Sir Mark Todd with Zoe Wilkinson (last year’s scholarship winner) and 2015 winner Tim Cheffings Photo: Fiona Scott-Maxwell
The Mark Todd Bridging the Gap Training Series (MTBTG) has been designed by British Eventing specifically for those riders moving up to Advanced / 2* level and those working towards a more established 3* level. The training series, which is sponsored by Keyflow and Mark Todd Collection, aims to 'Bridge The Gap' between the Under 21s/Young Riders and World Class, providing coaching support to those who fall outside of these categories and help them to move forward and achieve their goals.
During the year the series includes training around the UK along with course walks at specific 2*, Advanced and 3* events, and all riders that take part in one or more of the ridden MTBTG training sessions are eligible to apply for the MTBTG Scholarship.
This year the winner was 32 year old Tim Cheffings from Tiverton in Devon, with Mary Edmundson and Sam Dempsey runners-up.
The six finalists gathered at a private venue in Wiltshire where they were put through their paces in the saddle by Sir Mark Todd and lead MTBTG Coaches, Lizzel Winter and Gill Watson, before being interviewed by representatives from The Mark Todd Collection and Keyflow Feeds. The other three finalists were Louise Bradley (age 26), Judith Barker (age 33) and Sara Horrell (age 23).
Tim follows in the footsteps of former Scholarship winners Franky Reid-Warrilow (2013) and Zoe Wilkinson (2014). In addition to running a string of horses ranging from up and coming youngsters through to several horses now at 3* level, Tim is also a UKCC Level 2 Eventing Coach and thanks to the Scholarship he now receives
1. Three individual training sessions, plus mentoring, from Sir Mark Todd.
2. Clothing, tack and horse wear from the Mark Todd Collection to the value of £1500
3. One year's worth of Mark Todd Keyflow feed for one horse to the value of £1500
4. Free Keyflow nutritional advice
The second placed rider receives £250 worth of Keyflow Feed and all finalists were presented with a rug, jacket and saddle pad from The Mark Todd Collection, along with a bag of Keyflow feed.
Think this is perfect for you? Provisional 2016 Bridging the Gap Training dates will soon be available on the British Eventing training pages.
