BE announce new Regional Development Officers
British Eventing (BE) are delighted to introduce the eight new Regional Development Officers (RDOs) who will be joining the Training & Education (T&E) department as part of the ongoing development to the overall regional structure.
Following the announcement at the end of 2015 of the developments to BE ’s regional structure, including the implementation of new Regional Committees, we can now confirm the names who will take up the brand new regionally based roles:
- Wendy Berry (South East)
- Sarah Byrne (South Wales & Central)
- Suzy Dun (Scotland)
- Gemma Fuller (South West)
- Serena Greenwell (East)
- Susanne McIntosh (North)
- Fiona Saxby (North Wales & West Midlands)
- Clare Stockley (East Midlands)
Representing British Eventing (BE) T&E in their region, the RDO will work closely with the members of their Regional Committee and BE head office to develop, promote and support BE training activities. RDOs will facilitate the development of a suitable training offering within their region.
“BE Training & Education has come a long way since its inception in 2011, which is down to an incredible amount of hard work and dedication from the regionally based volunteers,” explained Hilary Trahair, Training & Education Manager for British Eventing.
“The formation of the new Regional Committees and the introduction of the new RDOs will give us all a real opportunity to build on what we have achieved so far and further develop the training offering for all stakeholders across the sport.”
Wendy Berry from Hampshire takes on the South East region having formerly undertaken the voluntary position of Regional Training Organiser for BE, bringing with her a wealth of insights and experience on the area. Swansea’s Sarah Byrne has been appointed as the RDO for South Wales & Central; Sarah comes with a background in public relations with the Event Horse Owners Association along with several years in retail operations.
With three years in the voluntary role of BE Under 18 Assistant Coordinator for Scotland, Suzy Dun from Midlothian now moves into the RDO role for the Scottish region. Gemma Fuller, hailing from Devon, combines her sales representative experience with 11 years as a professional event groom to take on the RDO position for the South West of the country.
Suffolk’s Serena Greenwell has been appointed as RDO for the East having previously been the region’s voluntary BE Regional Training Organiser for four years. Susanne McIntosh from West Yorkshire has spent over 20 years in the teaching profession, including 13 years as a teacher of Physical Education at Secondary School level, and now comes forward as the RDO for the North.
A member of the organising team for the BE Baileys Jump Training series since its inception, Fiona Saxby from Cheshire will add the title of RDO to her name for the North Wales and West Midlands region. With a background immersed in equestrian coaching, including a Pony Club Chief Instructor and Equine College Lecturer, Leicestershire’s Clare Stockley has been appointed as RDO for the East Midlands.
The RDOs will form part of the new Regional Committees, created to implement T&E policy at regional level. They will be made up of the existing hardworking regionally based volunteers, including the Rider Training Organiser (previously Regional Training Organiser), U18 Regional Coordinator, U18 Coach and Coach Educator. The Regional Committees will be chaired by the existing BE Regional Coordinators, who will bring a broad insight and knowledge of the region. The new regional structure will also align the T&E programme more closely with the other BE regional boundaries to work towards a more coordinated and collaborative organisation with great emphasis placed on improved communication at regional level.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.