams so there is plenty of opportunity to have a go at making it onto a team for your home area.
Home Nations, held annually for under 25s, the BD Youth Home International brings together Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales as each nation vies for prestigious top honours. Compete in BD tests from Novice to Medium or FEI Children on Horses to Young Riders and contribute your score towards team and individual titles. The exciting Home International format replicates CDI competitions with horse inspection vet checks and an opening ceremony before the action in the arena gets underway.
Senior Inter Regionals & Home Nations
Inter Regionals are open to Bronze and Silver riders in teams of four from Prelim to Medium level contest as teams and individuals over two days. This competition is great fun, competitive and inclusive-a great way to form friendships across the region and develop your competition experience.
Home Nations open to Gold, Silver and Bronze riders in teams of four from Preliminary to PSG, scores also count towards individual placings at each level. The competition has a high standard in the format of an International event including an opening and closing ceremony with two days of competition attracting many talented combinations.
Para Home Nations
Teams are made up of three or four riders, with each team presenting no more than two riders from any one grade. The competition is open to all riders grade I to V. To qualify, simply take part in two regional training activities and earn three BD Para Qualifier scores within a 12 month period.
Inter County Team Challenge
The South & West region hosts a unique regional team competition open to everyone. This is an unaffiliated inhouse competition run under BD rules with its own selection qualifying criteria. Senior and Youth riders need to submit a minimum of three scores from official S&W ICC Senior and BD Youth Test Riding Clinics between 1 October 2023 to 31st March 2024. RDA and Para riders please declare an interest to compete by emailing your DO.
ICC qualifiers are now open, they're 20 minutes test riding slots with feedback; you warm up yourself and then ride the pre-chosen test. All dates can be found and booked on Horse Monkey.
How to apply for Regional Teams
Once you have read the selection policy and all of the requirements, approximately 6 weeks before the competition you will be able to apply to be a part of the regional teams through the Horse Monkey booking system, the links will be available below.
The rules and selection criteria should be read thoroughly and is slightly different for both events, but riders will be asked to submit their four best scores that meet the criteria for each competition at the level they are eligible. Riders must have attended three regional training events, two mounted in the 12 months prior to the submission date. A panel comprising the Regional Chair, a high listed judge and a third experienced person with no conflict of interest will consider applications. The South & West Development Officer (DO) will verify all information submitted.
