Sport Development Days in Wales a great success

Tuesday 01 March 2011

Sport Development Days in Wales a great success

Sport Development Days in Wales a great success
On February 25 at Northrop College, Mold, Flintshire in North Wales and February 26 at Pencoed College, Bridgend in South Wales 58 riders, all Welsh residents from across the disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Para and Driving attended the Sport Performance Days which were funded by Sport Wales, through British Equestrian Federation.
 
The days started with the very informative theory session on ‘Why horses break’ by Emma Jones, a vet from Abbey Equine Clinic in Abergavenny , this was then followed by a practical session where riders assessed horse conformation and the importance of good farriery. The horses provided all presented a variety of issues that gave raise to some lively discussion.
 
The riders then moved back into the classroom for a discussion on rider nutrition that was presented by Scott Lamond, General Manager of Lifestyle Fitness Northop and Victoria Lewis, a lecturer from Bridgend and Hartpury College. The riders asked to assess the nutritional value of a variety of foods and review their diet of the previous day. Many riders were surprised by the lack of nutrition in certain foods. After a healthy option lunch the groups moved on to Sport Psychology and fitness. At Northop College, Dr Moria Lafferty, a senior at the University of Chester in Sport Psychology, presented a very practical interactive session on helping riders in the competitive environment and Jon Finn from Haberdashers’ Sport Psychology, at Pencoed College delivered a interesting presentation helping riders implement mental skills to enhance confidence, concentration, anxiety coping mechanisms and motivational levels. The Rider Fitness focused on core stability and the sessions were conducted in the gym at Pencoed and classroom at Northrop. The circuit training set up by Calli Johnson, an ex army fitness instructor proved extremely strenuous at Northop and the gym at Pencoed gave Steve Foster, a Personal Trainer room to provide the same level of exercises. Many riders commented that they thought they were fit, but realised they could improve on their levels fitness to help maintain their strength over a long course.
 
This was an excellent opportunity for riders to meet competitors from other disciplines and share experiences and problems. These Sport Performance Days were ideal to help riders understand some of the other components involved in becoming an elite rider.
 
Sue Harrison, Regional Development Officer, British Dressage and Gill Perkins Development Officer, British Showjumping who organised both days on behalf of the disciplines commented,  ‘we were delighted with the participation, enthusiasm that the riders showed in all the sessions, and it is encouraging that our young riders of today see the value of expanding their knowledge beyond the horse’.
 
British Dressage, British Showjumping, British Eventing and British Horse Driving wish to thank:
  • Sport Wales for their generous support in enabling these Sport Performance Days to benefit the development of Welsh riders and drivers;
  •  Northop College and Pencoed College for the use of the facilities and providing the ideal learning environment;
  • to Joanna Lloyd Aylett  for providing horses for  demonstration
  • all the staff at both colleges for all their support
  • the guest speakers
  • and of course the riders and drivers that participated in these professional development days
It is hoped that Sport Wales will continue to fund our initiatives and we can develop these Sport Development Days into an ongoing programme.

For more pictures please go to my facebook page;
http://www.facebook.com/pages/British-Showjumping-Wales-West-Midlands/165354463484579

 
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